National Volunteer Week with Nick Atamanchuk

At viaSport, we’re passionate about capturing authentic, diverse, and influential stories from across the BC sport community. To celebrate National Volunteer Week from April 27 – May 3, we’re highlighting the tremendous impact of volunteers in sport across the province.

The following story is part of our #NationalVolunteerWeek campaign, which celebrates the dedication of those who give their time to sport and encourages others to get involved—no matter their experience level.

For Nick Atamanchuk, volunteering has always been a cornerstone of his life. Since 1982, when his three boys first laced up for baseball, soccer, and hockey, Nick has been a tireless force behind the scenes, giving his time, energy, and support to community sport. What started as a way to stay involved with his sons grew into a lifetime of service that spans decades, sports, and communities across British Columbia. 

Nick explains that, once his boys aged out of their sports, he still wanted to stay involved. “I already had my Level 2 for coaching and hockey officiating,” he says. “So, I stayed involved by helping organize an old-timers’ hockey team. I played with that group for 25 years—until my 70th birthday, but I couldn’t continue playing because of my injuries.”

Although he had to step away from hockey, Nick wasn’t ready to slow down. Looking for a new way to stay active and connected, he found his way to curling in 2013, thanks to a friend who needed help with an upcoming curling event. With a crash course in timekeeping and a stopwatch in hand, Nick stepped into the world of curling—and never looked back.

From that point on, curling became a new chapter in Nick’s sport story. He joined leagues, took officiating courses, and even became part of the maintenance crew at Parksville Curling Club, where his handiwork helped reshape the ice and upgrade the facility. That crew’s contributions earned them the 2017 Curl BC “Volunteer of the Year” award.

Nick has officiated several events, including the BC Men’s and Women’s Provincials, U18 Doubles in Barriere, the BC Winter Games in Vernon (2022), and timed games at both the Scotties in 2023 and the Montana’s Brier in Kelowna in 2025. However, for Nick, the most rewarding part of his volunteer work comes from seeing the impact it has on others.

“The joy I see on the faces of seniors in our Learn to Curl programs—that’s what sticks with me,” Nick says. “Just seeing their progress, their smiles, and their gratitude. That’s what makes it all worth it.”

Today, Nick remains a driving force in the curling community as an active member of both the McArthur Island Curling Club and Kamloops Curling Club. At McArthur Island, he plays a key role in organizing and running senior stick leagues. After enrolling in a National Coaches Certification Program course offered at the Kamloops Curling Club, Nick used his newfound knowledge to design an eight-week “Learn to Curl” course specifically for seniors aged 55 and older. Recognizing the growing need for accessible curling instruction, the program has now helped more than 120 people learn the sport.

In 2024, his decades of dedication were recognized when he was awarded the Curling Centre Volunteer of the Year by Curl BC—a testament to his unwavering commitment to the sport and his community.

Looking back on his journey, Nick is grateful for the people who helped him along the way. “I was helped when I started—now I want to do the same for others,” he says. “Volunteering keeps me active. It keeps me connected. And I get to be part of something bigger than myself.”

His advice for anyone looking to get involved: “Learn all you can. You don’t have to be the best player—you just have to be willing to learn, to share what you know. You never know the difference you can make in someone’s life.”