The past two years have been a real learning experience for Rankin Inlet recreation co-ordintor A.J. Curley since assuming his position.
This is also Curley's second official hockey season as rec co-ordinator in the hockey-mad community.
Curley said his actual job is to make sure that the community is active and doing different things and that includes more than just hockey during hockey season.
He said trying to keep the majority of people happy can take its toll, at times, but he thinks every rec co-ordinator has to understand that this is their job.
“During hockey season, when it comes to keeping people happy who aren't into hockey, the biggest challenge is to come up with something new,” said Curley.
“I started pickleball this year because it's getting very popular in Canada and the USA and I also started a boxing program. I co-ordinated the boxing program with Abdallah Butt, who is a boxing coach.
“I just, kind of, helped start the boxing program and gave them the time slots they needed.
“I'm seeing some people come out for pickleball who you don't normally see out and about all that much. You normally only see nurses and on-call staff at the health centre, but now I also see them at pickleball.”
Curley said as much as Rankin Inlet loves its hockey, there are plenty of folks in the community who want to see more being offered than just hockey.
Sometimes he will receive random suggestions from people in the community that he will implement in his activities.
“Sometimes the suggestions work out fairly well and sometimes they don't get all that much attention. I do feel a bit of pride when a program I start really begins to take off. It's nice that I get a little bit of recognition for that.
“But, most of all, I'm just happy that people have fun doing different things.”
Curley said to a certain extent, people have to accept the fact that they live in a hockey town.
He said one of the things concerning hockey that he's noticed is that whenever Rankin Inlet is hosting a tournament, it takes away normal practice time for different age groups — and that doesn't make some parents very happy.
“Parents always want to be informed that these things (tournaments) are happening, even though I do inform the community through my Facebook page. Parents have to understand, however, that normal practice times are going to be affected just about every time there's a tournament being held.
“You can't expect a community like Rankin not to host tournaments because it interferes with a few practice times.”
Curley said his second year as recreation co-ordinator has gone better for him.
“My first time around, it was kind of here and there because I didn't really know what to do. But, this year, I'm definitely more prepared for it and staying more focused on everything going on.
“Last year, I wasn't really that productive in trying to manage what I could. But, this time, I, kind of, have a good grasp on it. So, overall, things are going much smoother. And, in Rankin, hockey rules and some people just have to accept that.
“There's not really what I'd call a competition between hockey and non-hockey activities.
“We usually find the time and space to accommodate most requests and keep folks active and, at the end of the day, that's what it's all about.”
