2026
Fri, Apr 24, 2026
Well what can I say? It’s all over and what a fantastic year we have had. First, I want to congratulate all the winning teams, and all of the runners up from Championship Day. It is a huge achievement and privilege to be curling in a final and I hope everyone enjoyed the experience. We had great crowds out for both draws and big thanks goes out to all the volunteers that make the day special.
Board Report
- The Board received the 3rd report from the Ad Hoc committee working on our restructuring plan. The duties and responsibilities of the Director positions were adopted and a copy is attached to this message. If you would like to put your name forward for a position on the Board of Directors, please submit a brief bio or resume detailing your history and what skills you bring. Send this information to Jen Roberston, Vice President at [email protected].
- Congratulations go out to our newest Life Members (30 years): Chris Scott, Dean Clark, Judy Sly and Mary Dupuis. The Board also would like to recognize the contributions of our Outstanding Volunteers this year; Mario Fabbro and Kathy Jackson. Both are leaders in the club and have contributed so much. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do.
- Planning for the upcoming AGM on May 21st is well underway. Please check the Member Home Page on our website. Materials are posted there and additional Committee reports will be posted soon. Please take a moment to read the reports and plan to join us on the 21st. The bar will be open and there will be snacks.
Ice Report
- Our Ice Crew with the assistance of the Senior Men's volunteers have completed “Muck Out” (their term) and have hung the houses up to dry. Big thanks to everyone who helped out and a big thanks to Don for leading the group.
Kudo’s
- Congratulations go out to our newest Provincial Champions! The team of Corey St. Laurent, Anthony Hale, Curtis Friesen and Patrick Tessier competed in the Best Western Tier 2 challenge and went undefeated to bring home the banner on March 29th, 2026. Well done gentlemen.
Upcoming Events:
- Pickleball and Beach Volleyball will be getting underway in the next month. Pickleball opens on May 1st with an open house planned for Sunday, May 3rd from 1PM to 4PM. Drop in schedule for Pickleball is on our website.
- Mark Your Calendar – the RKCC Annual Golf Tournament is back again this year on July 18th. We are pleased to have secured a Saturday afternoon date at the beautiful Garrison Golf Club this year so we are looking forward to having everyone out there!! Registration is open on the RKCC web site. You can book as a single, pair or foursome and we encourage all members, friends and family to join us.
Final (and I do mean Final!!) Words
As I pass the reins into the capable hands of Jennifer, I want to take a moment to thank everyone for your support over the past 2 years. There are so many members to thank that this email would go on for ever, so just know I appreciate all of you who have given your time, energy, advice, and your friendship to help make this adventure such a memorable experience.
THANK YOU ALL!!
Keith Mitchell – The(soon to be past) Prez
Sat, Mar 28, 2026
I can’t believe we are down to the last few weeks of the curling season. Playoff’s have started, the Fisherman’s bonspiel is under way and we are FINALLY seeing some slight hope that spring is on its way.
Board Report
- At the March 25th Board meeting, the Board voted in support of the new streamlined board structure and it will be presented to the membership at the upcoming May 21st AGM. Our By-Laws have been updated to reflect changes in the Not-for-Profit Corporations Act and includes proposed structural changes for our curling club Board. There will be information on our website and a copy of the draft By Laws in the next week. Please take a few minutes to read the summary and the By Laws and plan to come to our May 21st Annual General Meeting.
- Our Finance Committee presented the year to date financial results and the Committee were pleased with the current results. Our fiscal year is from May 1st to April 30 and in this last quarter, we are in a good cash position and although we anticipate lower income in this quarter we should have funds available to cover regular expenses.
- A restructured Membership Committee has met to address the key strategic goals of attracting new members to the club and broadening our demographic. Approval was granted for the Committee to run 3 outside funspiels in autumn 2026 to welcome new curlers from across our Kingston community. If you have ideas or have spoken to curlers from other clubs that have run successful programs please let us know. Adding new members keeps your costs down and sets the club up for success in the future.
Cudo’s
- I want to shout out to our Grand Masters team of Alex Tosh, Lorne Carmichael, John Latimer, Barry Malmsten and Peter Coughlin who competed in the recent Ontario Curling Association Championships. They had a tough loss in the first game to the eventual Provincial winners from Guelph. However, the team proceeded to run the table and bring home the 3rd Event Championship. Well done gents.
- The Grand Mothers and Great Aunts bonspiel was another successful event hosted by Josee Dumas-Hurt and her team. The spiel was sold out and I understand there were some fantastic costumes and everyone had a great time. Check out our Facebook social media for some of the creative television show themed costumes. (There is a link to our Facebook page on the top left corner of our website).
- Our last big spiel of the year is ongoing at the time of writing and looks to be another great year. We have 40 teams competing this year and last I heard the lobsters had arrived. Great to see this spiel growing again thanks to the hard work of Ed Gibson and all the volunteers.
Upcoming Bonspiels & Fun events:
- One last spiel has been added to our calendar and there are three spots left. The “Last Chance to Dance Poker-Spiel” is set for Saturday April 11th. This is a fun spiel and is free for anyone with 2 years or less curling experience so this is a great chance to meet some new curlers.
- Following the Poker spiel on April 11th our social committee has organized another Games and Dessert Night. I had a blast at the last one and plan on challenging everyone to a game of “Take Five”. If you think you have what it takes I will see you there….
- The Big Finale – Championship Day – is on Saturday April 18th. This is always a great event with two draws during the day. Be sure to come out and cheer on all the teams that have made it to the finals. More information will be posted soon on the website.
- Planning is under way for our annual RKCC Golf Tournament. The committee is looking to see if we can host this on a weekend so that the working folk have a chance to join us. Dates have not been set yet but we are hoping to aim for an August date. This will be a scramble tournament with lunch to start and drinks and prizes to follow. More to come…
Final Words
I want to take this time to wish everyone the Best of Luck and Good Curling as you enter your playoffs. Let’s have fun, play well and be safe.
Keith Mitchell – The Prez
Fri, Feb 27, 2026
Anybody sick of winter yet? Thankfully we are all curlers and so can play a game, have a beverage, chat with friends and generally ignore what is going on outside!
Ice Report
The ice crew successfully completed our mid-winter ice maintenance on the Family Day weekend. Ice conditions continue to improve as they gain more experience and speed is more consistent, particularly at the start of the game and the pebble is holding up nicely. The planned texturing of the rocks was not necessary as there is good curl. Many thanks to Don, Anthony and Chris for all your hard work. Full Disclosure: my team won our last game so maybe a bit of bias.
Board Report
- The Ad Hoc Committee reviewing our board and committee structure presented their 2nd report which outlined a new hybrid structure for our board with both operational responsibilities and strategic focus. The proposed structure offers more flexibility to address changing priorities and puts some of the day to day decision making in the hands of the staff and the operational committees. The Ad Hoc Committee will present a 3rd report in March, outlining the next steps in our Board and governance development.
- Our Finance Committee presented the 3rd quarter financial results. The club continues on budget and our operating cash position remains strong. While the income from two large bonspiels - the Ted Brown and the Empire are positive, the expenses for both have yet to be reconciled. We will continue to monitor our cash position in the fourth quarter, February to April, and I remain positive that we will remain on track.
