Roller derby guild celebrates 15 years

By Lethbridge Herald on May 28, 2025.

Herald Photo by Alexandra Noad Windy City Wipeouts level 2 practice at the Cavendish Farms Centre on Wednesday for their home opener next Saturday.

By Alexandra Noad

Local Journalism Initiative Reporter- Lethbridge Herald

The Lethbridge Roller Derby Guild (LRDG) is celebrating their 15 anniversary this year and will be hosting a roller disco and home games over the next two weekends to celebrate.

The LRDG was founded in 2010 as an all women team-the Lethbridge Derby Dames, which rebranded in 2023 to Lethbridge City Rollers as they are an open team. In 2012 they added a junior team-the Windy City Wipeouts.

The junior team is divided up into three divisions beginning with no contact and moving up into full contact which is to ensure they learn the rules and can safely play the sport.

Each player gets to choose a derby name and their jersey.

Katie Clark, who’s Derby name is Flynch, joined Lethbridge City Rollers three years ago and was introduced through Lethbridge Roller Club, who’s founder, Martina Emard, known in the skating community as her derby name Cherri Blaster, who also is one of the founding members of LRDG.

Clark says she joined because it sounded scary, so it must be good for her.

“I paid for one session and in my head, I thought “I can do anything for one session” by the end, I had played my first game and thought “this is fun” so I just kept going with it,” says Clark. “It was good I was scared because it felt like I could grow quite a bit.”

Through roller derby she has also found a supportive community and decided to take the next step in having a purpose in serving the community by becoming chair of the LRDG.

LRDG has created many successful players in their 15 years, sending several to the World Cup Championships which take place every 2 years and currently have a player and coach heading to Australia in July to represent Canada at the World Cup.

They also bring in teams from across the prairies and promote local tourist attractions during their stays by providing gift baskets to the visiting teams.

The “unbirthday bash” will begin on Friday with a Roller Disco, which can be described as a dance party on wheels, from 7-9 p.m. at the Cavandish Farms Centre curling rink, with proceeds from the event supporting the LRDG. There will be free skate loans for those wanting to try roller skating.

Next Saturday there will a full day of derby, beginning with the Level 1’s at 1 p.m. and finishing off with the adults at 5 p.m at the Cavandish Farms Centre curling rink.

The mantra of LRDG is “every body welcome” and Clark says the guild lives up to it.

“Whoever wants to come in, there’s a place for you.”

More information about LRDG can be found on their Facebook and Instagram pages.