Curling Canada E-Newsletter: December 2024
Bring the thrill of curling to your holiday season! Plus, catch up on the latest action from across Canada, including Rachel Homan and Brendan Bottcher’s exciting mixed doubles victory.
Bring the thrill of curling to your holiday season! Plus, catch up on the latest action from across Canada, including Rachel Homan and Brendan Bottcher’s exciting mixed doubles victory.
“I think the curling club, they’ve done a fantastic job over the years,” said Coun. Adam Fras. “The amount of fundraising and they put in new equipment to the tune of over $300,000, not many years ago.”
Six years ago, the The Blue Mountains Curling Centre started curling out of the arena in Thornbury and the club continues to grow and is now bursting at the seams with members.
“Our goal was to have at least four teams in our inaugural year and, we ended up with six competing, including a lot of newcomers who took part in the games and the “Learn to Curl” lessons. We couldn’t have asked for a better outcome than raising nearly $7,000 and gaining the support of our community and sponsors,” said Hazzem Koudsi, CEO of Habitat PEH.
It’s officially curling season! Check out some of the latest results from across the country, secure your tickets to the biggest curling events and be the first to know about some of the exciting details for 2025 Curling Day in Canada.
“It was very exciting, and it was cool to watch. We had athletes here from all over – it was just amazing,” he said, adding it’s was also a tremendous opportunity for Lacombe to showcase on a global level what it has to offer
“Curling is a low-barrier sport with amazing adaptability for all ages and skill levels,” Amanda Lynne Ballard, TRNS’s founder, said in a news release. “Curling’s strong social aspect, in combination with the sport’s accessibility are key drivers on why we feel these efforts will be embraced by the Queer community.”
At its core, curling at Ayr is about more than just competition — it’s about camaraderie.
“We call ourselves a social club first,” Struke said.
Our Community Development Grants have two funding streams: Program Support and Operational Support. These grants help organizations who provide programming for kids between the ages of 4-18 in financial need or youth with disabilities between the ages of 4-25.
“We’re putting Pepsi on the Rocks at the beginning of November because we’re hoping people will come out, have fun, and whether they’re from Hay River or whether they’re from another club, they can go back and say, ‘wow, I had a lot of fun, so I’d like to curl this year regularly.
“We’re thrilled that we can continue this collaboration with the team at Rock Solid Productions, which has been a leader — not only in Canada but around the world — in opening doors to people to participate in curling for the first time,” said Nolan Thiessen, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada. “We have shared ambitions of delivering curling experiences in new, exciting ways and that will benefit our sport for years to come.”
The club, which serves Carlyle and surrounding areas, aims to build a lifelong passion for curling by keeping fees low, providing equipment like brooms and sliders, and offering more opportunities for younger children to get involved. “Our biggest goal right now is to raise money for youth rocks, especially for our elementary students,” said Justine Kyle, President of the Carlyle Curling Club.
“Curling is a fantastic sport for kids. It teaches teamwork and perseverance, plus it is also great exercise. Parents can relax in our comfortable warm room to watch their children in action or they can help out on the ice.”
Twenty student-athletes received scholarships worth $50,000, supporting the future of the sport on and off the ice. Learn about a clinic helping ice techs create excellent ice for Canadian curlers. Plus, Canada will decide the mixed doubles team that will be nominated to represent Canada at the 2026 Olympics. Learn more about the event and how to get tickets.
Little did they know, back in 1834, that their first game of curling would mark the beginning of the Fergus Curling Club, which has become the longest continuously running curling club in Ontario.
And as the club celebrates its 190th anniversary this year, members are taking another look at their history – and their future.
Not only will the event showcase Lacombe’s facility and passion for curling, but it is also expected to benefit the greater community.
Dignitaries, councillors, staff and Legal residents braved 32-degree weather on Friday to see the groundbreaking ceremony for the community’s arena and curling rink retrofit. The symbolic groundbreaking marked the start of the project, scheduled to open for the 2024/2025 curling season.
