Curling Club president addresses Pincher Creek Town Council

Jonathan Skrimshire - Armed with a thick sheaf of letters of support from downtown businesses, Curling Club President Jessie Nelson appeared before Pincher Creek Council March 7 to present figures on membership and usage of the existing curling rink and to argue for the retention of the facility in the town's central core.

MD Council defers funding decision on proposed Pincher Creek curling rink

Jonathan Skrimshire - Council for the Municipal District of Pincher Creek deferred any decision on funding of the proposed new Pincher Creek curling rink pending clarification of ownership and an assessment of the MD's priorities.

Council is seeking a formal statement from the Town of Pincher Creek clarifying ownership of the proposed facility. Council has also resolved to allocate time to discuss recreational facility needs and priorities within the MD before meeting with Town Council on March 8th to address the Curling Club's request for $1.25-million towards the project.

Discussions during both the morning Committee meeting and afternoon regular Council meeting February 13 revealed the difficulties Council is facing in dealing with the Club's request and other major new requests for funding not included in the 2018 budget.

Revised Pincher Creek curling rink site plan drawing released

Jonathan Skrimshire - The revised site plan drawing for the proposed new Pincher Creek curling rink has been released. The plan depicts a four or optionally six sheet rink. The rink structure is to be sited on the field north of the Multi-Purpose Facility, aligned on a north-south axis parallel with Robertson Avenue. Following the demolition of the existing rink, the area between the Arena and the disused Sobey's building is to be developed into an 81 stall parking lot. The existing parking area east of the library is to be reconfigured into a one way 32 stall loop. In addition, 12 angle parking stalls are to be provided adjacent to the proposed rink structure.

Town of Pincher Creek Council hears citizens' curling rink concerns

Jonathan Skrimshire - Two citizen delegations addressed Pincher Creek Town Council at their meeting of December 11 to express objections to the proposed siting of a new curling rink on the Multi-Purpose Facility grounds. Judith Green, a member at large of the Pincher Creek Recreation Advisory Board, presented personal remarks arguing for preservation of the entire green space area north of the existing pool and library. Jennifer Draper, Rose Murfin and Billi Rigaux, speaking on behalf of the Spray Park Committee, expressed their concerns over the impact of the proposed rink structure and parking lot on the spray park. In a lengthy back and forth discussion with the delegation speakers, Council members demonstrated their willingness to hear the views being expressed and evidenced flexibility regarding the final siting decision.

Pincher Creek Recreation Advisory Board recommends new swimming fees, revisits curling rink concerns

Construction site of spray park behind multi-purpose facility

Jonathan Skrimshire - The Pincher Creek Recreation Advisory Board reached agreement on a new swimming pool fee structure for 2018 and engaged in further discussion of the proposed siting for a new curling rink at their meeting of Wednesday, December 6. The Board, consisting of Councillor Mark Barber and six members of the community, appeared in accord on the final recommendation regarding swimming pool admission fees. The issue of the proposed curling rink site, and the question of public input into the project, however, proved contentious and revealed frustrations within the group.

Letter: Curling in our community

Pincher Creek Curling Club Past President and Building Committee Chairperson Debbie Reed - First, it is wonderful to have so many citizens interested in curling and our community. Recently in the media, valid concerns and questions have been expressed most of which have been addressed in council meetings and/or Facilities Steering Committee meetings over the past 10 years. In February of 2015 representatives of the club were invited to sit on the Town of Pincher Creek Facilities Subcommittee regarding a new curling rink. The Curling Club, a member owned facility, is one of three in the province of Alberta, all others being owned and operated by municipalities. Currently, half our members are from Town and half from the MD of Pincher Creek. Ages of our members range from 18 to 85 years.The percentage of the total population that curls in Pincher creek is up to five times more than surrounding communities.

