The 麻豆精选 Curling Club is kicking off its 75th anniversary season in style.
The local club will celebrate the occasion Sept. 8 and 9 with a series of special events.
Today, with 1,200 curlers using the facility, the 麻豆精选 Curling Club boasts one of the largest memberships of any curling club in Canada.
With 12 sheets, it is also the largest curling facility in the country.
In April 1942, a group of avid curlers formed a society to move the sport from 麻豆精选鈥檚 outdoors to an indoor building.
Nine years later, in 1951, the dream turned into reality when the 麻豆精选 Curling Club was built on the corner of Water Street and Doyle Avenue.
麻豆精选 Curling Club manager Jock Tyre said the 75th anniversary is a significant occasion in more ways than one.
鈥淣umber one, we can celebrate the fact that this non-profit has survived as long as it has,鈥� said Tyre. 鈥淲ith all that鈥檚 gone on here in curling, the big events we鈥檝e hosted, the number of championships our curlers have won, the number of people who are playing the game, 麻豆精选 is punching above its weight class鈥he future looks good.鈥�
鈥淪ome people early on (1942) decided we were going to be a curling community,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 their forethought that鈥檚 made as us as good as we are today.鈥�
In 1968, 麻豆精选 was home to the Brier, the largest curling event ever to come to the city, and the first of many national and international events hosted by the 麻豆精选 Curling Club.
In 1978, the club moved to 12 sheets and its current Recreation Avenue location.
Ticketed events
鈥� Friday, Sept. 8鈥擱eception and live music brought to you by Steam Whistle beer and Andrew Peller wines.
鈥� Saturday, Sept. 9鈥擥uest speaker Bryan Mudryk of TSN and the Hip Replacements are the headliners of the night of dinner and dancing brought to you by Jack Daniels.
鈥� Sunday Sept. 10鈥擶ind-up brunch
Tickets can be purchased at kelownacurling.com.
There will be a silent auction running all weekend with many curling celebrity autographed items up for grabs.