The old wooden building, that has been a hub for local curlers since 1949, recently received a much-needed facelift, addressing longstanding issues that hampered the enjoyment of the sport and made it more energy efficient.
The combined spending of out-of-town participants, delegates, and spectators who visited Sydney for the event, in combination with the expenditures made by the event organizers, totalled just over $10.0 million, supporting just under $13.8 million in overall economic activity in Nova Scotia, including almost $11.9 million in economic activity in the Sydney area.
Group is looking for sponsorship in-kind support for arena ice surface and community centre access during the event for elementary school-aged players next April.
Dozens of cornhole connoisseurs descended on the Pembina Curling Club in Winnipeg Saturday, for the first-ever provincial championship in Manitoba.
Estevan’s bid to host the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts is definitely about bringing a significant curling championship to our community. But it’s also or even more so about showcasing the heart and soul of Estevan on a grand stage.
The Paddy Wagon will help lock up hunger in Thunder Bay starting on Monday when it opens in the Port Arthur Curling Club.
The Paralympic Sport Development Fund provides grants for local sport organizations, clubs, and programs that contribute to athlete and coach development along the Paralympic pathway.
The clubhouse upgrades include modernizing the lounge area with a larger floor space, replacing and relocating washrooms with a single universal, accessible washroom and providing accessible wheelchair lifts for entry into the club and onto the playing area.
“Our students were super happy to be involved and to be part of a sports game as a group. It was such an endearing day; I was tearing up with happiness when I saw their smiles and how proud they were of themselves for trying something new.”
The Whitecourt farmers market re-opened for the season, in a new home – the curling rink!
Patrick Prade is the General Manager of the largest curling membership in the world. His discussion with hosts of Inside Curling is a must-listen for managers and board members everywhere.
The Lethbridge Curling Club is seeking the city’s support to bid for the 2026 women’s curling championships called The Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
The new Nova Scotia Centre for Curling Excellence facility to be built in Timberlea will be the new home of the Mayflower Curling Club and will impress Nova Scotians and visitors, with the help of a provincial grant.
In a heartwarming tale about the power of friendship, Josephine Anderson’s film Curl Power is an intimate look at a British Columbia teenage girls curling team who dream of becoming Canadian National Curling Champions.
My guest in this episode of “A Pane In The Glass Podcast” is Danielle Inglis, Curling Canada’s Co-ordinator of Social Media and Web Content.
Steve Featherstone has ambitious plans for the Granite Club during the curling offseason that could lead in several directions.
Floor curling is similar to Olympic curling, but played on a solid wood or concrete surface. The target mats are set eight metres apart and eight stones are played per end, with no sweeping involved.
The ice may be out of the Hay River Curling Club, but that doesn’t mean the building will be sitting idle over the summer.
“You dive right into it and it gets competitive and you get addicted.”
“We wanted to bring something new to the community. It’s [curling] social and we want everyone involved”. It seemed a natural fit linking the sociability of curling with an already tightknit community.
The West Prince Curling Club was the culmination of an effort that began more than three years ago to merge two beleaguered organizations in the area.
“Opportunities like this are very beneficial to our curling club for saving electricity and keeping our costs down.”
Twice-yearly Learn to Curl program for adults fills up quickly.
The game is similar to traditional curling — except players use a stick or a slide on the ice and have guides helping line them up when they throw rocks. Guides often cue players using light or the sound of their voice, depending on a player’s visual ability which can range from partial impairment to total blindness.
The Canadian Pride Curling Championships are taking place at the ReMax Centre, where 16 of Canada’s top Pride curling teams will take to the ice with a national title on the line. This year marks the first time the event will be hosted in Newfoundland and Labrador.
The 20-year-old University of New Brunswick (UNB) curler was born missing her left arm above the elbow. She’s been curling since she was six-years-old.
