Three members of the Milton Curling Club’s junior program have gone on to compete in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.
Most notable among them is Kirsten Wall (nee Harmark) — the alternate on Jennifer Jones’ Olympic gold medal rink in Sochi.
On a less high-profile scale, the local club — nestled in the heart of the downtown core on Millside Drive — has made its presence felt at such events as the Colts and Silver Tankard.
But the true measuring stick of the club’s success, according to its long-serving member, hasn’t come in competition.
Or even out on the ice.
Among its original members half a century ago, Mel Phelps knew a different approach was needed when the club found itself in the red by the late ‘60s.
“We had to go to a volunteer system. Once we did that, we broke even the very next year… actually I think we had a profit of $800,” recalled the 91-year-old, who hasn’t thrown a rock in five years but still keeps busy helping out during the men’s social draws on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and will speak about the club’s history during 50th anniversary celebrations on Saturday, November 8. “Since we made the switch, we’ve never been in the red again. The volunteers are the strength of this club.”
Current club president Scott Gillard can certainly attest to that.
“It (volunteer system) saved the club in the ‘70s. We’ve got about 400 members and pretty much everyone does something here, whether it’s working in the kitchen or whatever. We’ve got two custodians and our ice maker (Paul Villard) and beyond that there’s no paid positions.”
That yearly cost savings has allowed for constant maintenance and/or upgrades to the four-sheet club — helping to keep the building looking far younger than its 50 years.
“We’re the envy of a lot of other clubs,” Phelps stressed, while completing some score-keeping for a round of men’s social play — boisterous banter now in full swing from the afternoon’s finished curlers.
Added Gillard, “We get praised by many visitors on how well-kept this place is. Because of the volunteers, we have the money to do something to the club every year.”
Most recently, the club’s executive was able to fork out a tidy $50,000 for a complete set (64 for regular use and two spares) of new rocks, purchased from London’s Canadian Curling Stone.
A $12,000 grant towards that is set to come from the Milton Community Fund.
Looking back to the club’s inception, Phelps smiles as he recalls the mass learning curve from those early days — since among the 200-plus members experience was in rather short supply.
“I’d only curled for about two months before, back in Truro, Nova Scotia, but I was already made a skip when we started here,” he quipped.
Asked about some of the more notable changes over the years, Phelps — who’s held every role possible at the club — points to how the club went from a time when women members didn’t even have a vote on policy to now having three past female presidents.
Among the constants at the Millside Drive facility has been a vibrant junior program, which was thriving long before Canada’s Olympic prosperity and beefed up media coverage launched the sport’s mainstream appeal.
“The junior program has always been strong here,” said Phelps.
November 8th anniversary celebrations will get underway at 2 p.m. A number of dignitaries are expected to be on hand, while some informal play will likely take place following a cake cutting and a few speeches.
Both past and current members are welcome.
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