Haliburton County’s district 11 organizers are looking forward to hosting Ontario Senior Games Association (OSGA) 55+ events this summer.
Spokesperson Mary Johnson said April 20 (today) is the last day for planners to receive mailed registrations prior to the games kicking off May 4 and running until June 20.
Johnson added the games are open to men and women who are 55-plus years of age as of Dec. 31, 2023.
The event features cards, including euchre, bid euchre, contract and duplicate bridge as well as cribbage, and sports such as golf, pickleball, shuffleboard, tennis and walking.
Johnson said the games are about being active and getting involved in the community, not necessarily competition.
“Do you have the time to have fun in a competitive, non-threatening setting? Are you seeking opportunities to socialize and meet new friends? Do you feel young and energetic?” she said of the OSGA mission statement.
However, people can qualify to go on to regional games and Ontario 55+ games. There are 36 districts across the province, with more than 9,000 participants and over 500 volunteers. The games were incorporated in 1997 and there are traditionally 18-plus summer and 10-plus winter events. District 11 comprises Muskoka and Haliburton.
This year’s schedule sees bid euchre first up, May 4 at 1 p.m., at the Cardiff Community Centre and then May 8 at 1 p.m. at the Minden Curling Club. The finals will be in Gravenhurst June 9.
Euchre will follow May 15 at 1 p.m. at the Minden Curling Club and June 1 in Cardiff. The finals are June 2 in Gravenhurst.
Cribbage is scheduled for May 18 at 1 p.m. at the Kinmount Legion. The cribbage finals will be played in Kinmount June 15.
Duplicate (9 a.m.) and contract (1 p.m.) bridge will be played June 5 at the Stanhope Community Centre.
Shuffleboarders will hit the courts in Minden June 6 at 9 a.m. The finals are in Gravenhurst June 8.
Golf will again return to the Blairhampton Golf Course, on June 7, with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Walking then takes centre stage. It is slated for June 8 beginning at 9 a.m. from the docks in Haliburton. Tennis will be next up, at the Haliburton courts, June 13, with an 8:30 a.m. start.
And, finally, the ever-popular pickleball is slated for June 20 at the Haliburton courts.
For more information, contact Mary Johnson at 705-754- 1884.