Curling Day in Canada 2024 once again brought our country together in celebration of our sport and gave people the opportunity to tell their stories of how curling has positively impacted their lives.
The Wolfville Curling Club is becoming more energy efficient and accessible after a combined investment of $305,851 from the federal and provincial governments.
This month we honour one of the best to ever play the game. Jennifer Jones has made her mark on the world of curling. Hear more from those who have shared in her curling journey. The 2024 Montana’s Brier is going to determine who is the best on the ice – but what about who has the best dance moves off it?
Junior curling, much like every other sport, felt the effects of the Covid pandemic. The numbers naturally dropped during that time, but thanks to the hard work of Lynne Entz, Brent Young and a group of dedicated volunteers, the number of kids involved in the sport has grown significantly.
“Most people think of curling as a sport needing a lot of resources — like hockey — but really all you need is a sheet of ice and some brooms and stones. And that’s what we want to show the people back in the Philippines.”
“I am excited to get started with my training and to learn from some of the most experienced leaders in our sport,” said and nine-time Brier skip and aspiring ACP professional Mike McEwen. “I am planning to start a teaching service based out of the Fort Rouge Curling Club in Winnipeg, and I feel that this training is exactly what I need to get set up for success.”
“The sheer number of people that attended the various activities at the event was so great to see. Both the curling rink and the palace were packed, with so many smiling faces. It was awesome.”
Curling Day in Canada was in Melfort on Saturday, as a national celebration was held, with TSN touching down on the northeast community.
Peterborough area families try out the sport on curling day in canada.
When 92-year-old Nelson resident Gene Mauriello was born, Bob Gourley of Manitoba was on top of the Curling World having captured the Brier Tankard.
Curling Canada is ready to celebrate with Curling Day in Canada on February 24, 2024, in Melfort. The day will include curling celebrity meet and greet opportunities along with numerous free events and a chance to participate in Melfort’s “epic” funspiel.
Curling Day in Canada will be celebrated at the Omemee Curling Centre, Feb. 24.
The development and application of the Adult Learn to Curl “ALTC” program has been a savior for many curling clubs, particularly across Ontario. With the impacts brought about from Covid, the rising financial challenges for curling clubs and the increase in activities competing for people’s time and money, curling has been under tremendous stress for the last decade or more and unfortunately, slipping in popularity.
The annual social event draws local oilfield employees, their spouses, friends and supporters to the Weyburn Curling Club for two days of curling, comaradarie, and community support.
An annual bonspiel is bringing curlers of all ages together in memory of a teen who passed too soon.
The New Horizons Seniors’ Curling League donated $1,497 to the Timmins Food Bank and South Porcupine Food Bank in December.
Estevan city council learned more about plans to renovate the concession area at the Power Dodge Curling Centre during a recent meeting.
Hurry hard and get your teams in for the upcoming spiels.
Missionwood Retirement Resort sponsors the clinics that started with just one sheet of ice and now take up half the rink every Monday morning. Almost 30 seniors have signed up.
In this episode of “A Pane In The Glass Podcast” you’ll learn about an initiative to recognize and organize those certified instructors who play such a key role in the advancement of technical expertise among curlers.
Fifteen years ago, the idea of introducing curling to kids in schools rather than waiting for them to come to the ice came to fruition as Rocks & Rings, the acclaimed elementary school program connecting students with the Olympic sport of curling and the Paralympic sport of wheelchair curling.
“This Bonspiel has always donated money raised from the event to youth sports in the community, particularly youth curling, but also some other youth initiatives within Weyburn.”
The club became home to a long list of curling champions, including world champion Scott Pfeifer, Canadian champion Cathy King, and Olympic gold medallist Marc Kennedy.
The Twin Rivers Curling Club expects to have close to 300 members by the end of the season, thanks to a series of new six-week seasons targeting new curlers.
“Our program tries to embrace that the world is in a constant state of change,” Ray said. “The way people did things in the past is not the way they do them today, and won’t be in the future. The reality is that people want to interact with curling in new and innovative ways.”
