A major blow to the sport of curling in the Drumheller Valley was the loss of the curling rink last year and now it looks like the Drumheller Curling Club is wrapping up operations.
On Tuesday, Drumheller Curling Club President, Debbie Walker, reached out sharing that the club intends to dissolve and cease operations. In her words, they are literally “hanging up the brooms” and “taking out” the house.
The Drumheller Curling Club had known that they would need a new facility and had been working in earnest since 2010 for an alternate home for curling in the Drumheller Valley. Phase 2 of the Badlands Community Facility was to include a plan for a rink, has never come to fruition. Walker shares that they have been doing everything they can to keep the sport of curling alive in Drumheller. “Since the demolition of the old facility, the Executive has been working diligently on plans for an alternative option for curling enthusiasts. We developed a strategic plan with Curling Alberta and Curling Canada; we explored fundraising opportunities; we had quotes on a turn-key build; we had a company at the ready to contract to assist with business planning and documents for funding acquisition, such as large grants, sponsorships and provincial funding. One of the key components for securing major funding such as the Community Facility Enhancement Grant is the requirement of lease of land, title of land, or lease of an existing building to qualify. Although the Town of Drumheller has indicated a potential space, we are unable to get a lease of land or title of land. We also require a financial partnership with the Town towards a facility that can serve many purposes, including Town functions and other groups in addition to curling. Currently, these things are just not coming to fruition. We have ‘spun our rocks’ as they say.”
With plans not materializing, the club will be winding things down admits Walker. “The Drumheller Curling Club will be wrapping up final activities over the next few months. We are truly disappointed to lose curling in the community, feel despair, and truly wanted different outcomes. We express sincere appreciation and thanks to everyone in the community who supported us over the years.”
Curling has been played in the Drumheller Valley since the early 1930’s. The sport is flourishing in our province with Women’s national championship in Calgary last February, and the Women’s World Championship to be played in Calgary in 2026.
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