It started slowly, just one morning a week but quickly it grew to the point where it was happening multiple times a week. Two years later, the Springbrook Archers have been calling an abandoned bowling alley their home.
Targets, archery equipment, shoes and coats line the repurposed bowling alley in the Springbrook Multiplex. Kids and adults of various skill levels socialize while they take aim at targets and give each other friendly pointers.
“For over a year the idea of forming the Springbrook Archers was part of the Healthy Living Team planning agenda,” says Donna Morency who can be found at the archery lanes almost every meet.
She says that part of the idea to form the archery group came from her husband Dwight, trying to find something to do fill his free time.
“I knew someone local was looking into buying the Multiplex and that the bowling lanes might make a good archery lanes. Dwight has been involved with archery for over 30 years and has always found teaching enjoyable,” she says. Dwight, with the help of another Springrbook resident, Adrian Pidhirney sat down and put together a budget and held a general interest meeting. There was enough community support and it was evident that the club was a good idea but a few renovations needed to be done and some equipment needed to be found.By February 2014 the lanes were ready to use and over the past two years, many of the archers have advanced their skills and are no longer just amateurs.
“We have a few of the archers that will be attending and taking part in several competitions in the coming year starting with The Mother of All Shoots at the Westerner. Everyone in the club is excited about having members attend the competition," she says adding that the support and sponsorship the members receive from the community are extremely helpful. Community is one of the main focuses of the club afterall. The Springbrook Archers currently operate as a recreational club for youth and adults and give all members the same opportunity to shoot and be involved in the day to day operation of the club.
“Everyone is welcome to come and watch or participate, we have equipment such as recurve and compound bows, arrows and 3D and paper targets,” says Morency. “Of course we are always looking for donations of used equipment for youth to use. We decided to try and keep the fees low enough that everyone could participate.”
The lanes are also open to the public.
“Women’s and men’s groups from Red Deer and the local Boys and Girls clubs come out,” says Morency. “We also have a singles activity group, a school recreation education class from Penhold, a Club DJ group from Sylvan Lake and the Jr. Forest Wardens from Innisfail, all that come out and use the lanes.”
For more information on joining the Archers please contact Dwight Morency at 403-573-4451.