Curling Club issues discussed at Town of Pincher Creek council meetings

Chris Davis - Pincher Creek Curling Club's aspirations to replace their aging facility was the subject of considerable debate and discussion at Town Council and at the Recreation Board Advisory table last month, November 2017, On November 14 the club, represented to council by past president and present Fundraising Coordinator Debbie Reed, asked for and received a letter of support from council regarding their application for an Alberta Culture and Tourism Community Facility Enhancement Program (CFEP) matching grant in the amount of $959,620. After considering several possible venues for the proposed new facility, the grant application will be based on a proposed new structure and parking lot northeast of the Multi-Purpose Facility on Main Street, adjacent to the currently under construction spray park, and approximately a block away from the current curling structure. At council's November 27 meeting citizen Tia Doell appeared as a delegation to voice concerns about that location, including encroachment on the new spray park and surrounding green space.

Pincher Creek's free swimming praised, proposed curling rink site questioned

Jonathan Skrimshire - Thumbs up to free swimming and thumbs down to the new curling rink site was the main takeaway from the November 15th meeting of the Pincher Creek Recreation Advisory Committee. Members expressed great satisfaction with the results of the 2017 free swimming initiative and a desire to consider extending the policy into 2018. Reaction to the proposed siting of a new curling rink and parking lot in the green space northeast of the Multi-purpose Facility, on the other hand, was decidedly negative. After airing various objections to the specific site selected, the committee passed a motion calling upon Council to engage in public consultation regarding the curling rink project.

Pincher Creek curling rink site selection proceeding

Proposed siting of new curling rink and related facilities and parking (from Town of Pincher Creek documents)

Jonathan Skrimshire - The Pincher Creek Facilities Planning Steering Committee will be recommending to Town Council that a new curling rink be constructed on Robertson Avenue, northeast of the Multi-Purpose Facility. The proposed structure is to be sited between Elm and Maple streets, aligned on a north-south axis parallel to Robertson. Parking for the facility will extend west of the building and will be conjoined with the existing east side Multi-Purpose Facility parking lot.

Local organizations receive provincial grants

MLA Pat Stier (second from left) with Oldman River Antique Equipment and Threshing Club

Livingstone-Macleod MLA Pat Stier was in the Pincher Creek area earlier this month with Government of Alberta cheques in hand to pass on to local organizations, grants to be used in current projects. Pincher Spray Park Society received $125,000, as did Pincher Creek Curling Club. Oldman River Antique Equipment and Threshing Club/Heritage Acres received $10,000. The Alberta Whitewater Association also received $11,835.

MLA Stier with Pincher Spray Park Society ant Town of Pincher Creek representatives

MLA Stier with Pincher Creek Curling Club's Debbie Reed

Pincher Creek Curling Club 2016/17 final league standings

The 2016/17 Pincher Creek Curling Club season has come to an end, and final league standings have been released (see below).  It's been another season of fun on the sheets and building woes.  The club continues to work towards a viable option to continue curling in Pincher Creek, despite a few setbacks.   Club President Jessie Nelson continues to look to the future.  "School programs are very important for future curlers," she says. "During this season we have put a lot of students through our school program as well."

MD Council receives critical letter regarding recreation funding

Chris Davis - At their February 14 meeting MD council received a letter from Pincher Creek Curling Club representative and MD resident Diana Reed dated February 8, 2017, which was critical of the MD's response to issues she brought forward as a delegation last November, specifically related to what she perceives as the MD's lack of commitment to joint recreation projects with the Town of Pincher Creek.  Her more recent letter was of a similar theme, also addressing her concerns about the MD's response to her earlier letter and delegation.

Pincher Creek Town Council hears results of proposed curling rink/golf club facility study

Toni Lucas - Council for the Town of Pincher Creek heard a Curling/Community Recreation Centre Final Report by Gibbs Gage Architects' David Wittman on Monday, March 13.  The study was of the building which currently houses the golf course clubhouse, bowling alley, squash courts, Joe's Gym, and a restaurant in Pincher Creek with consideration of including a curling facility with either four or six sheets of ice.   Wittman explained his firm was engaged in the study for the last year and a number of stakeholders were involved in the process.