- A date has been set for our important AGM - Thursday May 21st, 2026. The agenda will include information on the proposed Board structure and more information will be available before the meeting. Please plan to be there.
Cudo’s
Two of our biggest Bonspiels of the season have now been completed and both were fantastic.
- Congratulations to Mario Fabbro and Phil Tomsett and all the volunteers who made the Ted Brown a roaring success. Forty teams participated and congratulations go out to team Mills from Cataraqui who were the main event champions.
- The February 20-21 Empire Life Bonspiel spearheaded by Teresa and Ed Gibson and their team of volunteers was a tremendous event. The bonspiel again sold out early and it was fantastic to welcome participating teams from many curling clubs. Congratulations to Team Herron (RKCC) for defending their championship from last year and they needed to win two games that went to an extra end and a draw to the button. Well done Team Herron.
- Bruce Jeffery again organized a silent auction at the Empire to support Pathways to Education – a unique community based program designed to increase high school graduation rates in designated neighbourhoods. The Empire Life Bonspiel donated $5,000.00 from the silent auction. Thank you for your leadership Bruce and a shout out to those who donated auction items and joined in for the silent auction.
Upcoming Bonspiels & Fun events:
- The St. Patrick's Day dance featuring Steve Cheesman and the Heeters is scheduled for March 14th. Tickets are $25 and can only be purchased online on the RKCC web site. This is always a great event with lots of energy and great music so be sure to get your gang together, put on your greenery and dance the night away.
- The in-house bonspiel, The Pratt on March 7th is sold out and you can sign up for the waiting list.
- The final of the Interclub Friendly game is at our club on Friday March 20th. Any member is eligible to curl, it is a great way to meet other curlers in our region. Please go online to Event Registration. There is no fee to participate but you must register as space is limited.
- The annual Grandmothers and Great Aunts bonspiel is scheduled for March 24. There are only a handful of spots remaining so be sure to get your team registered.
- The 70th Annual Famous Fisherman's Bonspiel is the final bonpsiel of the season from March 26-28th. Today, there is one spot remaining, don’t hesitate.
Final Words
Bronek Korczynski, has donated a copy of the History of Curling written in 1888 for the 50th anniversary of the Royal Caledonia Curling Club. Bronek wisely noted that it is an interesting read and as President, I found some club rules that I think we could adopt:
- Only one member shall speak at a time, and in addressing the president the speaker shall rise to his feet (I really like this one).
- Whisky punch to be the usual drink of the club in order to encourage the growth of barley.
- No politics of Church or State to be discussed.
- No member to speak of the faults of another member in curling
- Any member convicted of Robbery or Theft shall have his name erased from the rolls.
- Any member appearing at a meeting the worse for liquor shall be obliged to leave immediately for the day.
Good rules stand the test of time! Good Curling everyone!!
Keith Mitchell – The Prez
Mon, Feb 2, 2026
As we head into the busy part of the curling season with club Bonspiels, the Scotties, Olympics and the Brier on the TV, it seems like the year is flying by. Our leagues are all doing well, our committees continue to handle all the myriad details of running a busy curling club and our staff continue to do an excellent job keeping the ship afloat.
At the last Curling Ontario AGM that I attended the theme was “Change”. Change is necessary in all sports to adapt to the needs of different generations with different attitudes and expectations. In this update, we discuss a change to a tradition that many of us cherish but others find awkward. For change to happen I ask that you keep an open mind and understand that change is necessary and positive for the club
“Thanks for the game. What can I get you…”
A long-standing tradition at our club and at many curling clubs in Canada has been the post-game social time where the winners offer a beverage to their opposing competitor and they reciprocate the offer. Although this is a tradition that most of us enjoy, it puts some members of our club in an awkward position for various reasons – culture, age, financial considerations and the like. RKCC strives to be a welcoming environment for all people no matter their circumstances and we believe a change to this tradition is necessary.
This tradition is not a policy of the club but the board would recommend that as a curling community we adopt the view that the reciprocal drink buying not be considered an expectation or obligation.
We encourage members to continue the post-game tradition of visiting and relaxing together for a few minutes after the game. With this change, while some may continue the tradition and offer to buy a drink, we understand that it is not an obligation to buy or accept a beverage and that no one should take offence if someone chooses not to participate.
Curling has many unique traditions that make it the best game in the world in which to participate but we need to recognize change and adapt in order to attract new people of all backgrounds to the game. For further information a notice will be posted to the website. 
Upcoming Bonspiels & Fun events:
- The 67th Empire Life Mixed Open Bonspiel is completely sold out again this year but if you are interested you can always put your name on the waiting list or the spares list. Congratulations to Theresa Gibson and her team, it should be a fantastic!
- A reminder that everyone is welcome to participate in the Interclub Friendlies which are games between local clubs once a month. This is a great opportunity to meet curlers from other clubs and have a friendly game at clubs in the area. It is free to participate and you can register online. The next games are Feb 20th at Quinte Curling Club.
- Bring Friends Funspiel and Dinner is an event put on by our social committee scheduled for Feb 7th. This is a great opportunity to introduce you family or friends to the game. There is dinner and prizes and should be a great time. Instruction is available for people new to the game.
- The Day Women’s Gold Medal Bonspiel is on tap for Feb 12 starting at 12:30. There is lunch followed by curling, then dessert and prizes.
Reminders
This year we will be honouring our outstanding volunteers on Championship Day. You will have received an email with a link to a nomination form for the Wall of Fame and for Outstanding Volunteers. There are so many that contribute to the club that deserve this honour but only if they are nominated. Make sure to take some time to think about the someone that makes this club great and complete the nomination form.
Final Words
For you skips out there I got this tidbit in an email…
Be decisive. Right or wrong(draw or hit), decide. The road is paved with flat squirrels who couldn’t decide.
Keith Mitchell – The Prez
Sat, Jan 10, 2026
And all of a sudden Christmas and New Years are over and we are back on the ice. I hope everyone had a nice break and you are refreshed and ready to go again. I have a quick update for everyone on the upcoming events to help get off to a good start for 2026.
Member support for events at the club is a big part of our financial plan as well as offering our members fun and exciting opportunities. Our volunteers that run events put a lot of time and effort into organizing these events and they deserve our support.
Ice Report
While we were all enjoying our left-over Turkey and plowing through our Christmas chocolate, our ice crew was hard at work doing major ice maintenance. This involved doing a partial melt of the ice, removal of dirt from the ice, refreezing then pebbling and scraping to get everything flat. The rocks were textured as well.
This has resulted in a bit less curl (we were getting 6 ft and are at a manageable 3 to 4 ft now) so you skips out there will need to adjust. Ice speed is excellent particularly after the first end.
I want to thank Don, Chris and Anthony for their hard work and expertise. They were working over the holidays so that we can have a first-class curling surface. Curling Canada has launched a national “Thank an Ice Tech Week” coming up January 11-17th. So indeed, well done gentlemen.
