CALLIE CURLING CLUB BUILDS ON A CENTURY OF SUCCESS
For the past 100 years, the Caledonian Curling Club has been the place to be when the long, cold prairie winter hits Regina.
Formed in October of 1915 and affectionately referred to as the Callie Club, it’s the city’s longest running curling facility — and it’s manned entirely by volunteers. After moving four times, supporters built their own facility near the Regina International Airport in 1978. They’ve been set up there since.
The club’s members are an elite group, bringing home 66 championships at the provincial, national, world and Olympic levels in the past century. Of those 66 titles, 52 have been won by women, says board member Kenda Richards.
Female stars have included Sandra Schmirler’s foursome which earned three world titles and an Olympic gold in 1998, plus Marj Mitchell’s squad, which took the world crown in 1980.
Richards says a competitive atmosphere for women at the club that sometimes involved play against the men might have helped spur the success.
“Marj Mitchell used to watch the good competitive men’s teams, both at the Callie and at bonspiels, to learn strategy. From time to time she arranged games against the men,” says Richards, a longtime curler who won a provincial championship with Mitchell in 1975.
“By the time Sandra Schmirler was curling in the Callie, women were back again playing against the men ... This was helpful with both strategy and in playing against physically stronger teams. The more you played against the men, the easier it was to play against women. So some credit has to go to the men in the Callie for accepting women into their leagues!”
The Callie hasn’t just seen success on the ice, though. It has also become a popular facility for a wide range of events.
“The season starts Oct. 1 and lasts until the first week of April. To be a 100-year-old organization run by volunteers is quite the achievement, but we do have to run it like a business year-round to keep our doors open and make ends meet,” says Richards.
“We’re on city property and because of the terms of our lease, we operate 12 months a year. As soon as the ice is out, we rent our facilities to all kinds of events — we host roller derby tournaments, trade shows, banquets, weddings — you name it.”
The two-level facility is wheelchair-accessible; in fact, the Callie Club, which can accommodate up to 1,000 guests, is hosting the Canadian championships for wheelchair curlers this April.
Upstairs lounges can be split into three separate spaces for smaller gatherings of 175 to 200 people. There are often several functions hosted simultaneously, says Richards. The space includes access to amenities such as a jukebox, CD player, satellite HD TV and a video game system. It’s also equipped with a dance floor and balcony.
Because they provide their own catering and bar services, the Callie Club can offer an extensive menu according to budget and tastes.
And out-of-town guests with recreation vehicles can set up in the parking lot during festivities.
“Our summer business has grown quite well. We take bookings a year or two in advance, and we can open for meetings or luncheons as well,” says Richards.
“We’re a multi-purpose facility, but we’re a curling club first.”
And it’s a club that likes to have fun, as shown by this year’s New Year’s Eve event.
“We’re hosting a 24-hour game from 1 p.m. the last day of 2015 to 1 p.m. the first day of 2016. And on April 23rd, we’re hosting a centennial dinner and dance. Both events are open to public.”
The Callie is located near the Regina International Airport on 2225 Sandra Schmirler Way. For further information about centennial festivities or to book your next event, please check callie100.com, call 306-525-8171 or email info@callieclub.com