Pincher Creek Curling Club discussions continue

• Town Council discusses Golf Club location for new curling rink
• MD Council approves provisional $140,000 contribution to portable ice plant

Pincher Creek Curling Club continues to look for insurance and funding

Toni Lucas - The Pincher Creek Curling Club is facing the possibility of an early shut down of their spring 2017 season due to insurance issues.  Approximately fifty club members met for an emergency meeting on Wednesday, February 1, to discuss all possible avenues, including selling the building to the Town of Pincher Creek.  A vote of the membership at the meeting authorized the executive to sell the building to the Town if necessary to get insurance coverage.  Only two members voted against the motion.

Pincher Creek Curling Club hosts 2017 Combo Bonspiel

C. Davis photos except where noted

• Also: Insurance concerns to be discussed at Feb. 1 emergency meeting

Chris Davis - The Pincher Creek Curling Club hosted a Combo Bonspiel last weekend.  Eight men's teams and 6 ladies teams participated.  Winning the Men's side was Calgary's CCOTR (Canadian Club on the Rocks) team.  Pincher Creek's Lemire team won the Ladies side.

Pincher Creek Curling Club asks MD for support

Chris Davis -

Pincher Creek Curling Club fundraising coordinator Debbie Reed and representative Diana Reed appeared as a delegation before the MD of Pincher Creek council at their November 8, 2016 meeting to appeal for funding support from the MD for a new curling facility. Diane Reed also appeared as a delegation before the MD council on November 22, with Debbie Reed in attendance.
According to the November 8 delegation, the need for a new curling facility has been an issue since at least 2008. "The present building is old and needs replacement."

Provided documents included an September 11, 2013 independent engineering inspection report that found several serious flaws with the curling club's current Main Street structure. Since then several solutions have been presented and discussed by delegations to both councils. In a letter to council outlining their purpose for requesting to appear at the November 8 meeting Debbie Reed said "Our delegation will expect your reasons and rationale as to why we seem to be hitting a brick wall as far as financial support from the MD councils, both present and past."

"What rationale is council basing their decision on in this matter? I have been a part of a steering committee with the Town and other representatives regarding this matter. After four meetings, I asked why the MD was not involved and found out that a councillor was appointed to sit in on the meetings but hasn't been. Not only that, I found out it was my representative councillor. You are supposed to represent the people and in not attending the meetings, I don't feel council can make an informed decision because you do not have all the facts and rationales discussed to come to the decision for a new building. I am here to present you facts and answer questions you may have as you did not have anyone at those meetings."

According to the delegation, the need for a new curling facility and an appeal for financial help to achieve that "has been presented to this council since at least 2012. Why has there been no money in the budget over the last 4.5 years for this project?"


"The town has been approached over the same period of time and they are supportive to pay for half of the building," the delegation told council on November 8.

"We are a self sufficient club and do not ask council for money to run day to day operations."

According to the club's documents, over 500 people a month used the rink last season, 55% of those curlers were MD residents, and "1.5% of the population of Pincher Creek town and MD are members of' our curling rink," which the delegation contrasted with "0.3 % of the population of Lethbridge city and county" who are members of their curling rink.

In a March 2015 letter to MD council Debbie Reed said "As a club, we have raised $30,000 towards a new building. In 2012 we proposed a plan for a new facility to MD of Pincher Creek council and Pincher Creek Town Council at an estimated cost of $3,000,000. Our club applied for grants that were denied because we did not have a land location nor did we have financial backing. The Town of Pincher Creek has recently budgeted for $1.25 million for a new curling rink. We are again in the process of applying for grants such as CFEP, CIP, along with grants from private foundations. Our goal as a club is to raise $500,000 for the new building with hopes that the MD of Pincher Creek No 9. will match the Town of Pincher Creek's amount of 1.25 million."

According to their presentation, the club has a sustaining membership of all ages and "We have all nights of the week filled and the rink is used almost every weekday with school programs and curling leagues and bonspiels."

"We have a very strong junior program with 20 juniors last year. We had 3 in 2012."

"Curriculum from Alberta Education lists curling as a "lifelong" physical activity. Why would our council not support this?"

The package presented included copies of previous letters from the curling rink and copies of two extensive studies, one based on the impact a curling rink has on a rural community and the second a comparison of curling rinks across Canada. "This way when we are making comparisons, we are comparing 'apples to apples'." Engineering reports dating back to 2009 were also included.

