Frank Elberg is the first person from Estevan to be recognized with the Scotty Richardson Memorial Award for his commitment to curling.
CurlSask informed the Estevan Curling Club in late March that Elberg would be receiving the award, which is presented to somebody in Saskatchewan who promotes the sport in a variety of ways for an extended period of time.
“It came as a pleasant surprise,” Elberg said in an interview with Lifestyles.
Elberg has been curling locally since he arrived in the Energy City to teach at Estevan Comprehensive School in 1969. He spent at least 20 years on the executive of the Estevan Curling Club, with at least 12 years as the vice-president or president. Numerous upgrades and improvements have been made to the curling club during his time on the executive.
He has also coached the Estevan Comprehensive School’s curling teams.
“I’ve curled in Estevan for longer than I care to admit,’ said Elberg
Elberg has competed in provincial seniors and masters events twice, with mixed results, and he won the provincial men’s teachers curling competition in 1982. Bill Kapiczowski, Barry Rogers and Harvey Hackney were also part of the team.
When the Estevan Curling Club was struggling to find an ice-maker in the early 2000s, Elberg stepped forward to help out Kapiczowski. Benson’s Robert Keating, who is part of the CurlSask Hall of Fame, came to Estevan and gave Kapiczowski and Elberg some tips.
Elberg continued to assist Kapiczowski with cleaning the ice for about five years, including southern playdowns and provincial tournaments that were held in Estevan.
“I think curling is a sport where you can curl from the time you’re 10 years old until you’re 92, like Tony Naka,” said Elberg, alluding to an avid, long-time local curler. “There aren’t many sports that you can do over that period of time, and enjoy what you’re doing. It’s just a long-term activity that keeps you active.”
He also represented the Estevan Curling Club on CurlSask’s executive for the southeast curling district. He was the assistant director for the southeast with CurlSask for five years, and spent five more years as the director for the region.
And he has been an official for curling events across the province, usually seniors or masters events.
Elberg continues to be part of the curling club’s executive as the representative for the senior’s league, and he helps out with the organization for the senior league. He is looking forward to volunteering for the SaskTel Tankard men’s provincial curling championships when it is in Estevan next year.
Curling has always been a big part of Elberg’s life. He was raised in a small mining community that was built for the M&S Briquette Plant. It was located to the east of present-day Bienfait.
“When I was eight or nine, a bunch of us had heard about Jam Can curling, so we made our own rink … and every weekend we would go out and play Jam Can curling on the slew,” said Elberg. “We made the rings and everything.”
His was a curler, and so they started curling together when the younger Elberg was 11 years old.
“From there on, I’ve just curled every year,” said Elberg.
He still curls twice a week in the Estevan Curling Club’s seniors league, substitutes in the adult leagues and competes in three or four bonspiels per year.
Curling is a fun sport that allows him to make some good friends.
“The guys that I curled with the first year I came to Estevan, we’re still good friends with, and we golf together,” said Elberg.
Elberg says he never got into curling to receive awards, and he certainly never expected this recognition, but he certainly appreciates it. And he hopes to continue to be part of the executive, and a regular on the ice in the future.
The award will be presented at the CurlSask annual general meeting on April 29 in Saskatoon.
