A salute to Brett
Dinner at Charlottetown Curling Complex on June 24
A dinner honouring world champion curler Brett Gallant is part of upcoming activities at the Charlottetown Curling Complex (CCC).
Gallant is the first Islander to win a Canadian Brier and the first from the province to win a world men’s title.
The June 24 salute to Gallant will honour the Charlottetown native who learned his craft at the CCC. After winning a national junior men’s title, Gallant joined skip Brad Gushue in St. John’s, N.L.
Gallant played second this season with Gushue as the team won the Newfoundland and Labrador title, hosted and won the Brier in March and then went on to win the world title in Edmonton this month.
Further details on the Gallant dinner will be announced in the coming days.
Initial plans for the dinner were unveiled at two recent special general membership meetings.
The club is planning several special fundraisers during the summer to get the club on a better financial footing in time for the new season this fall. Past and former members will be contacted to rejoin the club and a letter will be sent to members seeking their support.
The second meeting last week saw a new executive elected, while expanded committees and duties were approved and organizational plans were announced for the summer and the coming season.
The club hopes to increase its membership, add more bonspiels and activities, improve communications and generally enhance operations.
Mitch O’Shea was elected the new president and succeeds Phillip McInnis, who held the position the past several years. McInnis will remain on the executive as past president.
Others on the executive are vice-president Tyler Harris and secretary Jackie Reid. A treasurer will be added shortly. Members of the board also include Kevin Kane, Kent MacPhee, Louise Carota and Colin MacAulay.
People at the recent meeting expressed thanks to the outgoing board, especially McInnis and club manager-treasurer Kevin Champion for their efforts the past four to five years, often facing trying times and various challenges.
A member of Curl Canada will be in Charlottetown on Monday to assist the executive with plans for the new season and suggestions on how to improve the club, its facilities and operation, and its involvement with the community.
O’Shea told the members the club can only succeed with their involvement and support. He said the key is to spread the workload around and challenged members to step forward to help out.
Gallant’s success on the national and world stage, the wide media coverage of the sport and increased interest in curling all bode well for the future at the CCC.
O’Shea said the sign outside the club says it all: “Thanks for the great season and see you in the fall.”