When the Vancouver Curling Club first formed in 1912, it was housed on Denman Street before moving to The Forum at Hastings Park in the 1930s.
The club then moved to its five-sheet facility on Dinmont Street near Queen Elizabeth Park. The club has remained in the area ever sincewith a short break during construction of the new Hillcrest Centre, the official venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic curling competitions. The Vancouver Curling Club moved into the new centre last August, just in time for the 2011/2012 season.
The club wants to celebrate its 100th anniversary and recruit new members with special events planned for the weekend of Oct. 12 and 13 at Hillcrest including a gala dinner, the Celebrate the Decades Funspiel and an off-ice open house. The organizers are also trying to recreate the historic 1949 photograph shown with this story by having as many curlers as possible turn out for a photo shoot at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13.
Club volunteer Sam Corea says while the rules of curling have remained much the same over the years, there have been changes to its equipment, clothing and protocols.
You cant smoke cigarettes or drink beer on the ice anymore, said Corea. And todays ice is so well maintained, you cant blame the ice if youre not playing well.
The new fully accessible curling club at Hillcrest includes eight sheets of ice and a licensed lounge with a seating capacity for 200, in addition to the pro shop, locker rooms, a meeting room and 17,000 square feet of floor space available for off-season use to other groups. Today more than 1,100 members from 20 leagues curl at Hillcrest.
Besides the anniversary weekend, the club is celebrating Sports Day in Canada Sept. 29 from noon to 4 p.m. For a complete list of events and more information about the 100th anniversary weekend, visit vancouvercurlingclub.com/100years.
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The redevelopment of Shannon Mews includes a proposed new park for West 57th Avenue and Granville Street.
The landscape architecture firm of Durante Kreuk has developed a concept design for the new public green space and the park board wants your opinion. The 0.285-hectare park will feature heritage elements, native landscaping and a natural playground.
The board has organized a community open house Wednesday, Sept. 19, at St. Stephens United Church Hall, 7025 Granville St., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. After Sept. 19, the concept plan can be viewed, and comments made, by visiting vancouver.ca/shannonmewspark.
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The Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is ongoing now through Sept. 23 across the country with numerous special cleanup projects, including one organized to tackle garbage along English Bay from Stanley Park Drive to Burnaby Street. The goal of these projects is to promote understanding about shoreline litter and encourage Canadians to do their part in keeping our beaches clean from garbage.
Participants are asked to meet on the beach side of the seawall below the Cactus Club restaurant on English Bay, Sept. 22 at 10 a.m. The organizers will supply garbage bags and disposable gloves, but are asking that participants bring their own reusable gloves if possible.
Another cleanup project takes place at 3530 Deering Island at the north arm of the Fraser River Sept. 23 beginning at 11 a.m. For a complete list of cleanup projects still looking for volunteers, visit shorelinecleanup.ca.
Twitter: @sthomas10
