Giant chess pieces are placed on the outdoor board near the Public Library in this file photo. This year the YMCA is taking over operations of the well-known attraction and is expected to open to the public June 13.--FILE PHOTO
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Giant kings and queens located near the Medicine Hat Public Library, along with their armies of bishops, rooks, knights and pawns, will seek victory once again this summer as the YMCA has taken over operations of the city’s largest board game.
Next week residents will once again be able to challenge family and friends to a game using the unique chess set that incorporates giant wooden chess pieces that can weigh up to 50 pounds.
The chess board has been in operation since 2006 after the Medicine Hat Chess Club secured community grant funding from the federal and provincial government, and has become a focal point in the downtown core since.
The chess club was able to manage operations until 2014 when the CORE Association took over and had its employees supervise the set for between four and five hours each day.
However after a recent change in leadership at the association led to concerns with staff safety, CORE decided not to run the program moving forward. So, this year the chess club was able to partner with the YMCA, which agreed to take over operations and expects to open later next week.
“I would say it’s an honour that we were approached and something that we’re happy to provide,” says Jodie Engbert, director of employment services with the YMCA. “I think that it would be truly a missing component if that wasn’t in operation over the summer.”
This summer the YMCA is looking to hire one job seeker for a part-time position who enjoys the outdoors and chess to oversee its operations, and is currently accepting applications through its employment centre.
“Part of their role would be to put out the pieces every day and oversee those pieces just to ensure that none get stolen or broken,” says Engbert. “If anyone comes and needs support with how to play chess, they could provide guidance and information.”
Bill Taylor manages the city’s chess club and secured grant funding for the project, which has become a unique fabric of downtown and has attracted thousands of visitors to Medicine Hat, and he praises the YMCA for continuing its operation.
“The YMCA is interested in keeping this one-of-a-kind, world-class attraction alive and well,” says Taylor. “It’s a great relief personally that people seem to enjoy it.”
Taylor says the chess club has been receiving more interest from junior players and reports an increase of seven juniors in this year’s annual spring tournament.
“There’s lots of kids playing chess and the juniors are the players that want to improve their skills,” says Taylor. “(Chess) teaches you resiliency, it teaches you patience. You have to be flexible, you have to be humble, you have to be persistent. A lot of good lessons.”
The YMCA is expecting to have all chess pieces and the board ready by June 13 and will operate every week from Wednesday to Saturday, 2-6 p.m. until Labour Day weekend.
The YMCA says people can also book a specific time slot. Anyone interested in joining the chess club is encouraged to contact Taylor through his office at 403-529-0221.
