GORE BAY—With the financial support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF), the Gore Bay Curling Club was able to do some necessary work to the building in 2022.
“Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to the Gore Bay Curling Club,” said Dan Marois, president of the club in a ceremony last Friday afternoon, prior to the first draw for the annual curffle event.
“Today, we are recognizing the OTF for the funding of various projects accomplished during the 2022 calendar year,” said Mr. Marois. He explained the curling club has been operating in its current location since 1983, and overall since 1903. “This would not have been accomplished without the great support/work of our volunteers, and the assistance of such programs as the OTF.”
Mr. Marois provided a summary of the OTF funding, and the projects completed as a result of the funding. “We received $31,200 from the Community Building Fund. The money went towards changing the two front windows and repairing water damage to the sills, upgrading our electric heaters throughout the building, upstairs and downstairs. The work also included replacing the two furnaces on our ice surfaces. The originals were in place for 20 plus years, so they were at the end of their lifetime frame.”
“We would like to give a shout out of thanks to the local contractors, Kerry Chatwell, Island Heating/Air Conditioning and Addison Electric,” said Mr. Marois. “Also, a special shout out to Elva Carter who handled the ceremony and was in contact with OTF.”
“As stated earlier, the club has been providing recreational activities for over 120 years,” continued Mr. Marois. “During the winter, we provide two days and two nights of curling during the week, along with a men’s and ladies’ bonspiel, various one-day functions, and we close our curling season with curffle, an event invented by Bill Clark, a local member, which has turned out to be our largest fundraiser. We are also open to private functions year-round.”
“We did not curl the winter of 2020-2021 due to COVID and had a reduced season last year. The funding provided made an integral contribution to helping us kickstart the 2022/2023 season,” said Mr. Marois. “It is support like this that helps us provide a service to the surrounding communities. This brings us to our guest speaker, Ron Lane, the Mayor of Gore Bay.”
“I would like to thank Dan for introducing me here today to this event,” said Mayor Lane. “I haven’t been in here (curling club) for a while. But I go by the curling club a lot in my travels and I see a lot of vehicles in the parking lot and the lights on in the club. I understand you have many new members and having the curling club helps to integrate new people to the town and area.”
“I want to thank the club for inviting me here today, and congratulate you on receiving the funding,” said Mayor Lane. “Grants such as this from Trillium don’t come around every day. The funding you have received for the heating, windows and furnaces will help keep the club going for many more years.”
Mayor Lane said the town is lucky to be able to help provide the community hall, arena, and curling club to provide a place to exercise, and socialize for local and neighbouring residents. “Fortunately, the club is able to do all of this again (following the pandemic).”
On the long history of the curling club Mayor Lane said, “when I returned from university in the 1970s the curling club was still located downtown. My dad (John Lane) always loved to curl especially in the mixed bonspiels. He and my uncle Larry, Marilyn Clarke and Betty Smyth would always play in this event. He always made time for the mixed bonspiel every year.”“In closing, on behalf of the club, we would like to thank everyone for attending. We will be beginning our curffle event shortly, so please enjoy our hospitality. Thank you,” added Mr. Marois.
