Celebrating 40 years at the Acadia Recreation Complex (ARC), Craig Recksiedler has seen more ice than most northerners. He has been an ice maker his whole life and has seen a lot of change during his time at the ARC. 

Coming from a small town in southern Manitoba, Craig grew up on the family farm and was always seen with a curling broom, hockey stick or guitar in his hands. During the long, cold winter months, he volunteered as an icemaker at the outdoor skating rink. Along with the rink, they had two curling sheets.

Craig moved to Calgary in the early 80’s and, following everything he already knew, he walked straight into the ARC in 1984 and was amazed at this new modern facility that housed multipurpose rooms, a hall, courts, hockey rink and 10 sheets of curling ice! He approached the guy in charge, who immediately said they weren’t hiring. However, persistent Craig said he “would work for free.” Those were the magical words and he was ‘hired’ on the spot. This position consisted of every dirty job in the building, but after a few weeks of hard labour, he was officially hired, and 40 years later here he is, still making ice! No one knows the ice or the building better than Craig does. He has remained the one constant when everything else around him was changing. 

Now with his level 3 Ice Technician ticket in hand, he has had the opportunity to make ice at every major event to hit Calgary. He has made ice for the Curling Trials for the Olympics in 1988, and many Canadian Women’s and Canadian Men’s Championships Briars, as well as Scottie’s Championships. He is so proud of all the big events, along with everything at the ARC, like leading and training great teams of upcoming ice makers who have followed in his footsteps. Craig has overseen many renos inside and outside of the ARC, including the refrigerated floors in the ice arena and curling rink, and inserts in the curling rocks.