The 29th annual Bonspiel on the Lake has come to a close.

This is not an event you can google and come up with a lot of information on. There are a few highlights, a photo gallery and even a video on YouTube from 2010, but not a lot of history exists there.

I do know that there are thousands of volunteer hours that go into making the bonspiel the success it is.

On top of that, the prizes are donated from local merchants and businesses that are happy to support the yearly tournament.

Curler and not-so-much curlers come from all over to play in the 64 team bonspiel. It’s an annual ritual for many and the first question new friends ask each other is ‘how many years have you been in this?’.

This is a perfect example of what the upcoming pond hockey tournament hopes to become: an annual event that brings visitors and locals together in the Invermere area on a winter weekend to enjoy a sport they all love!

I hope you can all imagine the economic and cultural benefit that is realized from these types of event and do all you can to ensure the success of this new venture.

It was a wonderful feeling to be the winners of the 2012 version of the ‘spiel on Lake Windermere, many thanks to my teammates, Jim Boyes, Thor Gaul and Sandra Quinn-Boyes. (pictured above).

There were lots of local teams amongst the top 16 teams that earned prizes with a good mix of visitors there too. It’s good to share the wealth!

The Snowflake Festival at Kinsmen Beach on Friday was amazing — I thought to myself, only in Invermere would you hear a band on the beach in January!

The Taste of the Valley was scrumptious even for those like me who have some dietary concerns. The fireworks that topped the evening off were incredible too — a job very well done by the organizers (Invermere Business Committee of the Columbia Valley Chamber of Commerce).

—Marilyn Berry is publisher of The Valley Echo.