55 Plus Games

3 MANITOBA LIQUOR & LOTTERIES 55 PLUS GAMES | SUPPLEMENT TO THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS 204-272-4153 | BrightwaterTuxedo.ca 741 Sterling Lyon Parkway • Winnipeg, Manitoba R3P 2S9 Imagine a beautifully designed home with all the amenities, plus 24/7 healthcare services at your fingertips by our team of nurses and caregivers. Elegant Dining • Coffee Stop • Club 365 • Theatre • Fitness Centre • Salon • and much more Discover Brightwater Senior Living of Tuxedo Assisted Living and Memory Care Community Schedule your tour today! Volunteers are in demand for the 2018 games, which will be held in the Glenboro area from June 12 to 14. For sport expert Dieter Bonas, it's well worth the effort to get involved in the annual event — and there are plenty of ways to participate. Over the years, Bonas honed his skills at playing pool, starting with 8-ball when he was about 18 years old. After he retired in 2012 at age 55, he decided to compete in his age category for 8-ball at the 55 Plus Games in Morris the following year. "The games were a lot of fun and I met some more fast friends that I would compete against. I was blessed that year to win the gold medal in 8-ball," he said. "I've now been competing in every provincial 55 Plus Games since and have accumulated six gold, one silver and two bronze medals." Based on his success at the provincial level, Bonas went on to compete in 8-ball in the Canada 55 Plus Games in 2014 and 2016 — and, once again, he brought home the gold. Since then, the joy of being a competitor in the Games has also carried over into enjoyment as a volunteer. "I have enjoyed competing in the games so much that when I was asked to help out with organizing the provincial events, I jumped in. I've had a lot of experience competing and I've also run quite a number of tournaments over the years," Bonas said. "My involvement as a sport expert is simply to help the local volunteers organize the event to run as smoothly as possible. Adjustments are made to the draw based on the resources available at the host location as well as the number of registered competitors." Drawing on his own positive experiences, first as a competitor and later as a volunteer, Bonas encourages others to get involved in the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries 55 Plus Games. He embraces his role as a sport expert for 8-ball and snooker, and he feels blessed to have made so many friends in Manitoba and across Canada through his involvement in the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries 55 Plus Games. "There are a couple of friends I made at those first games that I still communicate with on a regular basis," he said. "We talk probably every week." And with more than 20 different events slated for the 2018 games, an abundance of volunteers is needed to ensure everything runs smoothly. Volunteers are in demand for every sport including golf, archery, badminton, softball, and track and field. Other categories include arts and crafts, cribbage, bridge and Scrabble — and so much more. In addition to lending a hand at different events, volunteers are needed to help with everything from accommodations and equipment to medical services and marketing. "Volunteering keeps your mind active, which is always a good thing. It gets you out and you have the chance to meet more people," Bonas said, who saw the importance of volunteers first-hand during his career with Ducks Unlimited Canada. "Now that I'm retired, I have more time, so I volunteer at a number of different things — including the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries 55 Plus Games." A full list of volunteer opportunities is available on the volunteer registration form posted online at alcoamb.org. On the form, potential volunteers can indicate other specific skills they can offer at the games. More information is available by calling the Glenboro economic development office at 204-827-2575 or emailing gcdc@glenboro.com. ❙ VOLUNTEER SPIRIT BY JENNIFER MCFEE FOR THE FREE PRESS Dieter Bonas will be a sport expert for the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries 55 Plus Games 8-ball and snooker events. PHOTO BY DARCY FINLEY "Volunteering keeps your mind active, which is always a good thing. It gets you out and you have the chance to meet more people." Everyone's a winner when they volunteer their time and talents with the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries 55 Plus Games.

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