Posted by Sudbury Northern Life
With worries of the economy weighing down on the community, the Copper Cliff Curling Club is offering free curling to lift the spirits of residents while enjoying some time on the ice with friends and family.
Lynn O'Brien, manager of the Copper Cliff Curling Club, said with the recent layoffs in our city, she believes everyone is affected, not just those directly involved.
She said it's had quite the domino effect on our community, including the curling club.
"Our club is a beautiful little gem in Copper Cliff and we're feeling it, we're really feeling it," she said.
O'Brien said with seven curling clubs in the city, everyone is battling to recruit new curlers.
As a result of all this, she thought they'd give the city a bit of a gift, something to lift people's spirits. That's when the idea of free curling came about.
Free curling will be offered at the Copper Cliff Curling Club Tuesday and Thursday nights at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. starting March 10 until the season ends April 21.
"What I'm suggesting to whoever is out there, come and try it out," O'Brien said.
"My hope in all of this is that next season, you're going to join a curling club. I want you to join my curling. So come out, try the sport, do it for nothing."
O'Brien suggests making it an evening out with friends and family or perhaps grabbing some co-workers together for a night out.
The curling club has seven sheets of ice and can accommodate 56 players at a time.
With level one and two coaches available, inexperienced curlers can receive basic coaching tips.
All ages are welcome as the curling club has members between the ages of six and 90.
The curling club currently has 300 members and caters to a mixed league, an afternoon ladies league, Tuesday and Thursday night leagues as well as a junior program.
"It's a gentleman's game, it's very non-physical, it's very cordial on the ice," O'Brien said.
She added that curling is not an easy sport, and it actually takes quite a bit of skill to be a good curler. However, she doesn't want to that to discourage anyone from trying it out.
She said that she hopes with these nights of free curling available, those who may have been curious about the sport for awhile and always wanted to try it will come and see what it's all about.
With the community tightening up their purse strings she said she realizes that curling may not be on the priorities list of where to spend your money.
"Let's face it, it's a luxury...when you think of how your dollar has to stretch in this economy, this is the little perk that you enjoy at night."
With that said, O'Brien hopes that the community will take advantage of these free evenings and come out to the club for a good time, and hopefully have some spirits raised during these economic down times.
For more information phone 682-4861 or e-mail [email protected] . O'Brien asks that those interested to telephone ahead of time so the ice can be prepared.
