Well, another curling season has come and gone, and the Canadian Gay Curling Scene, or should we say ‘Circuit’, couldn’t be healthier! We have maintained our 7 cities with leagues (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal) and Halifax also has some organized teams!
The League Executives across the country would like to thank each and every curler and gay curling enthusiast who participated in our leagues, bonspiels, clinics, and special events throughout the year. Without you, the gay curling community, we would not exist! THANK YOU!
With the closing of one season, preparations are well underway in many cities for the next! We have compiled the information for the leagues in each city, so if you are moving between cities, or interested in traveling to a bonspiel or two next year, you will already have all the information you need to get in contact with those concerned to make your arrangements!
Please find below the details for each city’s league:
Vancouver (http://www.prcl.ca/): The Pacific Rim Curling League is an all-inclusive league open to gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans-gendered and GLBT-friendly straight curlers. Registration will be open August and September 2008 for the 2008-2009 season. From late September to the end of March each year, the League curls on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings at the Vancouver Curling Club, 4460 Dinmont Ave. This year will be the 25th Anniversary of our league and will have many special events. It will be a season to remember! New curlers with or without experience are welcome and will have fun in this multi-level league with nearly 200 members. To contact the Pacific Rim Curling League, an e-mail may be sent to [email protected] or mail may be sent to Pacific Rim Curling League, PO Box 93647, Nelson Park, Vancouver BC V6E 1N0.
Calgary (http://www.apollocalgary.com/apollo/curling/): The Apollo Curling League began in 1991. That’s over fifteen great years of fun, sportsmanship, and good friends. If you haven’t already, why don’t you make plans to come out and play with us next season? With more than 120 members, it’s a great opportunity to meet people in a great game that is easy to learn. Male or female, new player or veteran, young or old, it’s one of the best sports that Apollo has to offer! The 18th season of Apollo Curling will begin in October 2008. Games are at the North Hill Curling Club (1201 – 2 Street NW) with two draws on Saturdays: 2:20 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the following: Chris Pollock, President, (403) 802-1155, Colin McCracken, Vice-President, (403) 283-4636, or Brad Thompson, Secretary/Treasurer, (403) 229-3646.
Edmonton (http://www.teamedmonton.ca/pb/wp_d0d00d8c/wp_d0d00d8c.html): Curling with Pride takes place Monday nights from mid-October to mid-March every year at the Granite Curling Club, 8620 – 107th Street, Edmonton AB. You may email [email protected] for more information.
Winnipeg (http://www.gaycanada.com/outthere/keystone.html): Location of Games: Granite Curling Club, 22 Mostyn Place, Winnipeg MB, Time: Sundays at 1:30 p.m. You are welcome to join us for socializing and a 50/50 draw in the upstairs lounge after each game. Please feel free to contact Theresa Gibson at (204) 782-9454, send an email to [email protected], or mail to Keystone Rainbow Curling, 359 Lansdowne Ave, Winnipeg MB R2W 0H1.
Toronto (http://www.gaycurl.ca/toronto.html): Being Canada’s largest city, of course Toronto has probably the healthiest gay curling league in the country! Size queens! They have two separate leagues, the Riverdale and the Rotators, that are both run out of the Royal Canadian Curling Club, 131 Broadview Ave., Toronto ON M4M 2E9. You may contact both Toronto Leagues through [email protected], or through Murray Leaning, President of both the Rotators and the Riverdale Curling Leagues, at (416) 722-0111.
Riverdale Curling League: Throughout the year, special clinics, fun days and events accentuate the League’s commitment to recreational sport and camaraderie. For those curlers who prefer more competitive play, Riverdale also offers a competitive section.
The Rotators Curling League: Canada’s oldest gay and lesbian curling league! It offers friendly, recreational curling for all skill levels. Individual entry promotes meeting new people. Mid-way through the season, we re-draw for teams, so members have an opportunity to curl with different teams each half. You may curl for either a half or whole season.
Ottawa (http://rainbowrockers.com/): The Rainbow Rockers Curling League was formed in the summer of 2002, following a successful In the Pink bonspiel in March 2002. The start of the 2008-2009 season will mark the seventh year of operation. Membership is open to the Ottawa GLBTTQ community with any level of curling ability – from a total rookie to a seasoned veteran. Individuals are welcome to join as a full member or as a spare. Returning members are given the first chance to renew their membership in the league. We curl at the Ottawa Curling Club (440 O’Conner St) during the curling season (October to April) on Sunday afternoons with three draws beginning at 1:00 p.m. Teams are set up at the start of the season and play in a round robin format. For more information about joining the league, please contact Kevin Wilson, Membership Coordinator, at [email protected].
Montreal (http://www.curlinglesfousduroi.qc.ca/): Les Fous du Roi Curling Club is open to men and women of the Region of Montreal. It is comprised mainly of gays and lesbians but our hetero friends are also welcome to participate. The club offers three different levels of competitiveness which allows beginner to experienced curlers to enjoy themselves in good company. Join us, you will truly enjoy yourself! Game times start Sundays as of 3 p.m. at the Club de Curling Longue-Pointe, Hochelaga St, CFB Longue-Pointe. We invite everyone to come and enjoy our favourite winter sport!
Halifax (http://www.looseends.ca/index.html): There are currently three teams in the Loose Ends League and they curl in a co-ed, recreational Friday night league at the Mayflower Curling Club, 3000 Monaghan Drive (behind Young St. Pizza Hut). For more information contact [email protected].
Now that you know about the leagues, let’s talk about the bonspieling circuit – a.k.a. the PARTY WEEKENDS!
Ottawa will host their new Fall Bonspiel October 31 to November 2, 2008.
Toronto will host the Rotators Bonspiel November 22 and 23, 2008.
Vancouver will host the Pacific Rim Cup January 30 to February 1, 2009.
Winnipeg will host the Bison Cup February 13-15, 2009.
Toronto will host the Riverdale Bonspiel March 6 to 8, 2009.
Ottawa will host the Over The Rainbow Bonspiel March 27 to 29, 2009.
Montreal will host the Quête du Roi Bonspiel April 10 to 12, 2009
The 08-09 Canadian National Gay Curling Championships (CNGCC) will be hosted by Les Fous du Roi Curling Club in Montreal! The CNGCC will take place at the same time as the Quête du Roi Bonspiel, April 10 to 12, 2009. Other details are still being finalized so stay tuned! Good luck to all participants!
Neither Edmonton nor Halifax has any plans to host interclub bonspiels this coming season.
No details were provided by the Apollo Curling League (Calgary) at the time of publishing this email.
And finally, the 2009 OutGames are taking place in Copenhagen, Denmark, from July 25th to August 2nd, 2009 and curling is a sanctioned sport! The Games will be open to all curlers who have played for at least one year before the start of the event. The bonspiel will be held from July 29 to 31 at Frihedens Idrætscenter in Hvidovre, near Copenhagen. For further information, please check out their website at http://www.copenhagen2009.org/Sport/Disciplines/Curling.aspx or send an email to [email protected].
Thank you and have a GREAT SUMMER everyone! Enjoy yourselves, and of course start planning for the upcoming curling season!