After the curling season wrapped up last March, Powell River Curling Club members wondered if that was the end for the well-loved sport in Powell River.
News of three rink-worker deaths at Fernie Memorial Arena in October 2017 shook the province and officials began taking a closer look at other rinks around BC still using the potentially hazardous ammonia-based refrigeration plants. Powell River Curling Club’s 40-year-old system was the same kind as the one that leaked and was responsible for the tragedy in the Kootenays, explains Powell River Curling Club vice-president Don Mitchinson.
“It looked like curling in Powell River was coming to a crashing end after a Technical Safety BC and WorkSafeBC review determined our 40-year-old ice plant should be replaced,” says Mitchinson.
Thankfully, curling in Powell River is not coming to an end, he adds.
The club received a $150,000 community project grant from Powell River Community Forest earlier this summer. It came as welcome news for an organization that has been in existence since 1955 and on Crown Avenue in Cranberry since 1975, according to club president Lorna Downie.
“Without this grant, the club’s doors wouldn’t be opening at all this year,” says Downie, “and the future of curling in Powell River would very much be in doubt.”
Along with emergency reserve funds from the club, the Community Forest grant provided the impetus to order a new, safer, Freon-based ice plant for a fall installation.
The club is optimistic curling season will again start in October.
“We’re hoping to have open ice for demos and practice curling on the Thanksgiving weekend,” says Mitchinson, “but that will depend on the plant start-up and on how long it takes to put in the ice. We’re shooting for league start-up right after the Thanksgiving long weekend.”
Curling is a lifetime sport enjoyed by all ages and abilities. Last year’s season was experienced by school children of all ages, a Special Olympics team, new families and seniors, says club manager Roger Pagani.
“My father curled and I started as a junior,” says Pagani. “Two of my kids are still curling and now the grandchildren are starting to get out on the curling ice with us, too.”
Pagani is encouraging the community to come out and join in with some curling this fall. The club is planning evening team leagues with Monday Ladies, Tuesday Commercial Mixed, and a Thursday Men’s League. A Wednesday Mixed Open Jitney league will blend newcomer curlers with experienced curlers in a fun format that changes up team members every six to seven games.
The club also offers a low-cost Friday Night Fun option that offers a blend of teaching, mentoring and short games. It is an inexpensive introduction to the sport with a social in the licensed lounge upstairs afterward, says Mitchinson.
Other returning programs include the junior program with categories for eight to 12 years and 12 and 17 years on Thursdays after school. A registration day for juniors is scheduled to start at 3:45 pm on Thursday, October 4. Cost is $50 for the 10-week program.
Two daytime leagues are planned this fall: a mixed drop-in on Tuesdays and another Ladies League on Thursdays.
The club is hosting a drop-in information and registration day from 11 am-2 pm on Saturday, September 22.
Online registration is now open at tinyurl.com/yavfd3bo. Other events coming up this year include: Registration and Information Open House from 11 am to 2 pm on September 22; League Startup from October 8 to 12; Ice Breaker Bonspiel on October 13; Annual General Meeting on October 20; Grand Opening Celebration on November 2; and the Annual Parallel Bonspiel (Men’s and Ladies) from November 30 to December 2.
Powell River Curling Club is located at 5750 Crown Avenue. For more information about the club, call 604.483.9551, email info@powellrivercurling.com, go powellrivercurling.com, or search for the club on Facebook.
