If someone were to ask me for an example of global warming, they would need to look no further than the past starting dates at the Niverville Curling Club. 25 years ago, it was not uncommon for us to start curling by December 1. Last year, we threw our first rock on January 6.
It is now the third week of December as I stare out onto the bare sand floor at the NCC. Normally, we would have our ice done and be concentrating on preparing for league play. Having a hand in making the ice since the mid 90s, I can honestly say this is by far the warmest start to winter and the curling season that I can remember.
For those who might not realize, the NCC is a 3-sheet natural ice facility, which relies entirely on mother nature to maintain the ice temperature. Each year a dedicated group of volunteers help make the ice and organize the league that runs on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. This year put a lot of extra pressure on our volunteers, as we all had to find time during the busy holiday season.
Other programs running at the NCC include Junior Curling, the famous 2-on-2 bonspiel, Couples Curling, and Intro to Curling for the high school gym class.
Over the last couple of months, the NCC has gone through two renovation projects. The first project, on the strength of a $10,000 accessibility grant from the province, allowed us to remodel the men’s and women’s bathrooms from top to bottom. The second project concentrated on the basement, where new paint, flooring, and cabinets were installed. Not only will these changes benefit the curlers of NCC, but also other organizations that are able to rent the space for activities like yoga, birthday parties, and family gatherings.
This year's curling season is set to begin on January 5, provided mother nature cooperates, and the NCC volunteers are able to finish making the ice surface. Here’s hoping Santa brings some cold temperatures with him from the North Pole. Until next time… hurry hard!