In her own written submission to council Diana Reed said council "should be financially contributing to the new curling rink and matching the Town Of Pincher Creek's contribution to date." In person on November 22 she said "You have sadly neglected the health of the community itself."

The Town of Pincher Creek and the MD of Pincher Creek are currently holding their annual joint funding discussions, but Diana Reed (an MD citizen) said she believed that "No longer do we have a working recreation agreement with the town." She questioned the MD's current $100 per capita contribution to recreation joint funding, saying the Town contributes over $300 per capita and "this doesn't seem fair to me." During the question period that followed her presentation to council Reed questioned MD council's willingness to work with the Town, saying " This petty argument between the Town and MD has to stop." She said the MD is not keeping in touch with the cultural and recreational needs of the population. "If the Town is addressing it, why are we not?" She also called Pincher Creek a "sick community" that needed to increase its appeal if it is to get more people to move here to help revitalize it. "Do we want to be like Barrons and Carmangay?" She warned that if a centralized recreation facility is built in Fort Macleod "this community will die".

"It is your responsibility to be proactive, not reactive, in responding to the needs of the community. Why are you dragging your feet? This is part of your job, just as much as roads."

After the presentation of November 8 councillor Fred Schoening said he would commit $1,000 of his own money to support the new curling facility provided the club could demonstrate its viability by achieving 1000 signatures on a fundraising petition. At the November 22 meeting Diane Reed said she thought that was a loaded proposition. "What does it mean, are there 1000 taxpayers in MD ?" At that meeting councillor Quentin Stevick said he agreed with councillor Schoening's idea and offered to be donation number 999 with his own $1000 donation if councillor Schoening is number 1000 with his $1000. "We are prepared to help you on your fundraising event." Councillor Terry Yagos told Diane Reed that there is an MD fund of approximately $6000 available for capital projects, and "anytime the town asks for it they can have it," which CAO Wendy Kay clarified was in addition the MD's $100 per capita contribution. Reeve Brian Hammond said all members of the MD council is concerned about well being of community but has to sometimes make hard decisions. "We have a wide range of responsibilities and we have limited assets."

Reeve Hammond said the MD was having a meeting with their community partners (the Town) this week, and council decided to postpone further discussion until after that meeting.

Related stories:

Pincher Creek Curling Club brings new building proposal back to Town Council (2012)

Sturling Stake Bonspiel held at Pincher Creek Curling Club

Sturling Stakes Bonspiel competitors
Submitted photo

Toni Lucas - On Friday, November 19 the Pincher Creek Curling Club hosted 8 teams to a Sturling Stake Bonspiel.  The 16 participants took brooms to the ice.  Sturling is a style of curling that only requires 2 person teams and brings together stick, slide and wheelchair curlers on a level playing field.  This style of curling is opening the sport to anyone of any age or gender or physical ability. The rocks can be handled with a curling stick from a standing or sitting position (i.e. wheelchairs), or the usual slide delivery can be used, enabling everyone to participate competitively.  The Curling Club is excited to offer this relatively new twist to their beloved sport to the community.  The top two teams of the bonspiel were Team Reed with Rocky Reed and Mackenzie Reed, and Team Reed again with curlers Bob Reed and Debbie Reed.

2016 Pincher Creek Town and Country Bonspiel

Josh Davis

Pincher Creeks Town and Country Bonspiel ran for 6 days two weeks ago, with draws starting on Monday and a banquet.  22 teams competed, including men's teams, women's teams, and mixed teams. Players competed in teams of four; however, many teams were larger, with players switching out with each other and taking turns as spectators. The Town and Country bonspiel is a long running event in the town of Pincher Creek. Curling is a great activity that is open to participants of all ages. The Town and Country is the last bonspiel Pincher Creek's curling club put on for the season.

Curling season begins

Josh Davis and Toni Lucas

Pincher Creek Curling Club held their first bonspiel of the 2015/16 season on November 13/14, the Moonlight Open. Sturling Curling has also been introduced at the Pincher Creek rink this season.  It's aimed at an older crowd but people of all ages are willing to try it out.