Cal Hauserman addresses city council on behalf of the board of the Medicine Hat Curling Club. Curlers filled the gallery as council was presented with a request to underwrite $1.5 million in repairs while grant applications and fundraising begins.--News Photo Collin Gallant
cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant
The Medicine Curling Club is seeking the city’s financial help to get repairs at the 66-year-old build underway and prevent a multi-year suspension of curling in the city, according to club officials.
MHCC didn’t operate this winter after line breaks last October closed it down and, now, with a plan to address building problems, club officials are requesting the city cover $1.5 million in construction costs and new equipment purchases.
That would stand in place until other grant requests and a fundraising drive kicks in, and the city could retain ownership of the portable equipment that could eventually be sold to recoup the cost, or repurposed if a new facility is considered.
“Time is of the essence, and action is required to see curling next fall,” said Cal Hauserman, co-chair of the club’s facilities committee during a presentation. He said lead time on equipment orders is seven to nine months, but an order in May could see work completed by Christmas.
As the work gets underway, major provincial grant applications and a club fundraiser would launch, potentially repayable to the city, to offset what would be a municipal grant.
“We’re open to all options to make this happen,” said Hauserman. “We’ve operated in this city for 66 years with no support from the taxpayer … The board and members can’t fathom not having curling in a city this size.”
Council received the presentation for information only – any action is still being considered – but it follows a closed session presentation to members at the end of April.
Curling club members filled the gallery of the open meeting later that night, and on Monday, about 100 supporters attended to show support in curling jackets.
After questions from council about financing and future plans, administrators were tasked with evaluating the proposal, and the potential to recover grants from a third party.
“We understand the request is time sensitive and we’ll keep the curling club in the loop,” said city manager Ann Mitchell.
Included in Monday’s presentation were letters of support from Curling Canada and Curling Alberta, the Medicine Hat Adaptive Sports and Recreation, Gas City Roller Derby and Medicine Hat Shuffleboard Association (which rent the facility in the summer).
The facility dates back to 1955 when the club built the building and eight sheets on the city-owned site, and a 1983 expansion added four more.
Four sheets were closed and the space leased in 2015 to a fitness company.
Local and provincial officials state the sport’s popularity is strong, and locally, the 500-member club was operating near capacity in the 2021-22 season.
Along with 10 local bonspiels each year, the club previously hosted the Canada Cup of Curling, grand slam events and the World Junior spiel in the early 1980s.
New bids could bring national or international level curling events to the city, each with upwards of $10 million in economic activity.
Hauserman said the club began last season with a high-level proposal to bid on a Brier or Scotties national championship bonspiel.
“Our priorities changed from hosting a national event to making sure our club survives,” said Hauserman.
With the local facility closed, members curled in Brooks, Schuler, Irvine, Redcliff and Bow Island over the winter.
The facility needs a new ice-plant and brine piping system, which burst in late 2022 causing the cancellation of the winter season.
The plan is to purchase a new “ice mat” system – common for outdoor skating rinks – to lay over top of the existing slab. A new ice-plant, estimated to cost $1.2 million, is the major expense.
The club doesn’t receive any operating funds from the city and leases the land through a long-term agreement, but owns its building.
That is a common arrangement with a number of city golf courses, the tennis club and even the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, but it can make financing improvements difficult.
Over the years the city has extended direct loans to groups (currently $240,000 to three groups, including $98,000 to the curling club), or guaranteed $1.7 million in loans since 2012 on major projects since land cannot be used as collateral by banks.