Progress Report - Ad Hoc Committee
In my December report, I introduced the Ad Hoc Committee who are working to provide recommendations to our Board. These recommendations will focus on helping the Board in its leadership role to address strategic issues for our curling club. We will have more information about this work in the next two months.
Upcoming Bonspiels & Fun events:
- The Social Committee is inviting everyone to a Beer Tasting and Games Night on Saturday evening, January 17th. Perth Brewery will provide tasting of their favourite beers followed by an evening of cards or board games. Everyone is welcome so bring your friends, relatives and anyone else you know and let’s see what fine beer tastes like. All of the details are on the website - there is a $10 fee and pre-registration is the way to go.
- The Ted Brown Classic Men’s Bonspiel is coming up in two weeks, with the first draw on the afternoon of Thursday January 29th. This is our club’s largest bonspiel with many regional teams joining in the event. Registration is on our website, with fifteen spots still open. Don’t miss it.
- The 67th Empire Life Mixed Open Bonspiel is open for registration and runs from Feb 20th to the 21st. This was a complete sell out last year so don’t hesitate.
- The 3rd annual RKCC Open Junior Open Cashspiel is scheduled for Saturday Jan 24th. Come on out and support some fine U15 and U18 curlers and a shout out here to the Rotary Club of Kingston-Frontenac for their sponsorship.
- A reminder that everyone is welcome to participate in the Interclub Friendlies which are games between local clubs once a month. This is a great opportunity to meet curlers from other clubs and have a friendly game at clubs in the area. It is free to participate and you must register on our website. There is currently room for five additional RKCC curlers to join in for the next outing on January 23rd at Napanee Curling Club.
Reminders
This is where I get to nag you all which according to my wife is a strength of mine!
- I am sure we all are aware of the flu that is going around these days. Please stay home if you are unwell. We have spares lists for all leagues so make use of them or play with 3 if you can’t find somebody.
- Rhonda, our manager, has many new grippers in stock. Wise curlers know that if you play more than once a week you should change that gripper at least once during the season. It is a smart safety move and our ice makers will give you two thumbs up.
In
- The “keep the grit out and the ice clean” program is truly helping with the quality and cleanliness of our ice. As the slush builds up, please continue to remove your outdoor footwear, pop on your indoor shoes and when you are leaving the club, it is helpful if you take those indoor shoes home - then we have a spot for the next arriving pair of outdoor boots on the special racks.
- Although fleece is comfortable to wear, at the curling club fleece is not our friend. Fibres do come off and as small as they are, they can cause those frustrating picks for your curling rock.
Final Words
I know most of you are perfect the way you are but if anyone is looking for a New Years resolution perhaps you can join me in mine. PUT MORE HANDLE ON THE ROCK!! Your skip will thank you.
Keith Mitchell – The Prez
2025
Sun, Dec 21, 2025
Wow – can’t believe it is 4 days to Christmas and we are almost ½ way through the season. I hope everyone is ready for the holidays and a short break as we play out our last few games.
Ice Report
As we head into the New Year we will be making some changes to the structure of our ice crew. Anthony and Chris are well along in their training and are ready to take on the responsibility of the day to day ice making duties. Don will be stepping back to more of a mentorship role but will continue to be our Head Ice Technician and will continue in his training role.
The Ice Crew will be performing major ice maintenance over the holidays and would like me to pass along some suggestions for our return to curling.
- Please take your curling gear home and give it a wash particularly grippers and shoes.
- Speaking of grippers, this is a great time of year to replace that old gripper that you can see through and get a brand new one. Those little rubber particles on the heel of your gripper mean it is time for a new one. A new broom head cover would be fantastic.
- Curling pro tip: if you have or receive a new Polar Fleece for curling, please leave it at home. Fluff that sheds from fleece clothing is a major source of fibres on the ice and none of us want that.
Upcoming Bonspiels & Fun Events:
- The Ted Brown Men’s Bonspiel is open now for registration and runs from Jan 28 to Feb 1st 2026. This is the club’s largest bonspiel with many teams coming from outside the club. Registration is online and is limited to 48 teams.
- The 67th Empire Life Mixed Open Bonspiel is February 20-21 2026. This was a complete sell out last year so don’t hesitate. Registration on line now open.
- The 3rd annual RKCC Open Junior Open Cashspiel is scheduled for Jan 24th. Come on out and watch the next generation of curlers showing us how it can be done.
- The Social Committee is inviting everyone to a Beer Tasting and Games Night on January 17th at the club. Perth Brewery will be offering some of their favourite beers followed by an evening of cards or board games. Everyone is welcome so bring your friends, relatives, please sign up on line and mark that night on your calendar.
- A reminder that everyone is welcome to participate in the Interclub Friendlies which provides a chance for fun curling at neighbouring clubs. There is no fee and it is a great opportunity to visit other clubs: January 23rd at Prince Edward Curling Club, February 20th at Quinte Curling Club and the final season event at RKCC on March 20th. Sign up online, via the event registration.
Board Report
- The Ad hoc Committee looking at our board and committee structure has been hard at work and as a start has begun the process of streamlining our processes. Templates for board agendas and reports have been prepared and we will look to implement those in the new year.
- The finance committee reported that we are tracking along on budget with no major surprises so far this year. The second half of the year should show stronger bonspiel revenue and bar revenue.
- The Board has an opening for Chair of the Membership Committee. This is a critical role and if you are interested please reach out and we can talk together. Recruiting and retaining membership is a key strategy for our club.
Kudos
- Congratulations go out to our Masters Women’s team of Suzanne Herron, Denise Mulville, Monica Kirk and Lisa Thorburn who participated in the Ontario Masters Championship. They had a fantastic 6 and 1 record through the round robin and made it to the play offs. Well Done!
- Shout out and congratulations to Team DeCosta who have qualified for the Ontario U18 Provincial Championships. Leah DaCosta, Alexandra Wowk, Grace Berry, Copelynn Henderson- Boileau, and Medha Charan along with coach Michael Berry will be heading to Penetanguishene January 14 to 18 th. and we wish them good luck and good curling.
Final Words
I want to wish you all a very Happy Holiday Season and a wonderful New Year. Be safe, have fun and I look forward to seeing you in the New Year.
Keith Mitchell – The Prez
Mon, Dec 1, 2025
Now that we are well and truly underway I want to take a moment to bring you up to date on all the goings on at the club.
Ontario Club Championships
The 2025 Runback Brewing Ontario Club Championships concluded on Sunday Nov 2 and what a great event. We had very positive reviews from the competitors, the Curling Ontario officials and the spectators who came out to watch. Kudos and thanks go out to the entire committee headed by Murray Matheson with members Kathy Jackson, Susan Hara, Tom Sephton, Rhonda Jarvis & Liz Baer.
I also want to congratulate the winners of the men’s and women’s divisions: Team Cochrane from the Russell Curling Club and Team Thorne from the Rideau Curling club who went on to become 2025 Canadian Curling Club Champions in Winnipeg.
Special congratulations to RKCC’s own Team Herron who qualified for the semifinals and lost in an extra end to the eventual winners. Well done and thank you for representing the club so well.
