Board members of the Medicine Hat Curling Club recently elected Bryden Smith as general manager. Smith served as the president of the board before accepting the new position. Smith poses for a photo inside the facility in this December 2023 file photo.--NEWS FILE PHOTO
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com
Previous Curling Club president Bryden Smith has changed roles within the club and will now be in charge of day-to-day operations after the board of directors elected him as the new general manager during a recent board meeting in July.
Smith was chosen out of a number of candidates as the most qualified to run operations at the curling club and has a passion for growing the sport locally.
“He’s really passionate about curling,” says board member Cal Hauserman. “He wants to maintain some of the traditions we have and he’s got some new ideas for different kinds of weeks and some different things like that.”
Smith began curling as a junior in 2004 and has spent several hours on the ice as a player and off the ice as a volunteer.
Before accepting the new role Smith spent more than seven years as a member of board of directors as well as the chair for several curling leagues, bonspiels and events.
“He comes from a curling background and he’s a pretty enthusiastic person,” says Hauserman.
Smith has also been previously employed with the curling club as a junior instructor, ice technician and lounge staff member.
Smith will be responsible for day-to-day operations at the club, in his new role as well as implementing policies handed down by board members.
The role of general manager was vacant before the club has to cease operations in late 2022 following a brine leak.
The board also appointed Paul Hartmann as its successful candidate for the position of head ice technician.
Hartman brings seven years experience as an ice technician who was employed with several curling clubs across Canada. In 2016 Hartmann was head ice technician during the Canadian Junior Championships and was voted best ice on tour for the Saskatchewan Goldline Men’s tour.
The Curling Club is expecting to receive its new ice plant some time this month as crews continue work to have the facility back to full function by October.
