The recent 2008 Barry Naimark Charity Skins Bonspiel was a great success on and off the ice.

32 teams took part and there was some great curling to be seen at the VCC from March 6-9, 2008. While the event winners are featured below, the skins’ biggest winner was the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre (DEWC).

Having just celebrated their 30th anniversary, the DEWC provides a comfortable, safe drop-in centre and a social space & facility for women and children on the downtown eastside of Vancouver, and 2008 marked the second of two years support from the VCC.

The VCC Board of Directors is pleased to announce that over $3200 was raised from the 2008 Barry Naimark Charity Skins Bonspiel and will be donated to the DEWC. The funds were generated via almost $2000 in cash donations from sponsors (who are listed on the following page) and over $1200 was raised in the raffle, 50/50, event fees and the mini-bonspiel event.

The 2008 Charity Skins Spiel received many kudos from the participants. In addition to the exciting action on the ice, the entertainment on Saturday night of the “mini-mini” bonspiel (table curling) was a great success.

And a successful event is not possible without the hard work of the volunteer Organizing Committee. Led by Kathy McInnes, the entire committee deserves a round of applause for their hard work and dedication. Congratulations and thank you to: Bev Bryck, Wilma Chang, Dianne Petrant, Eric Helgren, Rob Hodgins, Pat McSherry and Thomas Lutes.

In addition to all the work that the Organizing Committee undertook leading up to and during the event, the 2008 Charity Skins also relied on a strong event volunteer team. Special thanks to the following volunteers who made this year’s event a resounding success: Bill Burrell, Bruce Davy, Mary Wrean, Lloyd Wrean, Barbara Olson, Noni Hutchinson, Elaine Rolston, Corry Koster, Kathy Willey, Jane Williams, Barbara Lockyer, Barbara Sutherland, Carol Kent, Anne Williams, Marg Shugg, and Kym Neutel.

Thank you again to everyone who contributed to and participated in the 2008 Charity Skins. We’re looking forward to another successful event in 2009.

2008 Barry Naimark Charity Skins Event Winners:

• A Event: Team Kuhlmann
• B Event: Team Peckham
• C Event: Team Peachey
• D Event: Team Faa

Charity Skins Donations:

Donations are crucial to the success of the Barry Naimark Charity Skins Bonspiel, so thank you to the following individuals or companies who donated money for the event:
Vancouver Ladies Curling League, Dan Robertson, Team Telus Cares, Murray James of the Silver Shop, Inventure Solutions (a division of Vancity), Pierre Gallant, Morrison Hershfield Consulting Engineers, Musson Catell Mackey Architects, and Wolrige Mahon Charted Accountants.

The following individuals or companies donated prizes for the event:
Bev Bryck, Ken MacDonald, Dianne Petrant (of Sutton WestCoast Realty), Rick Vandebeld, Onkar Bains, Telus, Arts Club Theatre, The VSO, Vancouver Giants, BC Lions, On the Rocks Curling Store, Original Basket Boutique, Fresh Flavours Homemade Food Products, News 1130, Maxxium Canada, OOCL, Pacific Newspaper Group, BC Sports Hall of Fame, Troll’s Restaurant, Electronic Arts, and River Rock Casino Resort.

The following companies donated services for the event:
Applied Audio Systems and Vancouver Curling Club