Although there has been a lot of rumours out there lately that curling will not be happening in Barriere this year, nothing could be further from the truth.
Barriere Curling Club rep Rodger Nordquist told this reporter last week most definitely, “We are curling!”
That’s right, for you folks out there who love to curl, you can register for the season at AG Foods in Barriere from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 29, or Nov. 5. You can sign up for the Men’s, Ladies, Senior’s, or Mixed leagues, and junior players are encouraged to join up as well.
“Our junior players only have a cost of $3 to curl,” says Nordquist, “And that includes equipment if they do not have their own such as brooms or sliders [rubber slip on soles for your shoes]. Where else can you get your kid involved for just $3 per night?”
Nordquist also notes that a full season of curling for adults works out to approximately $8 per game for 20 games.
“Curling is a lot of fun and it is very affordable,” said the Curling Club rep, while noting that people sometimes forget how reasonable the cost is to curl.
“We are having a membership drive right now. We really need to grow our membership to be able to survive financially,” said the curler, “There are lots of adults and juniors out there who would have a lot of fun here in the winter, and the Club is welcoming anyone to come out and try curling.”
If you think you’d like to try, but are not too sure about signing up first, Nordquist invites you to call him at 250-672-1054, and he will make arrangements for you to learn a little bit about the game and try your hand on the ice at no cost.
“We want folks to come out and give it a try; there’s no charge, just give me a call.”
Nordquist says that although the Club has been struggling a little financially over the past few years due to lack of members, the new board of directors are full of enthusiasm and eager to grow the membership.
“Our first project is to refinish, and repaint the floor under the ice,” said Nordquist, “This usually costs about $7,000, but we have raised enough money to buy the paint and volunteers are now redoing the floor.”
He says that the work on the floor, which needs to be done about every five years, has delayed the start of the curling season, but it will be all worthwhile when games start on Nov. 8.
Nordquist also notes that the Club will continue to actively fundraise , and in addition to their twice yearly flea markets, they plan on hosting a bingo before Christmas of this year; most likely sometime in November.
“If we have enough interest in the bingo we might consider holding them on a regular basis,” said Nordquist.
He notes that funds raised are not just used for maintenance of the facility but are also used to provide curling clinics for youth.
“We have to get the curlers to come out and new members to give it a try,” said the curler, “If we have 16 teams for the season we’re good, but it would be nice to see 32.”
For more information about the Barriere Curling Club call Rodger Nordquist at 250-672-1054 or go to www.barrierecurling.com.
