Happy Gang member brings home bronze from summer games

Times Reporter

 

During the Happy Gang’s meeting on Sept. 13, Gail Galusha was pleased to present Shirley Farand with a bronze medal from the Alberta 55 Plus summer games. 

Farand won the medal for an afghan that she crocheted and entered into the visual arts and crafts section. 

“The competition was very stiff in Fairview, and it wasn’t only just for crocheting, it was all arts and crafts,” said Galusha.

The 55 Plus summer and winter games are a mix of sports, competition and fun, and there are a wide variety of activities in which people can compete. Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation sponsor the event.

Some of the activities include alpine skiing, carpet bowling, creative writing, slo-pitch, Scrabble and tennis. 

Farand had heard about the games earlier this year and decided it was something she wanted to be involved in. 

“Gail was at the meeting and she spoke about the summer games, I got interested and I just thought it would be fun. There’s so many different things you can get into, it wasn’t just one thing, you could go into so many different things,” said Farand.

“I think it’s a really good organization, I wish there were more people interested. I’m proud to have won, I’m glad to have entered something.”

Next year, the Canada Games will be held in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. The Canada games and the Alberta 55 Plus alternate every year. 

Galusha attended her first games in Whitehorse and has been hooked ever since. 

“I’m just a junkie for going to the games. This is the first time I didn’t get a medal but it doesn’t matter to me. To me it’s more important (the) camaraderie,” said Galusha.

“For me, every two years that I go the Canada games it’s a time that I meet people that I haven’t seen for two years.”

The next Alberta summer and winter games will take place in 2013. Galusha said they are going to try and have challenge cups in different events in the smaller communities in the next year.