Granite Curling Club seeks fairness from city hall

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 03/02/2025 (257 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Early last week, the long-simmering dispute between the Granite Curling Club and the City of Winnipeg spilled into public view, as reported by the Free Press in its Jan. 28 story, Granite campaigns to save parking lot. However, that headline only scratches the surface. Anyone who values transparency and fairness in local government will want to hear the full story.

The Granite, founded in 1880, has been at the heart of Winnipeg sports and culture for well over a century (the evolution of the club and ties to the city over time are evident — look no further than legendary two-time World Champion curler Don Duguid, whose son, Terry Duguid, is now minister of sport for the federal government).

The Granite operates on city-owned property, originally purchased from the curling club in 1975 at a time of financial difficulty. Not long ago, city council declared this land “surplus” and instructed staff to negotiate a sale back to the now-revitalized club. Discussions were well underway, and this was but one property as part of a broader council plan, as reported in the Free Press last summer under the headline Twelve city-owned buildings identified for potential sale to non-profits.

Then, things went sideways. Negotiations with city staff to purchase the property abruptly stopped. Coun. Sherri Rollins removed the Granite from the list of properties slated for sale, and the city’s Housing Accelerator Fund administrator Richard Mahé set up multiple meetings with the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation 2.0 (UWCRC) to discuss development of the Granite’s west parking lot.

Suddenly, it looked like certain city officials had their own plan to develop the property — without the Granite’s meaningful involvement. For the club’s “co-operation,” there was talk of a profit-sharing arrangement, but the details were vague, ever-changing, and never put in writing despite repeated requests.

This process raised serious alarms for the Granite for three key reasons: First, ownership matters. The best way to secure the Granite’s future is for the people who are most invested in its success to own the property — just as originally intended. Any future development on the site should be owned by the Granite itself so that any revenue stays onsite.

Second, transparency in tendering. After looking at the UWCRC’s initial financials for the proposed development, it seemed clear: if the site is to be developed, it should go through an open, competitive process — not a sole-sourced deal arranged between city administrators and a corporation like the UWCRC.

Third, parking. The west parking lot is where members park (as opposed to the east lot, which has a limited number of spaces, and is used for the Beer Can’s operations in the summer). For development to proceed, a prudent plan would have to be in place to ensure the club’s long-term sustainability.

Undeterred by the Granite’s concerns, the city has scheduled a rezoning hearing — without formal notice to the Granite — and signalled that it will terminate the Granite’s lease (though it has yet to deliver formal notice). Those pushing this process, including Rollins, Mr. Mahé, and the UWCRC’s Jeremy Read, have tried to reframe this as a “parking versus housing” issue. That is a convenient narrative to push to the public, but it’s simply not true.

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The Granite has been consistent from the start: we welcome new ideas for the property, including housing. As long-time stewards in the community — having invested $1.6 million in the leased property since the 1990s — we are deeply invested in the community and understand the pressing need for more housing in the city’s west end. But there are still many issues to address first, including financial viability of a project, long-term capital repairs to the club, adequate member parking, and project design in keeping with the Granite’s heritage. The process should not be rushed on such an important site.

Meanwhile, city hall itself appears to be in flux. Rollins resigned from EPC and as chair of the property, planning, and development committee, citing concerns about transparency. This resignation is on the heels of Coun. Brian Mayes’s reported concerns over a lack of transparency in the management of the housing accelerator fund program.

We hope these same concerns about transparency that two city councillors have publicly voiced will prompt a fair resolution here. Because, ultimately, we all share the same goal: a reimagined 1 Granite Way that strengthens the community while ensuring the long-term future of a historic curling club.

Let’s get the process back on track, and let’s do it the right way — by the city resuming negotiations with the Granite to purchase back the property it has operated for over a century.

Christian Pierce is secretary of the Granite Curling Club and spokesperson for the “Save the Granite” campaign.