Surplus of watery surfaces: check. Harsh winters: check. It’s no wonder that alongside hockey, curling has become a favourite winter pastime within Canadian communities. Our climate is the perfect fit!
Over time, curling took hold in Western Canada and one community that it really became intertwined with is Kelowna. Now with 12 sheets of ice, the Kelowna Curling Club is celebrating its 75th Anniversary.
Over its history, the Kelowna Curling Club has hosted provincial, national and world championships. It’s tied as one of the world’s largest curling clubs and boasts one of the largest memberships in Canada with 1,200. Was it mentioned that it’s also the largest curling facility in the country?
One of the major players to come out of the Kelowna Curling Club is Tyrel Griffith. Tyrel, who throws second stones on the Jim Cotter team, became involved with the club in grade seven and with only having curled a few times, he joined their junior program.
“Jock Tyre — he’s the current club manager — was involved, and Karen Gibson, who’s not in town anymore. They did a good job with having a lot of kids involved with the program,” explained Griffith. “They made it a lot of fun for me. I was fairly competitive as a kid, so I learned the game fast and Jock always provided good guidance. It was a weekly thing, so I met a whole bunch of new friends. None of the kids I went to school with curled, so I met kids from all over the city. It was really cool that way.”
Including programs like the junior one, the Kelowna Curling Club offers numerous programs for all skill levels. Dylan Tyre, son of Jock Tyre, takes part in the mens league.
“I curl every year in the Tuesday men's league. Every week, almost every single team will head upstairs after the game to have a few beers and hang out. Most teams will go sit with their opposition upstairs and by the end of the season you have friends from most teams. It is a great community to be a part of. It’s great because it's not just about the sport but also about making friends and hanging out after the game,” said Tyre.
The very nature of curling promotes camaraderie and socialization. It plays a significant role in bringing people together and shaping community.
“The big thing that stands out about the Kelowna Curling Club is the people. All the curlers and all the fans of curling. You meet a ton of people who are coming out to watch games, that’s the biggest thing I think. There are so many events every year and there are so many to name, but the biggest thing that stands out is all the people you see all the time,” said Griffith.
The curling club offers an activity that all levels of society, all ages and genders can take part in. The social value of volunteerism and community are still noticeable in the operation of curling clubs today, with members organizing events and always willing to lend a hand wherever needed.
“The takeaway from all of this is that curling is a great way to stay social over the winter,” added Brock Raddatz, who’s heading into his fourth year in the league. “If you are not a big skier or snowboarder, there is usually not a lot to do. It is a chance to connect with friends once a week, have a couple of beers, have a little bit of competitive fun and meet other people in the community. I have made friends, gained clients, made personal and business introductions, all through the curling league. Did I mention there is a phone that rings directly to the bar and they will deliver drinks to your sheet!”
Curling clubs across Canada bring people together, and that is noticeable when looking at the community that the Kelowna Curling Club has built. Come “hurry hard” and help in celebrating Kelowna Curling Club's 75th Anniversary!
KelownaNow sponsored content is written and posted in partnership with participating businesses. While KelownaNow retains editorial control of sponsored content, the content is created in collaboration with the sponsor.
If you appreciate what we do, we ask that you consider supporting our local independent news platform.
If you get value from KelownaNow and believe local independent media is important to our community we ask that you please consider subscribing to our daily newsletter.
