The year-round Calgary Corporate Challenge included a unique event this spring, with employees gathering at Olympic Plaza for a “human bonspiel.”
Every corporate team taking part in the March 1 to 4 event had to qualify to vie for a spot in the finals.
Dave Ford, the executive director of the Calgary Corporate Challenge, said the best part of the event is its uniqueness, despite unpredictable weather changes.
Dave Ford the executive director of the Calgary corporate challenge, leads the teams through a quick run down. The Bonspiel is one of his favourite events to run. Photo by Casey Richardson
“Once you get out trying this new, weird event,” he said, “you forget how bad the weather can be because it is all about having fun.”
The Calgary Corporate Challenge encourages corporations year-round to take part in team-building exercises. It has been going on for 20 years.
“It’s a lot of fun for us, but the money going towards KidSports, that’s the winner.”
Lynn Myra, a senior executive assistant at the Alberta Electric System Operator, competed at this same event last year, when her team won the competition. They were hoping to repeat the same result this year. However, she said it is not all about winning, it’s about having fun.
“The best part of the event is just the fun and just doing it,” Myra said.
The human bonspiel competition is a fun event and has its hopes of raising money for a charity of their choice. This year, they chose to donate to KidSports.
KidSports is a charitable organization that supports children financially and encourages them to participate in organized sporting activities.
A member of the U.S. Consulate team, Glen Pollard, said the real winners are the kids.
“It’s a lot of fun for us, but the money going towards KidSports, that’s the winner,” Pollard said.
“It’s a lot of fun for us, but the money going towards KidSports, that’s the winner.”
– Glen Pollard, U.S. Consulate
At the end of the event, the winners received medals and bragging rights as the winner of the human bonspiel competition.
Laverne Bowie celebrates after her run on the inner tube and landing dead centre at the Human Bonspiel finals on March 4th. Photo by Casey Richardson
Corporate Challenge Human Bonspiel Finals from MRU Journalism on Vimeo.