Curling club seeks break on rental fees for provincials

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This article was published 03/01/2020 (2273 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Charleswood Curling Club is asking the City of Winnipeg to waive $14,000 in arena rental fees so it can play host to the provincial men’s curling championship event — and keep money in the club’s account for upgrades to its aging facility.

The 2020 Viterra Championship is scheduled for Feb. 4-9 at the Eric Coy Arena and Charleswood Curling Club.

Since provincial tournaments are held on arena ice, the organizers plan to turn the hockey rink into a pebbled five-sheeter so 32 teams from across the province can compete in Winnipeg. Meanwhile, the club at 4000 Grant Ave. will be the formal social venue.

“The curling club hosted the Scotties (women’s championship) in 2017, and it was a very successful event and it was a great money-raiser for the club, which helped with… improvements to the curling club building itself,” said Steven Dueck, a longtime curler and co-chairman of the local host committee.

Dueck said profits were used for maintenance, since upkeep with artificial ice machines is costly, as are everyday upgrades because the club was founded in 1946.

“We wanted to inject more money to upgrade and provide a curling facility for juniors in the area, for years to come,” he said, adding the success prompted the club to apply to host the 2020 provincial tournament.

Whereas in 2017, when Dueck said the city didn’t charge the club anything to use the arena, it has given organizers a $14,000 estimate to rent Eric Coy Arena for 10 days — taking into account set-up and tear-down, as well as utilities, ice preparation and expected staff overtime.

In response, the non-profit club has applied for a community incentive grant, worth $14,000. Typically, the grants are reserved for community members who want to purchase capital assets or undertake upgrades to improve public facilities.

The club has asked the city to waive requirements for the program to only grant funds for capital improvement projects that will be retained for more than a year.

Its application states the event will cost about $206,000 but organizers are budgeting for an additional $61,000, “which would be put back into the club, which would directly benefit the members as well as the community as a whole.”

Curl Manitoba executive director Craig Baker said profits to maintain clubs are just one of the many ways communities benefit from a local host.

Mainstream tournaments in Winnipeg bring the sport into the limelight and there’s an opportunity for communities to benefit economically since curlers, their families and fans visit, advocates said.

Coun. Sherri Rollins (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry) acknowledged the event is a “major fundraiser” for the club, since, like many of the city’s buildings, it is aging and requires costly upgrades. Rollins is chairwoman of the protection, community services and parks committee, whose members will vote on the grant application Jan. 8.

“I am alert to the fact (the outlined requirements) have been waived before and I’m excited about curling as we head into curling season,” she said. “I do think fairly positively about sports and community centre initiatives and I do know they’ve been successful before and I expect them to come and talk to it.”

The club has already found sponsors for the event and plans to raise money throughout the tournament at its bar and restaurant, as well as through fundraising draws and grants.

If the $14,000 doesn’t get approved, Dueck said they’ll have to find other avenues. 

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie