Looking to an exciting future
Corner Brook Curling Club has many strategic plans coming up
The Corner Brook Curling Club is ready to tackle challenges it has faced since the pandemic.
Since opening back up, the club has seen membership and participation take a hit from pre-pandemic levels. It had become apparent to the board of directors that it needed a firm path set forward so the sport could once again thrive in the community.
A strategic planning committee was formed to build a five-year plan for the club.
“We’re trying to get ahead of it as much as we can,” board director Amy Fitzpatrick told West Coast Wire.
“We don’t want to be sitting here in five years saying, ‘why are we where we are?’ We’re trying to be proactive about it.”
Starting this past January, development for the plan commenced with membership sessions.
The facilitators would ask participants open-ended questions to analyze the club’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Out of those sessions, it was developed.
“Curling within Corner Brook has such a history and how can we honour that and move ourselves forward,” Fitzpatrick summarized the question.
The plan is to be implemented from 2024 to 2028. It outlines five strategic pillars within which they target goals such as increasing membership, attracting and retaining volunteers, increasing revenue, expanding programs, enhancing facilities and ensuring equipment is accessible, among other targets.
For Fitzpatrick, inclusiveness is a big part of their philosophy. For instance, if somebody has a physical limitation, the club wants them to know they can still play.
“Stick curling is a fully recognized form of curling,” she explained.
The stick is a throwing device that allows the person to throw the rock from a standing position. On Oct. 21, there will be a stick curling event. Information will be provided on the Corner Brook Curling Club Facebook page.
Getting the message out that these opportunities exist is very important as well. Fitzpatrick notes outreach is one of the pillars. The club is also determined to ensure everybody feels encouraged to play curling no matter their skill level.
“Curling is a sport unlike many other sports, that you can have any level of fun or competition. It’s really what you want to make of it,” Fitzpatrick explained.
“You can come up and you can just glide it through the house each day. Or you can want to be the next Brad Gushue. Curling is a sport where we really feel that that is attainable. For whatever you want to get out of it, you can get out of it.”
She notes not everyone can commit to league play. The club offers Tuesday night drop-ins so anyone can pay a one-night fee to have a game.
“That can give you a little bit of practice or exposure,” suggested Fitzpatrick.
The club also hosts social curling once a month. To get people trying it for the first time, she says they’re also open to trying things beyond the standard curling format.
“We’re really open to what’s going to work for the future,” commented Fitzpatrick. She cites doubles and triples curling as examples.
“When (doubles) came into the Olympics in 2018, a lot of people got really engaged in it because it’s fast-paced, there’s very little downtime, there’s a lot of activity, a lot of athleticism involved,” she explained.
They’re also considering bringing back some of their historical bonspiels, which curling lovers can then put on their calendar and anticipate year-round.
When Fitzpatrick spoke to West Coast Wire, she anticipated the season starting around mid-October. She said the schedule will be posted at the Corner Brook Curling Club Facebook page. Regular league play would probably start around Oct. 30.
Through the winter, the club will be hosting many events, including provincial play. They will look at doing fun spiels and Fitzpatrick notes the club is open to working with organizations who may be interested in utilizing the facilities or hosting their own spiels.
The club is also hoping to participate in Curling Day in Canada events once again in February.
Last February, in fact, was an exciting occasion for the club. For one of the competitions, the Big Shootout, each curling club participating across Canada had to see who could put the most shots on the button. Corner Brook won.
The Corner Brook Curling Club is located 3 Canada Games Place, just nearby the Corner Brook Civic Centre. The season runs from October through March.