Back Row Left to Right: Neil Houston – CCA Event Coordinator, Joyce Kuzyk – 2010-2011 Janette Robbins Long Service Curling Builder and Sport BC President Award Recipient, Jim Day – Region 7 Curl BC Governor & Level 5 World Curling Official
Front Row Left to Right: Donna Stuike – Region 3 Curl BC Past Governor, Norm Allen – Curl BC Statistician for 2010 Report & 2010-2011 Pat Kennedy Curl BC Long Service Volunteer Award Recipient
2010-2011 JANETTE ROBBINS AWARD
Joyce Kuzyk was recently presented with a Long Service Builder award given by Curl BC in Richmond. This is a very prestigious award which honours service to curling over an extended number of years.
The 2010-2011 Janette Robbins Award and Sport BC President Award is given to a person who represents the spirit of volunteerism and whose outstanding dedication, energy and commitment is critical to curling development and the advancement of curling in BC, and who has set an example of service for other volunteers. This is an opportunity to acknowledge and thank an individual who has demonstrated these qualities to their organization.
Joyce was president of the Oliver Curling Club from 1993 to 1998, then again from 2002 to 2010. During her presidency, the Oliver club applied for a grant in 1993 which would see the club receive a geothermal system. Then in 2003, the club was able to secure a federal / provincial infrastructure grant in order to put in new cement curling sheets which meant the only Olympic-size club in the Okanagan Valley. At this time, the club didn’t have enough money to complete the job so Joyce and her executive were able to sell $27,000 worth of debentures to the club’s members. And, due to fiscal management all of these debentures were paid off within 5 years.
In order to save the club even more money, she helped paint the lockers, bathrooms and the boards in the ice area when the construction was being done.
Joyce has served in every capacity on the Oliver curling board since its inception in 1970 except for 1 1/2 years due to illness. She has been president and organizer of: the Mixed league, the Ladies league and the newly-formed Friday night league. Years ago, she gladly lent a helping hand to the Knights of Columbus, the Legion and BC Tel/West Kootenay with their annual week-end bonspiels by providing names of curlers and convincing people to partake in their fun spiels. She even attended the elementary school in Oliver in order to help get the students to try the sport, setting up times and people to assist those students. Encouraging people to volunteer and feel pride in the curling club has always been a major focus for Joyce.
Organizing bonspiels and setting up the draws were part of her expertise. Also writing newspaper articles for every event kept people in the know as to who won and what was happening in the club.
Whenever the club has had a regional or provincial event, Joyce graciously assisted with organizing and working in some way whether it was to serve a lunch or the tedious task to rally officials. She helped with the Mixed Provincials which the Oliver club hosted in the late 80’s and also with the Provincial Masters in the 90’s. The club has also been host to regional events which she tirelessly volunteered and made sure there were enough helpers to do the jobs required and to promote the Oliver Club as a true representative to the sport. Joyce always endorsed people within the club to be friendly and be good ambassadors to the community at large and especially the curling community.
She convened the club’s annual live and silent auction for the past 18 years. This auction itself has brought in approximately $100,000.00 over that time. It has become the club’s big social event of the year and everyone looks forward to either attending or helping to provide items. This event has helped sustain the Oliver club throughout the many years of existence.
No matter where Joyce travels, she always asks people if they curl and tries to convince them to at least try the sport. She has always found that personal contact and friendliness is very good in soliciting new curlers.
For the past 30 years, she has been out promoting the town of Oliver and the sport of curling by attending many bonspiels throughout the Okanagan valley. Her belief is that you build good long lasting relationships that way.
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