Curling club has new lift, washroom

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This article was published 20/03/2014 (4526 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A local curling club unveiled some new additions to its building last week.

The Assiniboine Memorial Curling Club (940 Vimy Rd.) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on March 18 for its new vestibule entranceway on the east side of the building, complete with a public lift, as well as a new unisex wheelchair-accessible washroom on the second floor.

The entire project cost approximately $183,000. Three levels of government provided financial aid in order to support the installation of the lift and the washroom.

The federal government provided $84,988 through the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF). The provincial government gave $44,000, and the City of Winnipeg donated $50,000 through the Community Improvement Grant Program (CIGP).

That left about $4,000 for the curling club to bring to the table to fully cover the cost of the project.

Paul Batchelor, AMCC manager, said that money came from club memberships from the approximately 1,000 members of all ages who curl at the club, and revenue produced through use of the club, including lounge sales and event bookings.

Although the money had been approved in November of 2012, the project didn’t break ground until 2013 for a number of reasons.

“The initial delay was waiting for a City of Winnipeg permit, which took three months, and then there were delays with the weather. It wasn’t a good winter for building,” Batchelor said, adding he sympathized with the general contractor for working under poor weather conditions.

“Also, the lift had to be ordered, built, and installed, so that took time,” Batchelor said.

Batchelor said the public lift and the washroom will be beneficial to the club because a number of people with mobility issues are members.

“We have at least 10 wheelchairs, and we also have a bunch of folks that use sticks to curl, which means they have mobility issues,” Batchelor said.

Batchelor added that membership at the club is “holding steady with indications of an increase in future seasons.”

The construction process was completed in February of this year, after about six months of construction, but Batchelor didn’t see the rush to have a grand opening for the new additions right away.

Batchelor said he was also waiting for MP Steven Fletcher (Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia-Headingley) to be available so he can attend the grand opening.

“It was important he was there, so this worked out. And he did get a lift upstairs,” Batchelor said with a laugh.

Present at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, in addition to Fletcher, were Coun. Grant Nordman (St. Charles), who curls at the AMCC, and MLA Jim Rondeau (Assiniboia).

For more information about the AMCC, visit curlamcc.ca or call 204-832-5817.

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