INNISFAIL – The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a membership drop of up to 30 per cent this current season at the Innisfail Curling Club.
Lowell Peterman, the club’s icemaker and manager, said he believes the sharp decline is due to the implementation of the Restrictions Exemption Program (REP), which was approved unanimously by the nine-member board for this season, which began league play on Oct. 18.
“I think it is, yes. I honestly do. I see no other reason that we’d be down this many. I believe we had a lot of members that weren’t vaccinated and/or did not want to participate because of the REP that we’re having to use here,” said Peterman. “I can’t verify that because I haven’t sent out a questionnaire but I’m pretty sure. I got a few emails that were not very supportive of it. But in our defence, it was the only way we could operate.”
Peterman said overall memberships for all club leagues are down about 25 to 30 per cent from the 200 total members last year. He said he believes the club’s membership now sits at around 150.
“Everyone that comes into the building has to be double vaccinated, and provide proof of it,” said Peterman.
He said the club has screened regular members once, and knows which ones are appropriately vaccinated. They are not screened every time after.
“We have a spread sheet of everybody who has showed us their vaccinations," said Peterman. "The only thing we have to check is if adults come in to watch their children play, and we do have a junior league, we have to check those, and any visitors that come in.”
As for masking in the club lounge, the rules are the same as in restaurants and they must be worn unless patrons are eating or drinking.
“If you are coming up and having a beer you can take your mask off, and you don’t have to wear it when you’re on the ice,” said Peterman. “So, we just require masks in the lobby and going to and from the lounge and the ice area.”
Last year, the club had a shortened season due to the pandemic, losing two-thirds of all action from provincially-mandated restrictions and shutdowns.
At the club’s AGM last April, it was decided to give a 40 per cent discount to members who are curling this season. For those members who are not curling this season, for whatever reason, the same discount rate has been offered by a cheque.
Annual dues fees for league play at the club range from $270 to $320.
“If they don’t want to come for whatever reason this year, whether it’s the REP or whatever, anybody that requested a refund would get one at the same rate the curlers that are coming back this year,” said Peterman. “It’s based on last year. No decision was made based on the REP program this year. We knew we would lose some people that didn’t want to curl because of it or whatever other reason.”
Despite the COVID challenges he said all traditional club leagues are up and running, including the men’s play on Monday and Tuesday evenings, ladies one night a week, mixed one night a week, seniors on Tuesday morning and stick curling action on Wednesday mornings.
There was a six-team junior bonspiel last weekend, and their will be a senior mens qualifier for provincials after Christmas, and possibly the 75th annual Innisfail Farmers & Farmerettes Bonspiel in January, which was cancelled last year due to the pandemic. Peterman said there is no confirmation yet whether it will go this year.
