50 Years at ECC - physical changes at our club

Editor: Ron Keyser
Date: 2024-08-22

50 years at the Ennismore Curling Club has seen a lot of physical changes in the facility we call “our club”.

 In 1974 the Ennismore Curling Club played their first games in the hockey arena next door. “Which is the blue line and which is the hog line?”

Our ambitious original members envisioned a real curling facility they could call their own. Through a lot of hard work, an Ontario Trillium grant, fundraising, and support from our township they were able to fulfil that dream.  In 1977 the curling facility we now enjoy was opened.

The past 50 years has seen many improvements and changes made to the ice shed. The transformation from the multi coloured walls to our current low E ceiling and insulated walls occurred in 2006. A $33,000 Ontario Trillium grant was received and over 2,000 volunteer hours put in by our membership resulted in a curling rink we can be proud of.

Changes have not been limited to the ice shed.  In 1977 the original upstairs lounge had to conform to the liquor laws of the day.  A separate area for smoking & imbibing with liquid refreshments was mandatory. And of course it was the 70’s with the colour of choice being orange.

In the late 1990’s, with a change in liquor licence requirements, the wall separating the upstairs lounge was removed and the room repainted.

Improvements continued in the 2000’s. In 2011 new lighting was installed in the ice shed. Behind the scenes a new ice plant costing $124,000 was purchased in 2011 and the switch from oil to gas heating was accomplished. Once again our own fundraising and grants from the Ontario Trillium foundation and Ontario Hydro made those changes possible.

In 2013/2014, in time for hosting the Ontario Provincial Men’s & Women’s Senior Provincial Finals, a major renovation took place. The project cost was approximately $700,000 which was funded by a Federal government grant, the township, and fundraising by the ECC. At that time the elevator was installed, an accessible washroom built upstairs, the kitchen was renovated with a new fridge, ovens, and cupboards, a storage room was added, work was done on the front exterior of the building and a new exterior sign and cladding installed.

Then 2019 and COVID arrived, a challenge that the Club met with energy and a vigorous recovery plan over the past two years.

 And now, in 2024, with the damage repaired from a flood in 2023 caused by a leaky new dishwasher, the upstairs lounge has been refurbished and attractive, up-to-date flooring installed. This new look is just in time to fit in with the overall sprucing up of the Club for our 50th Anniversary celebration this fall.