Officiating elite curling at home and abroad results in Hall of Fame nod

This is the first in a series of profiles featuring the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017. Check Tuesday’s edition of the Daily Herald for the next inductee. The induction ceremony will be held on April 29 at the Ches Leach Lounge at the Art Hauser Centre.

Thirty years ago Deanna Rindal was unexpectedly roped into officiating her first national curling tournament.

“The National Juniors was being hosted at the Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club and one umpire got ill and couldn’t make it and it was like, ‘Oh, well who do we have that could take their place on short notice?’ And that’s when I had my first national event,” Rindal said.

Rindal took the subsequent 16 years off to devote her time to raising a family. She resumed her umpiring career in 2003 and since then has officiated 39 events including 11 provincial, seven national and six international competitions.

“I never dreamt that I would be where I am today, going all over Canada (and) to different parts of the world,” she said.

“That was never a thought that entered when I was first starting, that that would happen. I was just happy to help out.”

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