Thistle Curling Club closing shop, moving in with Deer Lodge

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This article was published 28/02/2023 (933 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The final rocks are being tossed at a small but popular St. Matthews neighbourhood curling club.

After months of speculation and rumour among members, the Thistle has confirmed it plans to sell its property at the end of the season and merge with the Deer Lodge Curling Club.

“We are aware of the many rumours going around, so it is now time to inform you… the land and building which Thistle is on will soon be going up for sale,” Thistle club secretary Trevor De Ryck said, speaking to a small crowd of Thistle members at its 280 Burnell St. location Tuesday night.

“We will fondly remember all the memories and friends we have made… but look forward to making new ones at Deer Lodge.”

The clubs, which each have around 600 members, will share the Deer Lodge ice at 425 Woodlawn St., but Thistle will retain its name, which holds a significant place in Manitoba’s curling history.

The clubs may adopt a new name in the future to reflect the merger, but that has not been decided yet, De Ryck, 58, said.

The move will help improve circumstances by reducing operational and insurance costs, said Deer Lodge club president Corey Thompson.

“The goal is to become one really strong, healthy club… rather than two clubs struggling to keep the doors open,” he said.

De Ryck and Thompson agreed the last few years have been difficult for curling in the province, with membership rates dropping and clubs closing.

The issue was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, they said.

Thistle members will not notice a significant difference in fees and league schedules will remain similar, although some times will change to accommodate the influx of people, Thompson said.

The biggest change will be the size of the Deer Lodge’s rink, which features six curling sheets — one more than Thistle’s.

The Thistle property is owned by a group of club shareholders. De Ryck could not comment on what it may be worth, but said the money will be held by the Thistle Curling Club Ltd. and used to fund the clubs’ collective future.

On paper, Thistle and Deer Lodge will exist as separate entities, despite the shared location.

The move will allow Thistle to retain the proceeds of the sale, rather than forfeiting them to Curling Manitoba should the ownership group dissolve.

Deer Lodge was recently able to change its legal status to that of a non-profit organization allowing it to access government grants. That support factored into the decision to merge at the Deer Lodge location, Thompson said.

Thistle tried to do the same, but it was denied by the province, De Ryck said.

The changes will not come into effect until next season, and the remaining schedules will continue as planned at both clubs.

In an email sent last week, Thistle alerted members it was planning to make a “major announcement” Tuesday night to “address rumours.”

Speaking to the Free Press by phone hours before the announcement, facility manager Nate Glover, 41, said he had no idea what was happening, and had not been told anything by the ownership group.

“People the entire season have been asking me, ‘Hey, Nate, are we closing?’… I don’t know where everything started, but I assume we are getting a yes or no tonight for next year,” he said. “It’s frustrating to know it’s not up to me what’s happening… but also, its a relief because I can finally have an answer.”

While the building could use some cosmetic work, Glover believes it is structurally sound and not in need of any significant renovations.

“If it did go, it would be very sad for the community and for us,” he said.

Glover said his club employs roughly nine part-time staff.

When asked whether those employees will keep their jobs in the transition, De Ryck said he could not guarantee anything, but it was possible.

Thistle was founded Oct. 27, 1887 by curlers who separated from the Granite Curling Club. It is among the oldest clubs in western Canada, Glover said.

It has operated out of numerous locations throughout Winnipeg, including at 745 Minto St. where it remained from 1921 until 2006, when it burned in an arson.

The club purchased and moved into the Burnell Street location in 2007, amalgamating with the Valour Road Curling Club.

According to a Free Press article published at the time, around 110 Valour members joined the 120 Thistle members.

The building was bought from private owner Arnold Asham for around $250,000. It housed the Valour club since 1948.

Speaking briefly at the end of the announcement Tuesday, Asham said he sold the building to Thistle for roughly half of what it was worth.

tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca