In the last week of March, the Souris Curling Club's annual bonspiel returns, but it will be showcased bigger than the past few years.

A public survey of the annual bonspiel followers clearly expressed the desire to include the main arena in the series, making for a total of 10 sheets of ice! The organizing committee is looking forward to doing JUST THAT!

Survivor Souris celebrates its 24th year, and prior to Covid, the committee held the annual bonspiel in both the curling rink (4 sheets) and the hockey arena (an additional 6 sheets).

However, after being shut down for 2 years they decided to keep the bonspiel in the curling rink, to make it a bit smaller while in the process of building the bonspiel back up to pre-covid numbers.

"We used to have over a hundred teams in Survivor," shares Committee Chair and founder of Survivor Souris, Cindy Scott. "Since Covid we're slowly working our way back up."

In 2022 they had 48 teams, in 2023 they had 52 teams.  Yes, the numbers are growing, and thus the decision to go big once again.

"We did a survey after our bonspiel last year and asked what we can do to make Survivor better, what do you want to see? And the majority of them said to go back to curling in the arena where we can have more teams, there's more people here, there's a lot more action and it's a lot more fun!" 

"So, we're going to do it!"  This year's theme is 'Canada EH!'

Funds raised through registration fees goes towards prize awards, the curling club itself, as well as to local organizations who volunteer their time for meals or clean up after the evening dances.

Scott says the whole idea of the Survivor Bonspiel started when they opened up their new arena complex in Souris, 24 years ago.

"It was such a hit we continued to do it again," shares Scott, "and then we just continued following the Survivor games from the television show. So, we started with Amazon, and Pearl Islands, and different places like that, and now we make up our own themes, but it's still Outwit, Outplay, Outlast."

"And if you make it to Sunday, you're doing very well!"

This year's bonspiel runs from March 26-31st, with early bird draw on February 14th for registration, where you have the chance to win back your team's registration fees.

Please listen to more with Cindy Scott below and get in on that Early Bird registration draw!

Visit their Facebook page for more information.