Struggling curling clubs want help from city
Saskatoon's curling rinks fear they may be the pandemic's latest financial victims.
Clubs say they were barely sliding by before COVID-19 arrived, and have since watched revenues crater after new public health restrictions forced the curling season to end in November.
“Our cash flow has been decimated, cut off by COVID,” said Nutana Curling Club general manager Kory Kohuch, who said there was no guarantee the club would break even before the pandemic struck.
Sutherland Curling Club president Dean Kleiter offered a similar assessment, saying he expects to have to refund a “good percentage” of membership fees while bills continue to pile up, despite the decision to turn off the expensive ice plant.
“We've had a lot of really good seasons, and we're just hoping we can keep going next year,” he said.
The city's curlers — it is estimated that the four clubs, at least two of which shut off their ice plants following the latest round of public health restrictions, have more than 2,000 members — are not the only people worried about the future.
A Saskatoon city councillor is also concerned about the situation facing the province's official sport, and is set to ask his colleagues to back a motion aimed at exploring municipal support for the clubs.
Ward 4 Coun. Troy Davies said his motion to look at “potential policy options” traces its roots back to discussions held well before the pandemic, when local curling representatives approached council with some concerns.
Describing it as a “first step,” Davies said his motion is intended to explore ways the city could provide financial assistance to local curling organizations, but emphasized it is not yet clear what that could look like.
“When they came to committee, their response was, `Should we be taxed at this level when we're just a non-profit curling club that's just trying to stay alive here?' That was their concern,” Davies added.
Kohuch was part of those discussions. He said Saskatoon is unlike most other Canadian municipalities in that it does not provide direct financial support to curling clubs; they pay full property taxes — which are rising.
Over the last two assessment cycles, Kohuch said, the value of the Arlington Avenue club has skyrocketed, leading to a commensurate increase in property taxes, to around $65,000 per year compared to around $15,000.
“We're just asking for some help from the city, because the last thing the city wants is for the four clubs to go to the city, hand them the keys and say, `Here, you guys do this.' The council members have expressed that feeling as well.”
Tax relief for curling clubs is not unprecedented in Saskatchewan. Rinks in Regina have received tax breaks in the past after arguing they were at a disadvantage to sports organizations operating out of tax-exempt municipal buildings.
Asked whether his motion amounts to picking winners and losers when virtually every business and organization is struggling, Davies acknowledged that there is a “tipping point” where targeted relief leads to more and more requests.
“We can't pick favourites; it's got to be straight across the board,” he said, adding that the important thing is to sit down with organizations, hear their concerns and find out what options are available and possible.
Saskatoon city council implemented a three-month property tax deferral in March, and subsequently extended it to the end of September. However, requests from the hotel industry for more have not generated any traction.
Council is set to consider the motion at its meeting on Monday; if passed, it would result in city administrators reporting back on options within the next few months. It requires six votes to pass.
Kohuch acknowledged that targeted relief makes for a “tough” situation, but noted the club is still paying its taxes in full while its staff members, suppliers and members have all made sacrifices.
Kleiter said anything would be welcome.
“Any support these non-profit clubs can get would be helpful.”