Crapaud Curling Club’s recovery puts the facility back on solid ice

Everybody loves a feel-good comeback story.

In curling, it’s hard to find one more satisfying than what’s happened at the Crapaud Curling Club in Prince Edward Island.

A curling/entertainment staple and community gathering spot on the south shore of the island for more than half a century, the venerable club fell on hard times over the past few years and, owing to some abysmal financial and membership numbers, was seemingly on its last legs in 2022.

But, as it turns out, it was too soon to start writing the club’s obituary. The club — amazingly — is back from the brink thanks to those in the community of less than 300 people who refused to give up and were able to adapt and pivot.

General manager Jamie Stride says the facility has undergone a “radical transformation” in just two short years.

“Things are feeling and looking a lot better around the club. I feel like we’re refreshed, financially posed, and in a great position to move forward,” said Stride, who was among those to spearhead a drive to get the club back on firm financial footing.

Today, the club has doubled its membership from two years ago to 142 strong (it was down to 68 members prior), its operational equipment is in primo condition, curlers are playing with brand new rocks and the future looks bright. Now, the facility aims to attract younger curlers and more families by offering learn-to-curl instructional classes and after-school programs.

That’s quite a turnaround from where it had been a few years ago.

And that situation, frankly, was grim.

The club found itself in dire straights after being rocked by a series of unforeseen events that began its slide into possible permanent closure. In 2015, a piece of cooling equipment needed a $3,000 repair shortly after the club forked over $80,000 to renovate the facility.

Two years later — more trouble. A chiller barrel — a critical and expensive component of the club’s ice plant — unexpectedly broke down just as the season was about to begin. Club executives had no choice but to cancel the entire season, forcing curlers to look for other places to play.

Let’s not forget the COVID-19 pandemic a few years later, which caused more upheaval.

“Bad luck, bad timing. Those were major setbacks,” said Stride.

Those explosions helped drive some curlers, volunteers and board members away. Those left tried all manner of fundraisers to stay afloat in those turbulent times, but it was clear saving the operation would be an uphill battle.

The first step was to call an emergency meeting to enlist people willing to help run the organization. When no one stepped forward, a second meeting was held with better results — eight new and one returning board member were elected. 

With a board with ‘new blood’ in place and Mike Forrest installed as president, the push was on to try and bring back past members and volunteers through an advertising campaign, an open house, and work done in-house to show people that reviving the curling centre was more than ‘just talk. The dedicated work of this new board and the volunteers and community members that assisted has allowed the club to then hire a general manager to run things for the current season.

Stride, 45, who runs a local business with his wife, credits the new board for the turnaround.

“The new board consists of energized, business-minded, forward-thinking individuals who pulled together with a tremendous amount of work and effort and rebounded the club — from doors closing to feeling robust, energized,” he said. “The morale and the atmosphere became what it once was: a very warm, inclusive club.”

A big part of the board’s success has been its ability to understand government grants that assist in helping with repairs, maintenance and future purchases. For example, overhead video cameras will be installed at the far end of the sheets after this year’s Christmas. 

Stride offered particular praise to Vivian Sherren, who was past president of the old board.

“She worked tirelessly to keep these doors open,” he said. “The club would have been closed long ago if not for her and some other members. It’s important to focus on all they did to keep the doors open.”

Stride says it was essential to save the facility because it is more than a place to curl. It also serves as a community centre.

“We’re a multi-function facility with a full commercial kitchen,” he said. “We have the capacity to hold 200 people for weddings, Christmas parties, any and all events you can imagine.”

Stride has some advice for clubs who may be going through some tough financial times.

“There’s only one thing that’s certain in running a curling club, and that’s your members,” he said. “They have to be treated like good human beings, respected, and that they mean something.

“Slam dunk, the No. 1 component of any club. They are the reason your doors are open.”