DIGBY,N.S. – A sporting facility in Digby is looking for new members to continue its long-standing tradition in the community.
Since 1948, the Digby Curling club has been a staple in the Digby area. Keith Weagle, president of the club, said new members are needed to keep the club strong into the future.
Weagle said a decade or two ago, the club had 100 to 120 members playing in various leagues. He said the club now has about 35 members and could use at least 10 new people.
“If we had in the area of 50 to 60, we’d be comfortable with that,” he said.
The cost to join as a new member is $125 or newcomers can pay $10 per night. Weagle said he just began curling four years ago and he encourages anyone who hasn’t tried the sport before to test it out.
“Just come out to the club and any of our members would be happy to show you how to play,” he said. “The best thing about curling is you just need a pair of shoes. There’s no gear to buy.”
The club is playing on Tuesday and Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. Weagle added that social nights are held on Friday.
“It’s more just a fun night and an introductory night,” he said about Friday ice-times.
Along with the adult leagues, a junior program consisting of youth plays on Thursday nights. Weagle said there is a daytime league on Monday and Thursday but this league has slowed down because most members are seniors and a number of people have retired the past few years.
“A lot of the seniors that had been curling stopped this year because a lot of them have health issues. So, we did lose about 10 members this year and that’s one of the reasons we’re struggling.”
Weagle said the Digby Area Recreation Commission leases the building to the curling club. The club pays rent and is responsible to pay other costs such as electricity. Weagle said memberships and fundraisers help to cover costs to the club.
Weagle noted that the facility is maintained well and new members can expect to play on a good sheet of ice.
“We actually have a reputation of having some of the best ice in the province,” he said. “That’s one of the good things about the club – it’s in good shape and it’s a good place to make ice.”
This year’s executive consists of Weagle, vice-president Rob Lewis, secretary Dawn Thomas and treasurer Colleen Murray. For more information on the club, contact the executive or email: [email protected]