Iqaluit Curling Club eager to return to rink after 10 months away
City facility was rented out to North of North TV production, impacting play earlier this year
The Iqaluit Curling Club is looking forward to starting a “normal” curling season when it gets its rink back in November, club president club president Peter Van Strien says. (Photo by Jeff Pelletier)
The rocks will be sliding and the brooms will be sweeping again soon at the Iqaluit Curling Club.
Iqaluit curlers are looking forward to hitting the ice again after nearly 10 months without their rink, says curling club president Peter Van Strien.
“It looks like we’ll have a fairly normal season for the first time in a few years,” Van Strien said in an interview.
A few setbacks have impacted the Iqaluit Curling Club’s access to the city-owned rink over the past few years.
Most recently, the city rented out the rink to be used as a temporary film studio for North of North, an upcoming Netflix/CBC/APTN sitcom, which was filmed in Iqaluit earlier this year.
Producers of the show asked the city for permission to use the space while a new permanent studio is being constructed in the city’s West 40 area.
The lack of a rink was one of the factors in Nunavut’s withdrawal from the 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Canada’s women’s curling championship.
“I’m happy they made the show, but we’re looking forward to a full season, for sure,” Van Strien said.
Other events that impacted the facility’s availability in recent years include the COVID-19 response.
As well, the city used the rink as a water storage site during the 2021 water crisis.
Before things can get ahead this season, Van Strien said a repair was needed on the ice plant so that the surface could freeze.
But, the city has made that repair.
“The ice has been freezing for two weeks, and the sheet is now nearly ready,” Geoff Byrne, a city spokesperson, said in an email.
“We’ll be painting it and preparing it for the season shortly.”
Byrne did not say how much the repair cost.
Van Strien said the hope is for the curling to start in the first week of November.
The club is planning on running its kids programs, league nights and learn-to-curl sessions.
As well, the club is looking to send teams to the Scotties, the Montana’s Brier Canadian men’s championship, as well as to the mixed, seniors, club and under 18 national championship events.
“[Curling is] a fun thing to do on a weekly basis while it’s cold and something to do in the winter,” Van Strien said.
“Curling is a very social sport and that’s what’s one of the great things about it.”
Time for the city to find a permanent use for the curling rink for year round usage. This club is a circus and there’s NO local Inuit curling or on the board. I heard they do everything possible to keep them out of the club. Rules aren’t adhered to and backstabbing their own volunteers has been an on going issue for years.
Nice anecdote, please, tell us what else you heard Mr No HotShots? It’s pretty simple, you pay to join, just like any other rec league in town. Just reading the other day that a member of the hockey associate stole money? Do we shut them down too?
How can I get involved in curling as an adult? seems like an interesting sport!
Thank you,