Fun is in the cards

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This article was published 28/05/2025 (477 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Whether you’re a seasoned “crib shark” or just starting out, the Winnipeg Cribbage Group has a spot at one of its tables for you to pull up a chair and get playing.

Organizer Lyndon Demers launched the group — which operates out of Heather Curling Club (120 Youville Rd.) during the fall and winter season, and Lizzie Lanes (678 Elizabeth Rd.) in the summer — two years ago, after a former cribbage group fizzled out due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.

Cribbage meetings take place every other Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. It rotates with the cribbage group out of the Rockwood Army Navy & Air Force (ANAVETS) Unit 303 (341 Wilton St.), which takes place every other Tuesday.

The sister group is organized by Frank Halayko and it’s $2 a person, which goes towards the 50/50.

What makes the Winnipeg Cribbage Group stand out is its welcoming nature, familial environment, and friendly crowd, a sentiment that was echoed by many of the participants. Even more, it’s the way Demers puts everything together — organizing venues, gathering supplies, and putting everything together completely on his own up until recently, when he took a volunteer under his wing.

Alongside the group, Demers is the treasurer of the Manitoba Neurofibromatosis Support Group, an organization committed to helping those living with the disorder, which Demers also has.

It’s a lot of work, keeping everything on track, but he loves to do it: “They have as much fun as I do organizing it.”

“The vibe is really good, there’s a lot of returning players that come out … everyone treats each other with respect,” he said.

An example of his attention to detail is the need for name tags, as “there’s always at least one new player.”

Demers, 37, has been playing crib since he was a young boy and credits his dad as his teacher. The two continue to play the game to this day.

He said that the game is easy to get into, but players do need to be able to count and do math on the fly. However, there will always be people around to help others out. When he’s not playing crib with the participants, he can be seen walking from one end of the space to the other, flashing smiles and thumbs-ups when people win or make a good call.

“For me, I became ill a long time ago … it was a real drag, I was too exhausted to do all the things I could do all my life,” said Jay Jorowski, a regular player. “I said, ‘I need to find something smaller.’”

“I thought, ‘I have no idea how this is gonna be, but I’ll give it a shot,’” she said. “And I was so delighted to find such a nice community.”

There’s a wide variety of people that take part, ranging from retirement age to mid-20s.

“It’s kind of a perfect fit for me,” Jorowski said. “It’s just a perfect outing — it gets me out of my normal type of thinking and work … and the social element — everything kind of gets shifted. It’s a counter-balance to everything in my life.”

Since COVID, people have become very isolated and dependent on virtual connection, which is hardly the same as face-to-face, Jorowski added. Having regular, healthy community events like the cribbage group can give folks a proper taste of open communication with those from different walks of life.

Having regular, healthy community also combats loneliness, which was the case for Bev MacMillan, who began to attend cribbage meetings after becoming widowed.

“The nice thing about it all, it’s such a wonderful social experience for me, because it gets lonely when you’re missing your person,” she said.

MacMillan recently got a 28 — the rarest crib score and only achieved by having all four fives in your hand — and felt as though she was getting paparazzi. “I was shocked,” she said.

Demers ended up making a special gift to commemorate the event, decorated with her photo.

“Just the friendliness, inclusiveness … it saved my life, it really did,” she said.

“I know a few people here can’t afford to go to places that cost money, and this costs nothing,” said Brent Kurz, a regular player. “I could go once a week easily, and I think my wife is happy to get me the hell out of the house.”

Those interested in taking part can just walk in and sit down at no cost. The next cribbage night will be on Wednesday, June 4.

For more information, visit @winnipegcribbagegroup on Facebook or email Demers at winnipegcribbagegroup@gmail.com