Soccer social, water slides — don't miss it

Bourkevale Community Centre is holding a summer soccer social this year to celebrate one of its most successful seasons in years. And we have water slides for the kids earlier in the day.
Not only does the club have an abundance of soccer teams for the 2012 season — seven teams ranging in ages from 5 to 13 — there has been an unprecedented number of parents stepping up to coach and to help with the teams in various ways, and to assist in maintaining the club's soccer fields. You only have to show up at Bourkevale any evening of the week to see how successful the club's program has been this year.
Come join us for an adult, fun-filled evening of music, dance and refreshments in the main hall to celebrate this year's soccer success on Saturday, June 23 from 8 pm-1 am. If you're a Bourkevale soccer family, check with your coach for tickets. Otherwise, call Cam at 837-3175 for tickets.
Water slides earlier in the day are free and run from 1-3 pm outside the club. If you forgot how fun these slides are, check back here soon for last year's video.

Ball hockey instant hit on north rink

What happens when you put out two hockey nets on an outdoor rink in Winnipeg and invite people to bring their sticks and play ball hockey? Spontaneous hockey games usually break out almost immediately.
That was the scene on the north rink at Bourkevale this week with kids taking advantage of the new ball hockey opportunity at Bourkevale. Nets will be available every day for the next couple of months on the paved north rink. So get your sticks, call some friends and play some shinny.

New spring canteen hours at Bourkevale

Bourkevale's canteen and washroom facilities will now be open Monday to Thursday from 6-8 p.m. during the months of May and June. Soccer players, their families and the general public will now have access to our skate room (south-side entrance) four evenings per week for cold drinks, snacks and mini freezies for those warm evenings. Come by and show your support.

Soccer program continues to grow

Nothing says spring like soccer at Bourkevale Community Centre, including immaculately-groomed fields, freshly-painted lines and ambitious, jersey-donned players. That was the scene this week at Bourkevale, where the sport of soccer continues to be the fastest growing activity at the club.
Bourkevale is fielding seven soccer teams this season, including two 5/6 teams, two 7/8 teams, a U9 girls team, one U12 boys team and a U13 boys team.
The club's soccer program is driven entirely by volunteers, led by our tireless soccer convenor Sarah Swanson and our volunteer coaches. Bourkevale's soccer fields are maintained by dedicated volunteers who put in endless hours to ensure our kids have quality fields to play on.

Bourkevale elects new board

Bourkevale Community Centre elected a new volunteer board of directors at its 2012 Annual General Meeting Thursday. Most board members returned for another term. But several new individuals have joined the team, including former board member Patti Kelch who has returned to take the position of Director of Publicity.
Bourkevale would like to welcome Lisa Lindal as our new Special Events Coordinator and Scott Nystrom as our new Second Vice-President. These new additions to the team make it possible for Bourkevale to provide our community with the important services that help make our neighbourhood the best place in Winnipeg to live.

Our board for 2012:

Gary Kristiansen — President
Tom Brodbeck — Vice President
Scott Nystrom — 2nd Vice President

Dan Reles — Past President
Kim Roffey — Secretary
Elaine Nystrom — Treasurer
Jeff Valgardson — Buildings and Grounds/Hockey Convenor
Judd St.Godard — Second Buildings and Grounds
Joan Templeton — Hall Rentals
Patty Kelch — Publicity/Canteen Manager
Sarah Swanson — Soccer Convenor
Stephanie Burd — Volunteer Coordinator

Lisa Lindal — Special Events Cordinator
Erin Shorten — Moms and Me

Kids vs. Parents soccer is back

It's back! Kids vs. Parents soccer is back at Bourkevale Community Centre. It's a bit earlier than usual but with weather like this, why wait? This is a fun, casual event where parents (or grandparents) and their kids come out for some soccer fun on Bourkevale's fields, just north of the club. No registration, no fees, just a lot of fun showing your kids what a great soccer player you are (or dreamed of being). Come on out, it's fun. It runs every Sunday from 1-2 p.m.

Ice rinks closed for the season

All good things must come to an end. And the end has come for Bourkevale's ice rinks for the 2011-12 season. We had a fabulous year and lots of great ice this season, thanks to our volunteer ice crew who worked tirelessly through some pretty challenging weather to ensure our community had the best outdoor ice in the city.
See you again next year!

Pleasure skating a big hit at Bourkevale

No stick, no puck? No problem. We have plenty of ice time for you. Bourkevale has reserved two time slots per week on the south rink for those who want to skate without hockey sticks and pucks on the ice.
And it's been a big hit this year, with skaters of all ages enjoying some of the best outdoor ice in the city. Pleasure skating is held every Friday from 6-7 p.m. and Sundays from 2-4 p.m. Bring the kids and bring the grandparents. It doesn't get much better than this.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Bourkevale's newsletter hot off the presses

Bourkevale Bulletin - January, 2012

Carolers brighten up Bourkevale skate room

Photo: Hailey Yozenko

It's a tradition neighbourhood families have kept up for 21 years. Christmas caroling door-to-door may be a bit of a dying activity over the years. But not in this St. James neighbourhood, where families have been lighting up their community in the days leading up to Christmas since 1990. This roving choir made sure to stop in to Bourkevale Community Centre's skate room Friday night to spread their Christmas cheer. Nice job and a Merry Christmas to all.

Skaters jam Bourkevale ice on opening night

Bourkevale Community Centre was once again one of the few outdoor rinks to open early during the skating season this year in the St. James area. And as usual, the club drew a huge crowd on opening night, with shinny games breaking out on both the north and south rinks. The club kept both rinks open until 11 p.m. Friday as skaters continued to show up late into the evening.

It didn't hurt the mood when the club pumped the Winnipeg Jets radio broadcast through the outdoor speakers during the final minutes of the team's fourth consecutive win.
We would like to thank our volunteer ice makers Ron Templeton and Jeff Valgardson — and the extra volunteer support from Ed Toews and Scott Nystrom — for doing such a phenomenal job getting our rinks up and running as quickly as they did. Nice work guys.
Skate room is open Saturday and Sunday, 1-9 p.m.

How we make ice at Bourkevale