Jim Bender has had an extensive career in the newspaper industry dating back to when he started working a The Winnipeg Sun in 1983. Fast forward to 2020 and Bender has joined the Selkirk Settler Times as a freelance journalist.
According to Bender, he started writing for the Winnipeg Sun in 1983.
“I was the backup beat reporter for both the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Jets at the beginning, covering the Bombers Grey Cup victory in Edmonton, a week I shall always cherish. I helped cover the Jets very first playoff series victory over the Calgary Flames. I became the Bombers beat reporter in 1987 and covered their 1988 Cup win in Ottawa,” Bender told the Selkirk Settler Times.
During the 1980s Bender also became the curling beat reporter. He gained plenty of experience covering world, Brier and Scotties championships.
I covered Kerry Burtnyk winning the 1985 world championship i Brandon and Jennifer Jones winning it in 2008 in Vernon, B.C. I covered every Manitoba championship Jeff Stoughton won, except 1996 and 2011, and every one that Jones won, except 2005, and the ones after 2016,” he said.
Some of the noteworthy highlights include, Jones winning the 2013 Olympic trials and dramatic trials final losses by Burtnyk in 2001 and Stoughton in 2005. Bender also covered Jones winning Canadian crowns in 2008 and 2010. He also spent time I also covering the Winnipeg Fury when they won the 1992 Canadian championship and the Winnipeg Goldeyes when the ball club claimed the Northern League championship during their inaugural year in 1994 and again when they won the American Association title just a few short years ago.
Not only has Bender been on the reporting side of curling, but as an avid fan of the game, Bender also curls and added an 8-ender in men’s league play at the Deer Lodge Club to his extensive resume.
Bender also has experience covering volleyball as he cover both national volleyball teams when they were based in Winnipeg, golf. He has also covered some major sporting events in Winnipeg, such as the world junior hockey championship, the women’s world hockey championship, 1999 Pan American Games and most recently the 2017 Canada Summer Games.
Bender had earned some accolades along the way as he was named to the Manitoba Sportswriters and Sportscasters Media Roll of Honour. He is also a Manitoba Curling Association Honourary Lifetime Member.
In the spirit of giving, Since 1987, Bender wrote a regular column to help raise funds for the Christmas Cheer Board each December.
Since retiring from the Winnipeg Sun in 2018, Bender hasn’t been slowing down. He works as a freelancer not only for the Selkirk Settler Times, but also for the Canadian Press and some out-of-town newspapers. Bender has also been writing features for the Winnipeg Free Press.
