Submitted/Foothills Ringette
Foothills Ringette is inviting local youth to lace up and hit the ice for its upcoming Come Try Ringette event, set for Sunday, Aug. 17, from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. at the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex in High River.
The free, low-pressure session is open to children ages 5 to 15 and is aimed at introducing newcomers to the sport while building community connections.
"The biggest thing is to try to bring some more awareness to our sport," said Karen Minchuk, president of Foothills Ringette. "It's a Canadian sport that we're trying to get more people involved in. Alberta is actually a pretty big area for ringette. We want to give kids the opportunity to see and try something new."
Participants only need to bring skates and a helmet, as sticks, rings, and instruction will be provided.
Minchuk’s own involvement with Foothills Ringette began at one of these events.
"My daughter went to the Come Try Ringette back in March of 2020. Obviously, that didn't last very long, but once things got rolling again, she continued with it and loved it. From then on, I was part of the teams, and more recently, I joined the board to help organize things."
Organizers encourage participants to sign up in advance so they know how many people to expect, but walk-ins will also be accepted.
Foothills Ringette has also started offering activities outside the winter season, including a spring ringette program and a drop-in run club.
"The ringette season generally runs from September to March, but we're trying to create a year-round community for those that want to," said Minchuk.
On Saturday, Aug. 16, (the day before the event), the association will host a community barbecue at Sobeys in Okotoks, selling hot dogs as a fundraiser.