Have you heard? RA Curling Club gets an upgrade  

By Margaret MacLeod

The new home of the RA Curling Club is in the new Curling Centre of Excellence at the RA Centre. The Curling Centre of Excellence provides the club’s members the opportunity to play on ice installed to exacting standards set by Curl ON for their high-performance tournaments. Combined with the club’s new rocks, the conditions are perfect for exciting games.

Over the summer, the RA Centre also improved the off-ice experience by renovating the old hockey changing rooms area into a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone, with lockers, changing areas, washrooms and showers that meet the new guidelines of the Ontario Accessibility Act. The facilities both on and off the ice can be enjoyed by individuals who have physical mobility challenges.

Even with the exciting new facility, the club is most proud to offer leagues for all ages and skill levels. The club, active since 1957, offers day and evening leagues, fixed and draw curling, four-person and doubles leagues, 10-week Learn-To-Curl programs, a development league for those seeking help to refine their technique and strategy and a weekend youth program. The membership ranges from novice to recreational to competitive. This year’s season begins on Tuesday, October 11.

If you are new to the area or to curling, the club’s volunteer convenors and committee members will help you locate a team to play on.

If you have no or little curling experience, that is not a problem as the RA Curling Club offers programs for all skill levels and provides support

to new, experienced and advanced curlers. New to the sport? Our Learn-To-Curl programs will get you playing. Our trained instructors are ready to help you. Want to give curling a quick try? Drop-in to one of our short Try Curling sessions coming early in the fall.

For members of the RA Curling Club, there are numerous benefits, a great social atmosphere, competitive fees, instruction for new members, great ice and friendly competition. It is also a terrific way to keep active whether you are eight or 88 and to make new lasting friendships.

For more information or to register, please contact the RA’s Member Service staff by phone at (613) 733-5100 or come by in person to the Member Services desk located near the east entrance of the RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive. You may also visit the curling page on the RA’s website at racentre.com/curling.

Margaret MacLeod is a member of the executive committee of the RA Curling Club.