Richard Dale “Rick” Folk (born March 5, 1950, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian curler and former Member of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, where he represented the Progressive Conservative Party for one term from 1982 until 1986. He is a two-time world curling champion, representing Canada. When curling in Canada, Folk represented both Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

Richard Dale Folk
Member of the Saskatchewan Legislative Assembly
for Saskatoon University
In office
April 26, 1982 – October 20, 1986
Preceded byRiding Established
Succeeded byPeter Prebble
Personal details
Born (1950-03-05) March 5, 1950 (age 74)
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Political partyProgressive Conservative

Curling career

edit
Richard Dale Folk
Born (1950-03-05) March 5, 1950 (age 74)
Team
Curling clubKelowna CC,
Kelowna, British Columbia
Curling career  
Brier appearances7 (1978, 1979, 1980, 1989, 1993, 1994, 1995)
World Championship
appearances
2 (1980, 1994)
Medal record
Men's Curling
Representing   Canada
World Curling Championships
  1980 Moncton
  1994 Oberstdorf
Representing   Saskatchewan
Macdonald Brier
  1978 Vancouver
  1979 Ottawa
Labatt Brier
  1980 Calgary
Representing   British Columbia
Labatt Brier
  1994 Red Deer
  1989 Saskatoon
  1993 Ottawa

In 1974, Folk skipped the Saskatchewan team to the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship that year. Four years later, he attended his first Brier, skipping the Saskatchewan team. In 1980, he won his first Brier and went on to win the World Curling Championships, posting an undefeated record and defeating Norway in the final. In 1983, Folk won another Canadian Mixed Championship.

After serving in government, Folk moved to Kelowna, British Columbia. He represented British Columbia at the Brier for the first time in 1989, and won his second Brier in 1994, this time skipping the B.C. team. He lost just one game at the Worlds that year, and beat Sweden in the final to claim gold in a low scoring 3-2 decision. In 1995, Folk played in his last Brier. Folk and his rink from the 1994 World Championships were inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame in 1995.[1] Folk has also been honoured by the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame as well as the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.[2]

Political career

edit

Folk ran in the riding of Saskatoon University in the 1982 Saskatchewan provincial election for the Saskatchewan Progressive Conservative Party. Folk won the seat, and served as Minister for Culture and Recreation from 1983 to 1986.[3] Folk was not re-elected in the 1986 election, losing to Peter Prebble of the Saskatchewan New Democratic Party.[4]

Personal life

edit

Folk was born in Saskatoon at the Saskatoon City Hospital, the son of Alex and Jen Folk.[5] At the time of the 1994 Brier, Folk owned a curling and golf supply store in Kelowna.[6] His son, Kevin is also a curler.

As of 2023, he was living in the Comox Valley of British Columbia, and is the head referee of BC Pickleball.[7]

References

edit
  1. ^ "1994 Rick Folk Rink (M)". British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on December 11, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  2. ^ "Folk, Rick (1950-)". The Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan. Retrieved 2013-12-07.
  3. ^ "List of Saskatchewan Ministers"
  4. ^ "Saskatchewan Election Results by Electoral District" Archived September 28, 2007, at the Wayback Machine. Saskatchewan Archives Board Website
  5. ^ "Births". Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. March 7, 1950. p. 18. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  6. ^ "Folk puts Howard on ice". Regina Leader-Post. March 14, 1994. p. 11. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
  7. ^ "Comox Valley resident appointed Pickleball BC head referee". Comox Valley Record. January 23, 2023. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
edit