SUNDRE – With the intent of enticing new members to join, the local curling club is introducing some new options this coming season.
“We’re just trying to create more flexibility in the fees that we are charging people,” said Lonnie Halladay, Sundre Curling Club president.
The group’s leadership, Halladay added, is striving to take a more realistic approach not only to what people can afford, but also what better fits their lifestyle.
The executive met on Tuesday, Sept. 19, with a meet-and-greet scheduled for Oct. 4 at the Sundre Curling Rink starting at 6 p.m. that will provide those who attend with an update on the club’s plans for 2023-24, he said.
Registration will remain ongoing throughout the season as part of the club’s philosophy of being as flexible as possible, he said.
That effort started last year with the introduction of two-person sturling league teams.
“That proved to be very popular,” he said, adding many people seemed to appreciate the opportunity to play shorter games that still offer a chance to get on the ice but with less of a time commitment.
And although fees will be modestly increased this year, the club is in a sense also offering more affordable options for curlers including snowbirds who cannot play for the entire season.
“What we’ve tried to do, is to break it up so that you don’t have to join for the full season,” he said.
“We have a schedule that we’ve created that there’ll be a set fee amount for pre-Christmas and then post-Christmas, and part of that was to do with the people that go south, yet they’d still like to curl.”
So whereas the club was charging $240 last year for the full season, a fee now set to increase to $250 this year, there will now also be a fall session for $100 as well as a winter and spring session for $150, he said, adding those details will be firmed up and made official at the Oct. 4 meet and greet.
“That’s the gist of what we’re trying to do, is to create the flexibility so that if you want to curl and you can only go part time, you’re able to do that and only pay (for) what you play,” he said.
Halladay added the club also charges a nominal membership fee.
“Everybody has to pay Curling Alberta. So, to join a league, you’re gonna have to pay a $25 membership fee.”
The club is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization that strives to reinvest revenues that don’t go to operating expenses into capital upgrades for the facility. For example, the curling rink’s roof – a longstanding project that had been on the docket for some time – was completely redone this summer, with the work being completed in August, he said.
That project represented a roughly $100,000 expense that was covered by funds the club had allocated with a boost from a municipal grant as well as the provincial government’s Community Facility Enhancement Program, he said.
“We also installed cameras and TV monitors,” he said, adding two cameras have been installed looking down above either end of each sheet with a feed that goes to monitors in the lounge area where people can watch.
“It’s a nice touch; there’s a lot of rinks that have it already, so I think we’re just catching up,” he said, adding that project was completed courtesy of an anonymous donation.
Looking ahead, Halladay said the club is for the second time going to be bringing back the Ready to Rock program for Grade 5 students and is also finalizing details on a program for Grade 6 students as well. He also hopes to resurrect the junior curling program.
“It’s one thing to be working through the school, but there are other kids that aren’t in Grade 5 or 6 or high school that will want to curl,” he said. “So, I am in the process of trying to establish a junior program.”
Although details haven’t yet been fleshed out, Halladay said, “it will be coming in the near future. Anybody that wants any information on what I’m trying to do and put together by all means can give me a call.”
He can be reached at 403-638-6753.
A little further down the proverbial road, Sundre will also be hosting Curling Alberta’s U15 provincial south qualifiers on Feb. 1-4, he said.
“We’ll be sourcing volunteers to help us out with putting that on,” he said, praising the club’s helping hands who “do a tremendous job.”
In the more immediate future, the club hopes to get the season started by early November; perhaps even sooner provided the stars align and there are no unanticipated hiccups with the ice plant, he said.
And the annual Rockin’ the Rink fundraiser is scheduled for Oct. 14 with the return of The Chevelles, with the first event of the season coming up on Dec. 4-8 with the seniors bonspiel.
