CurlManitoba is excited to announce expanded support for the development of Manitoba’s junior curlers in a new partnership with Access Credit Union.

The unique new partnership features a three-way agreement between CurlManitoba, Access Credit Union and the Bob Picken Open Masters Bonspiel (the BOBSpiel). The agreement will see Access Credit Union expanding the bonspiel’s Bob Picken Junior Legacy grant program, by doubling the number of grants available to junior programs across Manitoba each year. Access Credit Union became the Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 bonspiel (September 24-28, at Granite CC)

Access Credit Union will also be supporting the strengthening of CurlManitoba’s Youth Curling Camps program. The Access Credit Union Youth Curling Camps are designed as fun and positive one-day camps for young athletes to play, have fun, learn, and improve in the sport of curling. Individual and team instruction provide a chance for the young athletes to work on all of the sport’s fundamental skills.

In addition to the junior grants program and the youth curling camps program, during the 2024-25 curling season Access Credit Union will be visible to Manitoba curlers as a Manitoba Open bonspiel event sponsor and as the Presenting Partner for the Dynasty U20 Mixed Doubles championship.

Access Credit Union is the largest credit union in Manitoba and the sixth largest in Canada, with more than more than 203,000 members and more than 60 branches in Winnipeg and across southern Manitoba; west to Morden and Manitou, north to Moosehorn, Ashen and Fisher Branch, south to Emerson and Gretna, and east to Pinawa, Whitemouth, Vita and Sprague.

“Curling is an important social, recreational, and competitive sport across Manitoba and the young people involved in this and other sports are one of our most important assets,” says President and CEO, Larry Davey of Access Credit Union. “We consider it a wonderful opportunity to support CurlManitoba and the many volunteers in their efforts to support junior and youth curling programs.”

On behalf of CurlManitoba, Executive Director Craig Baker expressed sincere appreciation for the new support of Access Credit Union. “CurlManitoba has had an important focus on youth and junior development as a priority for the last several years. We can see that emphasis paying dividends in the expansion of junior programs, including numbers in recent junior and youth events. We are excited by the opportunities this new partnership creates to continue the growth.”

Bob Minaker, co-chair of the Picken Open Bonspiel committee, also added his appreciation to the new sponsor. “We have made $6,000 in Picken Junior Legacy grants over the past four years in support of some excellent junior programs. Our greatest disappointment has been the other very excellent programs which we have not been able to support. With the help of Access Credit Union, we will be able to turn some of those no’s into a yes. It is exciting to think about.”

Application information for the new Bob Picken Junior Legacy Grants presented by Access Credit Union will be circulated to Manitoba curling club junior activities coordinators in the near future.