The City of Lloydminster will launch a new initiative to further enhance the visitor experience at the Lloydminster Golf and Curling Centre.
Haliburton Curling Club president, Wanda Ruddy, said she’s been hearing rumours of a new curling rink being built in Haliburton for years.
Is there anything more quintessentially Winnipeg than a curling bonspiel on the Red River?
IN ACTION THIS MONTH: Happy New Year! In 2024, we celebrate the wonderful people and programs that keep grassroots curling prosperous in Canada. From people dedicated to innovating the sport to programs designed to strengthen curling facilities nationwide, this month’s e-newsletter has tips and advice you can use in your club immediately.
The Sticks ’n’ Stones bonspiel took place at the Fergus Curling Club on Nov. 10. It is an event during which all shots must be delivered with a curling stick.
Carly Smith was born missing part of her left arm, from right above the elbow, but that didn’t stop her from taking up curling at the age of seven.
The annual family day of curling took place again this year at the Kelowna Curling Club, with approximately 100 people coming out with their family and friends for a fun afternoon of chucking stones.
The curling scene in the Melfort area had a huge 2023, and there’s also a lot to look forward to in 2024.
The Olds Curling Club received $35,000 to revamp its facilities so they can be used by other community groups or teams during the off season.
Journalist Ian Brown tries curling at the High Park Curling Club in Toronto.
Collingwood Curling Club members get together annually to donate to local food banks at Christmas, this year they gave out $8,400.
The public was invited to give curling a try with causal mixed games in the Grand Forks Turkey Spiel. It was also a fundraiser for the club’s Junior League.
The Norwood Curling Club held its annual Invitational Senior Men’s Turkey Bonspiel, which has been going on for more than 30 years.
Everybody loves a feel-good comeback story. In curling, it’s hard to find one more satisfying than what’s happened at the Crapaud Curling Club in Prince Edward Island.
“I thought this game was so fun. The social aspect is great. Why aren’t there more Black and brown people in the sport? That brought me full circle to ‘all right, maybe I’ll entertain this in my PhD.'”
In the last six years, the club added pick-up leagues, upgraded its bar to keep craft beer on tap, and opened on weekends. Membership doubled, a new demographic signed up to play, and local businesses became sponsors.
City council has decided to move the Roseland Curling Club into south Windsor’s Capri Pizzeria Recreation Complex.
CurlManitoba has enjoyed a busy first three months of the curling season. Executive director Craig Baker interviews on ‘This Week in Curling’.
Although Canada has become one of the most multi-cultural countries on Earth, there are few people from diverse backgrounds taking up the sport.
The Strategic Planning Program is a service Curling Canada’s Member Associations offer to clubs looking for a roadmap to a successful future.
In simple terms, Richard’s goals are to look at all levels of curling and help create functional strategies to bring about constructive and impactful changes to curling at the community level, developing connections and generating action to bring curling forward towards its goals of inclusion.
Earlier this month, a set of curling stones made a 1,500-kilometre journey from Montreal to Chisasibi, an indigenous community in Northern Quebec. For the first time, the remote town on the coast of James Bay would experience curling, with help from a famous teacher.
“What is going on at Roseland? When is it going to be demolished? What’s going to replace it and above all is — where is curling going?” wondered Terry Fink, member of the Future of Curling Committee.
Al admits to thinking of himself as “simply a curler first”; it wasn’t until later, as he got older and saw more of the impact of his role as a prominent Indigenous figure within curling that he began to realize the importance of being an “Indigenous curler” as well.
The purpose of the clinic was to not only teach the basics, but to introduce people to the sport. The two-hour event that saw 24 people, including two junior players, attend.
This new organization will be dedicated to the training and development of club and teaching professionals, and represents an important investment in the growth of curling at the grassroots level.
Longtime members of the organization gathered for a few quick games and to look back on the more than a century history of the club.
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