Upcoming Bonspiels & Fun events:
- The 10th Annual Turkey spiel on December 13th has just five spots remaining. This is a great chance to showcase your best Christmas outfit and at the same time chase a turkey around the ice.
- The Day Women’s Christmas Movie Funspiel is on Thursday Dec 11 and registration closes on Dec 3rd. I understand (since I have NEVER been invited) that this is a ton of fun so make sure to get yourself signed up!
- The 4 Person Stick Festive Funspiel is set for Dec 17 and everyone is welcome. If you have never thrown with a stick this is your chance to give it a go. There are still spots available but don’t wait.
Upcoming Events Christmas Dinners:
- The Women’s Christmas Dinner will be held at the club on Tuesday Dec 2 and registration is now closed.
- The Men’s Christmas Dinner will be held on Monday Dec 15 starting at 5:30. Roast chicken prepared by Chef Tommy. All the details and registration is online and check out the member home page for the link to sign up. It is all there. If you need a hand to sign up, send a note to [email protected] and we’ll get you set up.
Board Report
- The Finance Committee has completed last year’s financial statements. The accountants have reviewed the statements and the board has now approved them. Overall, we have made good progress towards our goals of balancing our operating income and increasing the balance in our capital account. More detail will be presented at the AGM in the spring but generally we had a good year.
- The Ad Hoc committee reviewing our Board and Committee structure has been hard at work and they will be presenting alternatives to the Board in our January meeting and I look forward to their review.
- It was noted at the meeting how well the “no outdoor shoes” policy has been adopted by the membership. However, finding a space to park your shoes is difficult due to the number of Shoes/Slippers/Crocs that are left at the club. The racks are intended for outdoor shoes and we would ask that you not store your indoor footwear on the You might keep your indoor footwear in your locker or leave them in your car and bring them in when you arrive. As we get into the snowy weather this will be much appreciated by your fellow curlers.
- Nominations for the Wall of Fame and Outstanding Volunteer will be open in the next month. We regularly honour outstanding contributors to our club and Josee Dumas-Hurt, our Member-At-Large, will be sending out requests for nominations, as well as the nomination form. All members can nominate a club member that they feel is deserving of this recognition and have gone the extra mile in their role at our club.
Final words
As we begin the holiday season, it is a time for giving back to our community. Each year the Turkey Spiel collects food and cash donations for the South Frontenac Food bank. Let’s make it a record year for donations this year as the needs have never been greater.
Denis Faubert is again spearheading “It Takes a Village” fundraiser for the Partners In Mission Food Bank. Various Christmas Village pieces are available for “lease”. Last year we raised over $1200 for Partners In Mission and it was very well received. I call “dibs” on the church since most of my shots come with a prayer.
And Remember – keep your broom on the ice!!
Keith Mitchell – The Prez
Sun, Oct 26, 2025
And we are off…
What a fantastic time of year. Curling is well under way, some of us are still golfing, hockey is going and How Bout Them Blue Jays!!!
Ontario Club Championships
- The 2025 Runback Brewing Ontario Club Championships start next Friday at 9 am here at RKCC. This is a prestigious event for the club to host and Murray and his team are well prepared. The curling should be amazing with some of the best teams in Ontario competing to represent Ontario at the Nationals. The Draw schedule is now posted on the website.
- Included in the field are RKCC’s own TEAM HERRON after going undefeated at the provincial qualifiers. Congratulations gentlemen and good luck and good curling at the Provincials.
- Congratulations go out to all the RKCC teams that competed in last week's qualifiers. We had 4 teams competing – Team Herron, and Team Berry on the men’s side. Team Burke and Team Matheson on the women’s side. All of our teams represented the club brilliantly with both the Burke Team and the Berry team making it to the semi’s. The Matheson team lost a tight one to the eventual winners.
Things to watch for:
- Kathy Jackson will be hosting her Christmas Card making workshop again this year on three dates from Nov 17th to 19th. Kathy makes beautiful cards that mean so much more than a store bought card so be sure to register for the clinic. All of the information is on the member website.
- All leagues are up and running now and your game schedules are all on line. Practice ice and make up game times are available on Sunday morning, but you must register. Practice ice is available on a limited basis during the week so check the calendar for times and availability. There is some helpful information about practice time here on the website: Practice Ice
- Upcoming Bonspiels include Open Doubles, The Pratt, the Night before Christmas Women's Bonspiel, and the 4 Person Stick Festive Fun All these events are open for online registration.
- Please remember that all membership fees are now due and payment can be made via our secure online payment system. When you log in to the member home page you will see the amount owing on the right hand side under Your Account Summary. Credit card payment is the easiest and e-transfer can also work.
News from the Board
- This year we will be honouring some hard-working volunteers by adding their names to our volunteer recognition board. Josee Dumas (our Member at Large) will be sending out a request for nominees shortly and she will be looking to the membership for nominations.
- Our club membership numbers are healthy with 556 members including 32 new members and the autumn Adult Learn to Curl program is underway with 32 participants. We welcome all of these curlers and thank them for choosing RKCC
Final Words
I want to share an update on an important project that our Board is now getting started on. At the recent Curling Ontario conference a thoughtful presentation outlined how curling clubs across Ontario and Canada are adapting their governance and structure so that their club thrives and responds to change.
Non-profit organizations like a curling club have a unique mix of volunteers and staff who together address many issues including strategic and financial management, day to day operations, compliance with safety requirements and a plan for continuing development for the medium and long term future.
The Governance Committee has recommended to the Board that we bring together a small ad hoc Committee with participant knowledge and experience in organizations and governance. Their short term role will be to explore ideas and options on how our club might continue to adapt so that RKCC can address the many components of a successful and thriving non profit organization. They will present a summary report and recommendations to the Board.
I will have more information as the Ad Hoc Committee brings ideas and recommendations to the Board and we will keep our club members up to date on this project.
Hope to see you all at the Runback Ontario Curling Championships.
Keith Mitchell - President
Fri, Sep 26, 2025
It’s Almost Here!!
Yes it is time to drag your curling equipment out of the back of the closet and get everything ready to hit the ice. It has been a busy summer at the club with many positive changes and I am looking forward to seeing you all again.
Ice Report
- The ice installation is well under way. Mother Nature has been kind to us so far and we are still on track for opening on Monday morning October 6th. The new mesh rings have been installed and look fantastic. A big thanks to all of our sponsors who made this possible.
- Don Currier, our Head Ice Technician will be away for the next few weeks and the remaining ice installation is in the capable hands of Jeff Gray, Anthony Hale and Chris Barkley. It is a ton of work to get the ice ready for play and our thanks go out to the ice crew and the volunteers who joined in.

What’s New in the Zoo
- As you drive into the club you can’t help but notice the improvement to the parking lot. The asphalt has been sealed, cracks have been filled and lines have been painted. This maintenance will extend the life of our parking lot significantly.
- When you are in the lounge you will see we have six new sheet monitors in the lounge. Many thanks to Curtis Friesen and GD Brule Equipment for donating the new monitors.
- What you won’t see but is huge for the club is a new fire panel (no more 3 AM false alarms!!) and a new backflow preventer to ensure our water systems meet code requirements.
