The CYCA is honoured to be the organizer of the annual Ray Kingsmith Memorial Bonspiel. Every year, this prestigious event awards thousands of dollars in prize money and scholarships to the talented young curlers of the next generation. The skill on display is always astonishing. The 34th edition of the event is scheduled to take place December 28-30, 2023 at the Airdrie Curling Club. Since 2021, the Ray Kingsmith Memorial is a U18 event on the Junior Alberta Curling Tour. Registration for Boys and Girls teams can be found under: https://cyca.curling.io/en/competitions.

Ray Kingsmith dedicated his life to the sport of curling, and had a dream of seeing it become an official Olympic Sport one day. On May 3rd, 1988, Ray passed away from cancer, just a few short months after chairing the demonstration sport of Curling at the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. Though he was never to see his dream become a reality, the work he did toward that dream was certainly instrumental in curling becoming a full medal sport 10 years later at the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano, Japan.

After Ray's death, friends and family got together to ensure his memory would live on and that a legacy of his love for curling, especially for youth, be established. In June of 1989, the first Ray Kingsmith Memorial Golf Tournament was held at the Highwood Golf and Country Club in High River. Proceeds from this event went towards establishing the Ray Kingsmith High School Memorial Bonspiel, held every year between Christmas and New Years. The inaugural bonspiel was held in 1990 and every year since that time, junior high and high school students from around the province, (and from outside Alberta), have competed for post secondary scholarships, awarded each year to both the Boys and Girls event champions.

Ray’s memory continues to live on in this and other memorial events established throughout Canada. He was a firm believer in hard work and commitment, and that a sense of humour was critical to survival.

"Win with humility, lose with dignity"