Sombre start for 123rd MCA tourney

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This article was published 21/01/2011 (5598 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

IT was an unusually sombre opening ceremonies Thursday evening at the Grain Exchange Curling Club for the 123rd MCA Bonspiel.

The long-standing club, which dates back all the way to 1928, is slated for demolition later this year and speakers at the opening also remarked on the passing of two MCA Bonspiel veterans.

Curler Pat Spiring, who died on Monday, was remembered as a longtime member of the Grain Exchange and participant in many MCA Bonspiels over the years. And former city councillor Bill Clement, who died last May, was also a frequent MCA Bonspiel competitor, as Winnipeg’s deputy-mayor Justin Swandel pointed out.

“Bill was a regular competitor here for many, many years,” said Swandel. “It is a little bittersweet. So if you’ve ever had the chance to enjoy some curling or play with Bill, take some time to share a memory and honour a man who was a great admirer of curling.”

The ceremonial first rock of the 2011 Bonspiel was thrown by Grain Exchange member Ernie Reyhberg, the 1985 Manitoba mixed champion.

It is still unclear what is going to become of the Grain Exchange curling assets and membership when the club closes for good this spring. Club president Barry Fogg said the Grain Exchange board still has to decide how they will disperse the club’s curling assets — and any money that is left over — when the club formally closes.

Fogg said there is talk of the Grain Exchange men’s league moving over to the Granite Curling Club, but no one’s sure what will become of the rest of the club’s leagues and members.

Fogg said the club’s members can continue to use the building through their wind-up dinners in May, at which point the doors will close for good.

The club is slated to be demolished as part of a new Upper Fort Garry interpretive centre.

paul.wiecek@freepress.mb.ca