- We also have several new wall and ice sponsors. Be sure to have a look and support these businesses that support our club.
Upcoming Dates to Note:
- Practice ice times will be available October 6th, October 7th and October 8th until 3:30 pm. Sign up on our website. Wondering how to book practice ice – here is a good review
Booking Practice Ice
We are happy to welcome back the Pop Up Goldline store on October 6th – do come and get ready for the season. Goldline now carries all the Hardline equipment so there is something for every curler.
- League play for some leagues will start October 8th, 9th and 10th. Please check the curling calendar for details.
- Remember we have the 2025 Run Back Brewing Curling Club Championships coming to our club starting first thing in the morning on Friday Oct 31st. This is a prestigious event that we are proud to host so be sure to mark your calendar and come out and see some first rate curling.
Nag, Nag, Nag
Here are some reminders for those of us with short memories
- Foot wear – all outdoor shoes must now be removed in the vestibule area prior to entering the hallways or the lounge. Lets keep that ice clean!!
- Grippers – That gripper you have from last season is done. Go for safety and great curling ice and get hold of a new gripper or two at the Pop Up store. Just sayin…
- Payment of dues – a reminder to be sure to have your dues submitted before the start of curling. For those taking advantage of the split payment the first instalment is due by the start of curling and full payment is due by November 1st.
Final Words
Our club could not operate without the many tireless volunteers that keep our club going, run our leagues and bonspiels and do all the things that make RKCC a great place to curl. If you are a volunteer you have my thanks. If you are unable to volunteer, please take the time to thank a volunteer – you can’t believe how much a simple thank you is worth. If you want to volunteer please let me know and we will find a spot for you to contribute.
And Remember – as Lee Trevino famously said – “the more I practice the luckier I get”
Keith Mitchell – “the Prez”
Sat, Sep 6, 2025
With the summer coming to a close it is that exciting time of year when the new curling season is just around the corner. While we all enjoy the summer months, there have also been many activities to prepare for the season and I want to bring you up to date on our plans.
Ice Report
- The ice installation will begin Sept 19 when the refrigeration system is fired up. Prior to that Don has 4 days of deep cleaning planned and we will be looking for volunteers to give the crew a hand. Jeff Gray will be returning as well to help with the install while Don is away on holiday. If you can volunteer, please contact Don.
- New this year will be the installation of “mesh” rings and thanks go out to our sponsors who helped make this happen.
- We will renew our “Keep the Ice Clean” initiatives effective September 19th when we begin ice preparations. This is an important strategy so that everyone who enters the building is to remove their outdoor shoes and boots. Yes, the snow is not quite here yet, but with ice installation underway, we want to keep the grit and sand out of the building and we will be off to a good start to the season. The shoe racks will be there for you. Thank you for making this an important and successful change at our club.
Upcoming Dates to Note:
- Our calendar for next year has been approved by the board and is on the web site now. All the leagues and bonspiels are listed on the online calendar so have a look and start to plan your curling season.
- As we prepare to start the season, please remember that at the beginning of each season, preference is given to returning flight teams, with a registration deadline of September 15th, after which, new teams are entered if there is league capacity.
- For all leagues, early registration helps our convenors get their teams and schedules together so make a point of registering now if you have not already done so.
- Our locker rooms will be cleaned later in September. Please do not use the locker room until after October 1st.
- Practice Ice will be available starting Oct 6 with day and evening time slots which must be booked on the website. Here is a link to info about booking practice ice times: here
In the Hopper - updates on initiatives that are ongoing for next season:
- Planning is underway for the Ontario Club Championships from October 31-November 2nd, 2025. This is an incredible opportunity for the club and Murray Matheson is spearheading the organizing committee.
- The Mixed Doubles Tour event organized by Anthony Hale and Denise Mulville is happening again this year with 13 teams already registered with a goal of having 20 teams. This is a fantastic event with excellent curlers including teams from RKCC.
- The Marketing & Membership Committee headed by Bob Pritchett has taken on the task of reviewing our curling club membership model with the goal of attracting new members to the club. While respecting the current membership and the history of the club, we need to look at what the future might look like over the next 10 to 20 years and position the club to ensure we can attract new long-term members.
- Our Operations Committee has been working hard since my last report. New this year is the installation of a backflow preventer, a new fire alarm panel, and upcoming sealing and painting of the parking lot. The reserved spot for the president will be a new addition and will be located just in behind the volleyball courts.
- We are in the final stages of preparing our ice plant Maintenance, Training and Emergency Plan manual. Upon completion we will be publishing our emergency evacuation procedures so that everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency.
Final Words
As we head into the new season, I want to thank all of the volunteers and Committees who have been working and planning to prepare for the start up.
And Remember – in Canada there are 8 months of winter and 4 months of crappy curling
Keith Mitchell – “the Prez”
Sat, July 5, 2025
Well I hope everyone is having a great “off season” (aka summer) and enjoying the warm weather. Even though it is summer, the planning for next curling season is well underway and I want to bring everyone up to date with our plans.
Ice Crew News
Our Head Ice Technician Don Currier is back for another season and we are looking forward to curling on excellent ice again next year. I would like to announce as well that Anthony Hale has accepted the position of Apprentice Ice Technician and will be working with Don on a full-time basis. Additionally, Chris Barkley will also be joining the crew this year as an apprentice ice tech. Both Anthony and Chris are attending level 2 training courses over the summer. Mada Bender will be back with us on a part time basis and Chris Bracken will be filling in as needed.
Planning for the ice installation is well underway with the goal to have ice ready for practice October 6.
Ice Sponsors
It is with great pleasure that we welcome two new Sheet Sponsors to the club.
Clean Comfort Home Improvements is a roofing contractor servicing Kingston and Eastern Ontario with all your roofing needs. They can handle repairs, asphalt shingling, metal roofing and even synthetic rubber roofing. Be sure to check out their web site and support our local sponsors.
Loyalist Flowers has three locations to supply all your floral needs. Conveniently located in Amherstview(Loyalist Flowers), Kingston - Portsmouth Avenue(Avenue Florist) and Kingston East(In-Bloom Floral and Home Decor). They are Kingston’s go to floral designers. All their arrangements are 100% Florist designed and hand delivered the same day. Be sure to check out their web site and drop in to their stores.
2025 – 2026 Registration
Registration for the 2025 – 26 curling season opens July 15!!
There are some updates for this year:
- The 2025-26 fees are now posted and payment can be made by credit card or e-transfer;
- Members are asked to complete their date of birth which will help with membership, league and sponsorship planning;
- If you are under 26 years of age, effective October 1st, please read the updated information on Concussion Safety and please complete the required two documents; there is a reminder about this at Step 2 in the registration.
- Please complete all of the steps in the registration process. If you have questions, you can contact Peter Coughlin, Communications Chair
- Locker rentals are available. If you are a returning locker user from 2024-25 or a new locker user, please indicate on your registration that you would like to have a locker and the fee will be included in your total fees owing. There will be more information on the website after July 15th.
- If you would like some in person help, we are planning some afternoon and evening drop-in help sessions at the club to help with registration related questions. The dates in August and September will be posted on the website.
