Another Successful Curling Season in the Books

Nugget Column #28 – Tuesday April 5th, 2016

This week will be bitter sweet as we say farewell to our curling friends and look forward to an off-season spent outdoors in warmer weather.

Looking back on the 2015-2016 season here are our top stories, in no particular order, as selected by yours truly:

1. Bonspiels experienced an increase in participation over last season. Most notably the Assante 101 Classic experienced 27% growth (including 31% more in-club teams) since 2014, generated more than three times to the profit to the senior men’s section, and the committee is optimistic that they can reach 32 teams in 2016.The Coldwell Banker Open Bonspiel improved from 18 teams to 32 and, in absence of a Jamaica Bonspiel, plans to grow into the club’s largest draw.

2. The Granite Club successfully hosted the 2016 Travelers Northern Ontario Men’s Curling Championships from February 10th – 14th profiting over $20,000 that will benefit a number of capital projects and purchased a new ice scraper for the arena.The reigning Olympic gold medalists, Team Brad Jacobs, successfully defended their provincial title and went on to register an undefeated round robin record at the Tim Horton’s Brier in Ottawa before losing the page 1 vs. 2 playoff game and semi-final.

3. The Granite Club announced that they would be bidding to host the Ford World Women’s Curling Championship at Memorial Gardens March 17th – 25th, 2018. As part of the process, community members will be approached shortly to place a deposit on full event passes.

4. The Granite Club and Widdifield Secondary School successfully hosted double (boys and girls) OFSAA Curling Championship from March 7th – 10th, 2016 and has secured the same for March of 2017.

5. Thirty-nine new curlers were introduced to curling via the Granite Club’s improved “Adult Learn to Curl” program. Two 6-week Learn to Curl programs were offered this season and fed the club’s Rookie Curling League that runs on Thursday nights. This league grew from three teams to seven teams in one year.

6. Doubles Curling was introduced to members of the Granite Club and attracted seven teams for each of two 7-week draws offered. As the most recent addition to the Winter Olympic Games schedule, it is suspected that this new and exciting format will be an area for growth in coming seasons.

7. The Board of Directors instituted a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of saving for extraordinary expenses of capital nature. Members were asked to loan the club $100 to jump start the fund while special fundraising events are being planned to replace those monies. Be sure to support the club’s Garage Sale on April 30th and Swing and Sweep on October 15th.

8. Local curler, Kate Sherry, defended her Northern Ontario bantam girls’ provincial title in addition to claiming her first junior women’s provincial title and earning the right to represent all of Ontario at the Optimist U18 International Curling Championships.

For more detailed information on the season please plan to attend our Annual General Meeting of Members on Tuesday April 12th at 7:00pm.

We look forward to reuniting with you all at what will be our fifth annual Summerspiel on July 8th, 9th and 10th.

Until then, farewell.

Bobby Ray General Manager North Bay Granite Club