Glooscap Curling Club: floor could fail at any time

BY KIRK STARRATT

Kings County Register

Their ice floor has been in a state of deterioration for the past decade and, if it fails - as it could at any time - the club would be forced to close.

Representatives of the Glooscap Curling Club in Kentville have approached both the town and the County of Kings looking for financial help for a new ice floor.

Club president Bruce Davey, who made a presentation to Kings County councillors at the January committee of the whole (COTW) session, said, just as it has for the past 78 years, the club opened in late October and, until early April, will accommodate curlers of every age and gender in recreational and competitive play.

Up to this point, they have maintained and operated the club through volunteers, self-financing and fundraising. Davey said they are now faced with a major problem. “Our floor, for whatever reason, was built on suspended concrete pillars,” he said, pointing out the pillars have settled over the years, causing the floor to shift.

This means the club has had to maintain an unequal ice depth: in some spots, the ice is only five centimetres thick, but it’s as much as 15 cm thick in other spots. The difference in ice thickness means the club’s energy costs are at least double that of other comparable rinks. The club is budgeting $16,000 for power this year.

The shifting of the floor has also caused breaks in the brine lines that run through the concrete and freeze the floor, causing deterioration to the extent the crumbing concrete has exposed reinforced steel under the floor.

Following an assessment by Hiltz and Seamone in September, the useful life of the floor has been estimated at zero to three years.

In early January, club members voted to replace the floor with a concrete on-grade floor at an estimated cost of $373,000. “I can’t emphasize enough that we are in a crisis situation,” Davey said. “If we lose a season of curling, the club would probably not survive. We would lose membership to other clubs and would not have a source of fundraisers and workers that one has to have in an active club.”

The club is looking to Kentville and the county for approximately one-third of the funds. The other two-thirds would come from the province and members. The club made a presentation to the Kentville Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee Davey said was well-received. For its investments, the town and county would continue to enjoy the financial and recreational benefits of an independently-run facility.

County councillors voted to send the request to upcoming budget talks. Councillor Janet Newton suggested the club, as a non-profit organization, should be able to apply to the town to have its taxes waived. She also asked if the club could accept funding over several years. Davey said they would have to arrange bridge financing, but the club has no debt and is exploring banking options.

Deputy Warden Diana Brothers suggest council look at its Open Space Fund.

Councillor Dick Killam said it might to possible to secure some funding from the provincial Department of Seniors, as Davey said the most active segment of membership is seniors.

Presently, membership is split about 60/ 40 with 125 members from the town and 94 from the county.