Upcoming Events:
- It is just a couple weeks away to the RKCC Summer Golf Tournament. There are still spots available but hurry – registration closes July 10th. We have a great turn out so far but the more the merrier!!
- Pickleball – our Pickleball courts are seeing lots of action with regular play and some planned tournaments. Be sure to come on out and give it a try. With our new air tempering system it is a great way to get some exercise, and have fun without the heat and humidity.
- The next stop on our RKCC Golf tour is planned for August at Rivendell. Rivendell is one of the nicest courses in the Kingston area(full disclosure I am a member) with lots of challenging holes and the odd water hazard. You can register on the web site and I hope to see you out there.
- We are excited to kick off the curling season with a U18 High Performance Clinic with Lisa Weagle on October 18th. While this clinic might not be for you, let your curling friends and family know about it. Registration is limited to six teams and their coaches. Lisa is an Olympian, and high performance coach and participants had awesome feedback following her February 2024 RKCC training.
Final Words
Have a great summer vacation everyone. Be safe, have fun and don’t forget to do your dry land training(whatever that amounts to...) – curling will be on us before you know it!!
Keith Mitchell – “the Prez”
Mon, Apr 14, 2025
I can’t believe we have come to the end of another great season of curling! What a year it has been with a lot of ups and a few downs, lots of laughs and a few tears, lots of fun and a few beers. (does RKCC have a poet laureate?? Where do I apply)
As we head into the summer, I want to let everyone know what the plans are for the summer at the club and get you some dates to put in your calendars.
Upcoming Events:
- AGM – Our AGM is scheduled for May 28 in the lounge. Please consider attending as we will be discussing a number of important topics and this is your opportunity to express your opinion on the future of our club. Light snacks will be served and we ask that you register online(free of charge of course) in advance so we have a rough idea how many to expect.
- Pickleball – Pickleball season opens up April 27th with an Open House and regular hours starting on the 28th. For more details there is information on the web site.
- Golf Tournament – The RKCC Summer Golf Tournament is back!! This fun filled afternoon of “golf” is scheduled for July 17 at Amherstview GC. Members, friends, family, and sponsors are all welcome. Registration is open on the web site so be sure to register early.
- Other Events – I would encourage everyone to keep an eye on our web site over the summer as functions get added and as dates for curling next year get firmed up. There is always something going on!!
Shout Outs
Sooo many people to thank and recognize as the year has come to an end. First a HUGE shout out to Linda Lott, the Curling Committee, and the Social Committee who put on a fantastic Championship Day. The decorations were great, food was marvelous, and there was great curling too.
Big Thanks to Jeff Gray for leading our ice crew through the final couple of weeks and providing invaluable advice over the last month. Jeffs knowledge and skill and his willingness to share has been fantastic for our ice team.
I was remiss at the Championship night to offer my thanks to Eric Gray our fantastic piper. What a great job leading our curlers onto the ice. Slainte Eric!!
Final Words
This year has seen some challenges which we have faced and I believe we have come out even stronger as a club. These challenges are not met by any one person alone and I want to take a moment to thank all the people who have supported me but particularly Jennifer Robertson, Murray Matheson, and all the members of the board who have stepped up and made my job so much easier.
I also want to thank Rhonda, Don, and all the staff who keep the club running smoothly all season long. There is so much that goes on behind the scenes that none of us see and that is a testament to their hard work and dedication. Thank you so much.
Have a safe and wonderful summer and I look forward to seeing everyone again next season.
Keith Mitchell – “the Prez”
Wed, Apr 2, 2025
I can’t believe it but the end of the season is in sight. Where did the year go?? Most of the leagues are in playoffs now and we are counting down the number of games we have left. I do have a few updates and a few important upcoming events.
Ice Report
- The new outdoor footwear protocol has been well received and I think is making a significant difference to the cleanliness of the ice. Thanks to you all for making this work. If anyone has suggestions for improvements, please speak to a board member or your league convenor.
- Thanks go out to Mada and the entire Ice Crew for taking on the responsibility of keeping us going while Don is gone. They have done a great job and I think they will tell you they have learned a lot.
Upcoming Events:
- The last big Bonspiel of the year is coming up with the Famous Fisherman’s Bonspiel in April. Mike, Edward and Mario are spearheading this event with Bob Moore providing his 35 years of experience and wisdom(not to mention 25 dozen pickled eggs). This promises to be another fabulous event.
- Championship Day is scheduled for April 12 with the first games going at 12:30 PM and the final round going at 6:00 PM. There will be pizza available to purchase for spectators (in support of our Junior curlers) and the bar will be open!! Come on out and cheer on the teams and say a final “good curling” to all your friends and team mates.
- Championship Day Silent Auction – There will be a Silent Auction run in conjunction with Championship day. Murray Matheson has collected some fantastic items and the funds raised are in support of the club. The items for auction will be out during our final week of curling so have a look and get your bids in.
- Skate out the Ice - grab your blades and come on out Sunday April 13. We will be giving out any left overs from Championship day. Family and friends are welcome.
- AGM - The RKCC AGM will take place on Wednesday, May 28 in the lounge. Light snacks will be provided to all attendees. This is your opportunity to participate in decisions that affect the running of the club and to have your opinions heard. We ask that you register online (at no cost).
- RKCC Summer Golf Tournament - It’s back!! Mark your calendars for July 17th as we are heading out to Amherstview Golf Club for the revival of the RKCC Summer Golf Tournament. Details and event registration is on our web site. You can register as a team, a couple or a single. Everyone is welcome including family and friends. Spots are limited so be sure to sign up early.
Shout Outs
I am amazed every month at the number of dedicated volunteers we have at this club that make RKCC such a special place to curl. This includes all the people that run bonspiels, organize leagues and social events, keep the building functioning, help on the ice and in the kitchen and of course serve on the board. Without those dedicated volunteers we would not have a functioning club at all.
Shout outs go to Dave Lollar and his team for a great Super Seniors Bonspiel, to Karen Matheson and her team for a very successful Great Aunts and Grandmothers Bonspiel. Thanks also go to Michael Berry for organizing the Junior Challenge Cup. Always great to have our next generation of curlers competing and learning.
Vic Matthews
I want to acknowledge and remember a very special member of our club who passed away suddenly last month. Vic Matthews was a long time member of the club, a volunteer, a competitor and an all around fantastic gentleman. Vic was instrumental in the transition of the club from downtown to our present location. Vic oversaw much of the construction of the club which was completed on time and under budget and continued on the operations committee for many years. But more than that Vic was the essence of what a curler should be. Gracious whether winning or losing, generous of his time and experience and a true gentleman.
We will miss him.
Final Words
Once the plant is shut down and the ice has melted RKCC will transition to summertime mode. Remember to empty out your locker, take a look in the lost and found for missing items and especially to remove your lock. Pickleball will be starting in the ice shed April 28. Our pickleball crew will be holding an open house so watch for that.
And remember – even on a bad day on the ice, there are still good shots made at the bar.
