‘Every Canadian should learn how to … curl’: Omemee club celebrates 60 years
The Omemee Curling Club celebrated its 60th anniversary Saturday knowing its future has been secured by a $137,500 Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) grant.
While the club has been around for 60 years, its home — the Omemee Curling and Recreation Centre — opened in 1982 after the original facility burned to the ground in 1979. The facility is in need of a new roof, which will be installed this spring thanks to the OTF grant.
With Saturday also being Curling Day in Canada, it was the perfect time to celebrate the anniversary and recognize the provincial government for its donation to the facility during a daylong series of events at the centre.
“Without this roof replacement, I don’t know if our building would have been usable in five to 10 years,” said club president Ron Fox. “It was at the end of its life cycle.”
The centre has four sheets of ice for curling during the winter and now hosts five pickleball courts in the summer. This allows the facility to be busy 12 months of the year.
The facility is also rented for special occasions, meetings and community groups. The Omemee Lions Club has a permanent meeting room in the building.
“Our government is dedicated to ensuring people are able to enjoy the benefits of active living and community spirit,” Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, stated in a news release. “This grant ensures that generations to come can embrace the joy of curling in the winter and pickleball in the summer, fostering health and friendships yearround.”
The curling club has 130 members and more than 260 people who play pickleball in the summer. This will be the third summer for hosting pickleball, which has been a boost to the club’s bottom line as there aren’t as many weddings and special events being rented as in the past.
“We have to pay property taxes and without it the building would sit vacant,” said Fox. “Apparently, back in the 1980s, it was booked every weekend.”
Like many curling clubs, Omemee endured struggles to maintain membership. But, after efforts to attract new curlers, it is in a stable position, said Fox.
“At one time, people were worried about it, but then people got on the board and helped bring it back up and it’s doing well now,” said Fox. “I don’t understand why all the curling clubs in the area don’t have a waiting list. My opinion is every Canadian should learn how to, one, skate and, two, curl.”