By: Chuck Jensen, director of community services

Our manager, Burke Lauder, is back, and the Tumbler Ridge golf course is getting closer to opening. I took a walk out on the course over the weekend and the snow is going.

It looked like an early start compared to last year, but we ended up with snow on April 13 and 14, which set us back a bit. I’m looking forward to getting out on the course and among other things renewing my golf challenge with my partner, my son, versus Councillor Rob Mackay and his son.

Last year they beat us on the third extra hole. The bet was, if they win, I have to wear a Maple Leafs jersey, and, well, we lost. Memberships to the golf course can still be purchased at the Community Centre as well as the golf course when it opens.

I also want to welcome back Kelly into our pro-shop, as well as some of our young grounds and pro-shop workers. I expect a great season in 2012. We already have a couple of golf tournaments booked to date for this June.

In the last three weeks I have attended trade shows in Chetwynd and Fort St. John. There is lots of interest in our golf course. The Tumbler Ridge trails were certainly the number one interest of visitors to our Tumbler Ridge booth, but questions and information requested about the golf course were a clear number two in interest. People were also interested in this year’s Grizfest bands (lots of positive feedback about the Stampeders, who are a headline band this year ), the Emperor’s Challenge (some thought last year was the last one), the dinosaur tracks, the dinosaur museum, the falls, and housing and jobs.

I have been walking quite a bit over the winter in Tumbler Ridge, and there are some great places to walk, even in the winter. I’ve been walking quite a bit with Kevin Slaney, and our operations manager, Paul Hascarl. We walk for about an hour a day, although I must admit I have carried Paul on my back a few times.

Last year Paul and I, and a few others got a chance to hike some of our trails. This summer, Paul and his family, as well as my son and I, are certainly looking forward to getting out on some more of the great trails that are here in Tumbler Ridge and area.

We are also hoping Kelly Bryan from community development, plus others, will be joining us. Kelly noted that it is a little bit embarrassing for him to be seen walking with an old guy like Paul and myself, so I want to see if he can keep up to us.

The options to hike and enjoy are amazing. Examples include Bergeron Falls, Tumbler Point, Flatbed Falls, Quality Falls, Boulder Gardens, et cetera. People can get hiking brochures here at the community centre. Information will also be available at the Tumbler Ridge Visitor Information Centre, which re-opens in early May.

The Information Center is managed by the same Kelly Bryan, and while I was talking to him this morning, he was mentioning that tourist-wise, Tumbler Ridge should be re-branded as “the home of Kelly Bryan”. Interesting thought, “Tumbler Ridge, the land of Kelly Bryan and waterfalls”!

The Aquatic Centre remains closed through to early May. It is being completely cleaned inside and out. The pool basin is also getting re-grouted professionally. I thank the public for their patience.

I also want to thank our Community Center Foreman and our maintenance staff for the work they are doing at the Aquatic Center, and for balancing that work, with also taking out the ice in the ice and curling rinks.

No change as of this writing for the line-up of Grizfest from my previous writings. Tickets will be available soon. Emperor’s Challenge however, is taking actively taking registrations, and based on the continued speed people are registering, and with the 800 limit of competitors, I would suggest people register soon.

For more information on the Community Center or golf course, drop in to the Community Center or give our staff a call at 250-242-4246. Remember, as the ‘TRAIL’ brochure states, Tumbler Ridge is the easiest place in the world to get fit and stay healthy.