Keith Mitchell – “the Prez”
Tue, Feb 25, 2025
The season is marching on (pun intended) so time for another update…
Ice Report
- Don and his crew continue to impress with the quality of the ice. The consistency of the speed and the curl is excellent. The recent Ted Brown, Empire and U20 bonspiels showed how good our ice can be and that is down to the hard work and expertise of the ice techs.
- One issue we are all aware of is the lack of cleanliness on the ice. The dirt we have seen on our broom heads to a large degree is a function of the dirt we are bringing into the club on our boots and shoes. The carpets we have put in the hallways help but going forward into next year the club will be moving to an outdoor footwear removal policy. There will be further communication coming on this with the details.
- Don will be heading out on a well deserved holiday in March and will be gone for the rest of the season. I am pleased to announce that Mada will be taking on his duties while he is gone. Mada is being fully trained and we have retained Jeff Gray as a consultant for Mada. Jeff will also be joining us during the Fisherman's bonspiel and for championship day.
Upcoming Events:
As we head into March, I want to mention some of the upcoming events happening at the club in the next month. Please see the Event Registration on our website to sign up and where applicable, pay the registration fee:
- RKCC will be hosting the Continental Cup again this year on March 22. This is a fantastic GKC hosted event where you get to curl with people from other clubs in a variety of formats. There are activities between games, great food and it is just a blast. Sign up is online so don’t hesitate.
- There are a number of bonspiels coming up including the Sham Rock-and Roll March 15, the Super Seniors March 14, the Grandmothers and Great Aunts March 25, the Junior Challenge Cup March 1 and theFisherman’s starting on April 3.
- Other events taking place are a Card Making workshop on March 19, a fun and friendly Games Night March 1, and the St Patty’s Day Dance with Steve Cheesman and the Heeters on March 15.
Shout Outs
So many people to acknowledge (as always). A big shout out to Teresa and the whole Gibson family as well as all the volunteers at the Empire Bonspiel. A huge success and a great fundraiser for Pathways to Education. The women will have noticed the big clean up in their locker room and this is thanks to the efforts of Jen Robertson and Fran Cooney. They were joined by a hard working team of Monica Kirk, Candace McConomy, Cathy Faubert, Bev Pitts, Karen Peters, Josee Dumas Hurt and Mirelle Ringuette. Finally, what a fantastic day with Lisa Weagle and a big thanks go out to Jen Robertson, Jay Gazeley, our on-ice instructors and the fantastic Kitchen crew.
Final Words
I will be sending out our promised financial update in a separate email. This is an important update and I hope you take the time to read and assess this report. Being a member of RKCC is more than just paying your money and playing the games. In my opinion we are a community of curlers and we all want to ensure we have a viable club now and for the future.
And remember – a clean gripper is a happy gripper. Take it home and wash it inside and out, or even better, buy a new one!!
Keith Mitchell – “the Prez”
Wed, Feb 5, 2025
Well the curling season is marching on quickly, so I wanted to get in touch with you all to let you know how the balance of the season is shaping up and what we have to look forward to in the next month or so.
Ice Report
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Don has now been with us for over a month now and I think we have all seen the significant improvements in the speed and curl on the ice. Maintaining ice is an ongoing process and as Don gets more comfortable with the equipment and the facility, things should only get better. So a BIG SHOUT OUT to Don and the entire ice crew for the hard work.
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As some of you may know Don will be heading out on a long planned vacation to the far east starting March 11 through to the end of the curling season. Don is continuing to train our Assistant Ice techs to handle his responsibilities while he is gone and we are confident they will be able to handle ice maintenance while he is away. Our former ice maker, Jeff Gray has agreed to act as a consultant if there are any questions or problems. Jeff will also be joining us for the Fisherman’s Bonspiel and for Championship Saturday April 12th. I am positive ice conditions should be good for the rest of the year.
U20 Ontario Championships - January 29 - Feb 2, 2025
I hope everyone had a chance to get out and watch Ontario’s up and coming curlers. It was amazing to watch these young curlers put on a stunning display of curling. The event could not have been more professionally run so kudo’s to Murray Matheson and the team of Deb Wilkin, Kathy Jackson, Jan Ray, Joanne Miller, Tom Sephton and Communications, especially Celia Russell.
Upcoming Events:
As we head into February, I want to mention some of the upcoming events happening at the club in the next month:
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Our ‘interclub friendlies” continue with the next event on February 21 at the Prince Edward Curling Club. Sign up is on the bulletin board outside the men’s and women’s locker rooms. There is no fee, carpooling might be available and it is always great to meet some new curlers and to curl at other clubs.
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The Lisa Weagle fundraiser goes this weekend (February 8th) with a full day schedule: juniors in the morning and adult curlers with a classroom and on ice program from 11:30 am to 1:15 pm. There is a special session with Lisa from 2 to 3 pm including a presentation and a time for questions and discussion. This is on Saturday February 8th. and it is open to everyone – however we are asking for goodwill cash donations at the door - remember it is a fundraiser event. Come on out and learn from one of the best.
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Also coming on February 21 and 22 is the Empire Life Mixed Bonspiel. Effective today, there are four remaining spots. Get your team together and get registered!! Teresa has a great event planned and it is always a lot of fun.
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The Junior Challenge Cup on Saturday March 1st has the Juniors back at our club. It should be a great event with local Juniors competing against each other.
Shout Outs
A quick shout out to Phil Tomsett and Mario Fabbro and their committee for another great Ted Brown Classic. We had 44 teams this year which can be a challenge to manage but the team did a great job. The bonspiel is growing once again and the fantastic ice, great food and organization are key to making this a must on many teams’ calendars.
Final Words
In my next message I will update everyone on the state of our finances as we will have a good idea what the year is looking like by then. Our previous years’ audited financial statement is on the website now so feel free to have a look.
And remember – there are no pictures on the scoreboard … Plan “B” is just fine!! (with the appropriate apology of course!)
Keith Mitchell – “the Prez”
2024
Sun, Dec 22, 2024
Head Ice Technician
- I want to extend a warm welcome to our new Head Ice Tech – Don Currier. Don started with us yesterday doing some training with the ice crew and some initial maintenance on the ice. I think we are all looking forward to the New Year and improved ice conditions.
- I also want to thank Jay Gazeley and Noel Herron who have stepped up along with myself to be our new Ice Directors. We will work with Don and our Ice Crew to provide feedback, help manage our ice making functions and keep the board updated on ice related issues.
- We are looking for volunteers to help the ice makers have the sheets ready for timely play. The Ice Crew Volunteers fill a critical role that supports quality ice and helps keep our staffing costs on budget. There will be a roster and schedule developed so that volunteers can plan when they are able to help. Don will be conducting a training session for Ice Crew Volunteers on Jan 11th between 8:30 and 12:30 pm. As a volunteer you will assist our crew in preparing the ice for play by mopping, nipping and other jobs that are essential to providing good ice. Anyone interested in helping on the ice can contact Don
or me 
Upcoming Events:
As we head into the New Year, I want to mention some of the upcoming events happening at the club in the next six weeks:
- We are hosting an interclub friendly event on January 10th at 1:30. Sign up sheets are on the boards. I played in the last one and had a blast so be sure to register.
