Some 30 teams are hitting the ice and enjoying the sociable atmosphere at the Cochrane Curling Club men's bonspiel that gets underway today.

"It looks great," says bonspiel chair Kendall Waiting. "We've got a large number of entries again this year with some great local sponsors, and some incredible silent auction items as well."

Sponsors like The Links of GlenEagles, Canadian Tire, Garmin, and Cobs Bakery are among those contributing appealing prizes.

There's also a chance to enter their ever-popular raffles for adult beverage-themed items and a 50-50 draw.

Man VanThe Man Van has been brought to the men's bonspiel since 2019. (file photo)

The Man Van, of the Prostate Cancer Centre, is back and will be parked in the loop of the main entrance of the SLS Centre on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.

It's basically first come, first served with a signup table in the main foyer of the centre.

Canada's first and only mobile men's health clinic offers men ages 40-80 a baseline PSA blood test and all men over 18 with blood pressure, blood sugar, waist circumference, and stress check.

The Man Van program receives no government funding and exists solely on the generosity of its supporters.

Waiting salutes the volunteers of the Cochrane Curling Club for making it all possible.

"We have some great volunteers within the club. There are so many great members that not only give back to our curling club but they're active elsewhere in the community. Without their help, we would never be able to pull off all the things that we do. There's no way I can name them all, but I can't say thank you enough to each one of them."

The public is welcome to drop by to catch some of the curling that starts at 3:30 p.m. today and continues Saturday and Sunday.

curling rafflesBarb Gibson, left, and Leane Daley show off the cool vodka machine gun and grenades raffle item at last year's men's bonspiel. Raffle tickets will once again be sold for popular items. (file photo)