- Our Juniors are hosting a bonspiel on January 18th in the morning. If you have aged out of juniors come on over to the club and see the new generation show us how it is done!!
- The Ted Brown Classic runs January 23 through to the 25th. The event is filling up quickly so be sure to get your team registered.
- Provincial competition returns to RKCC. We are hosting the Ontario U20 Championship starting Jan 29th through to Feb 2nd. This is a top end event with the best young curlers in the province looking to represent Ontario in the upcoming Nationals. The curling will be incredible so be sure to mark it in your calendar. More information coming in early January on how you and your team can become supporters and “adopters” for one of these skilled and energetic young teams.
- On Saturday February 8th, our club is pleased to welcome Olympic curler and World Women’s Curling Champion Lisa Weagle. The workshop will include a classroom format, on ice skill development, lunch and a general question and answer session. Check out the information on our website. This is a fundraiser for our club so please register soon, just a few spots remaining.
Shout Outs
At this time of year there are so many people organizing great events. The Women’s Christmas dinner, the Men’s Christmas Dinner, the Turkey Spiel, the Stick Spiel, the Mixed Pot Luck Dinner, the Junior Cash Spiel - all were fantastic events and we thank all the organizers and volunteers for their hard work.
Also at this time of year we, as a curling community like to give back to the community at large. Thanks to Denis Faubert for organizing the Christmas Village fundraiser for Partners in Mission Food Bank. At last report, the Christmas Village fundraiser was over $1300. A big thank you to everyone who donated and Denis who organized this creative fundraising project.
Peter and Janet Waugh once again arranged to collect food for the South Frontenac Food Bank at the Turkey Spiel. According to Dave Townsend, former director of the SFCSC we collected 358 lbs worth of food plus cash contributions for a total equivalent value of $1890! This is the 2nd largest donation to their food bank this fall and it is much appreciated. Well done RKCC.
The Day Women brought in treats to raise money for the Alzheimer Society and although I don’t know exactly how much was raised they did a great job for a very worthwhile organization.
On Behalf of the Board I would like to wish each and everyone of you a safe and happy holiday season.
And remember – vices be sure to hang your score in a timely fashion. We super skips behind the glass need to know…
Keith Mitchell – “the Prez”
Wed, Dec 4, 2024
This is my second instalment of “Prez Says” and I hope you find these updates informative.
Ice Tech Changes:
- In November we announced that our ice maker Gary is leaving our club and Don Currier will take over the Head Ice Technician position on December 21st. On behalf of the Board and our members, we send good wishes with Gary and our appreciation for his hard work.
- Don will be conducting a major ice maintenance beginning on December 24 and this involves melting the surface of the ice in order to remove any runs, bumps and lumps that become part of the curling surface. The melt also brings accumulated dirt and particles to the surface. When the ice is refrozen the crew then starts the process of pebbling and scraping which will remove the dirt and reshape the ice. They will also be texturing the rocks so we should see more curl.
Upcoming Events:
The December calendar is busy and we have several exciting events this month. The men’s and women’s sections will be hosting their annual Christmas Dinners and I encourage all section members to come out and support their sections. This is a great opportunity to meet other curlers. The Day Women’s Christmas Funspiel is December 5, the always popular Turkey Spiel on December 14th has just six spots open. The 2023 successful inaugural Stick Funspiel is back on Wednesday December 18th and it both humbling and fun to try out a new curling skill. New RKCC members are especially encouraged to join in for these events.
Season Opening:
The 2024 season opening had many challenges and we have been working hard to plan for an optimal starting date for the curling season. We need to consider both climate change and recent weather patterns; the equipment and building capacities, availability of ice crew staffing and the increasing costs of the steps in the season opening.
In the last few years, the warmer weather patterns have compromised our preparations. Previously we planned for ice installation in mid September, to be ready for the end of the month. However, it has been too warm with higher humidity for effective ice installation in that time period. These factors stress our equipment, lead to higher electricity consumption and frustrate ice maker efforts for satisfactory ice. We estimate that these additional expenses range between $5,000 to $10,000 for the mid September start for ice making.
We have set up an Ad Hoc Committee to review the technical requirements for the ice shed including recommendations to address the physical plant needs. We plan to submit a proposal to the Ontario Trillium Foundation to seek funding for anticipated improvements. If successful, these changes should lead to lower electrical costs and improved de-humidification. However, the funding approval process has many steps and the timeline for updates is in the medium-longer term.
We know that all members want to have a safe and smooth start to the season. The Board has voted to have all league play start after the Thanksgiving Day weekend. We will have practice ice available during the preceding week. There was input from all Committees at our club and while this was a difficult decision, we also believe that this is a prudent and fiscally responsible next step.
Shout Outs
I want to recognize a curler who decided that he has thrown his last rock. Bill Worthy – our oldest active curler has decided to hang up his curling shoes and stay on the warm side of the glass. Thanks to Bill for his many contributions to the club and of course, for providing the Day Men’s Club their twice weekly dose of really, really “Bad Dad Jokes”.
A huge shout out to Anthony Hale and Denise Mulville and their crew for the hard work of putting the Mixed Doubles tour event on November 9-10. The event was won by the Weagle Epping team and the curling was top notch. Well Done everyone!!
Many of you will have now seen the Christmas village pieces in the lounge. This is a fundraising project spearheaded by Denis Fobert, with the cash donations to support the Partners in Mission Food Bank. There is more information on our website, check the Member’s Home Page under “It Takes a Village” - thanks to Denis for leading this project. We also have a donation bin, just inside the lounge entrance, with non- perishable food items to be donated to the South Frontenac Community Services.
As always, I encourage all curlers to speak with any of your board representatives about concerns you may have. The board is there to direct the affairs of the club and we need your input in order to do that.
Thanks and remember – the skip’s broom is only a suggestion…
Keith Mitchell – “the Prez”
Sun, Nov 17, 2024
On behalf of the board of directors, I am pleased to announce that Don Currier will be joining RKCC as our new Head Ice Technician. Many of you will know Don from his time maintaining the ice at Napanee and Cataraqui. Don has a wealth of experience and knowledge and we are looking forward to having him join us.
Don will be starting on Dec 21 and will be handling our ice maintenance over the Christmas holidays. Training for ice tech assistants will be conducted on Dec 21 and we are scheduling a training day for volunteers on Jan 5.
Please join the board and I in welcoming Don to the club.
Sun, Nov 10, 2024
Gary Cound our Head Ice Technician has informed the board of directors that he is resigning his position with RKCC. Gary will remain with the club through to the end of the calendar year. Although only with us a short time the board thanks Gary for his hard work installing and maintaining our ice through some very trying conditions. The board has a plan in place to deal with this situation and it is our commitment to keep everyone informed of our plans going forward.
Sat, Nov 2, 2024
As part of my “open door” policy, I will be sending out update emails to help keep all of our members up to date on important events at the club. Please continue to check our club website for current and upcoming news and events.
Current challenges:
- We all remember the shut down days of COVID and none of us want a repeat performance of that. COVID is with us to stay and I want to remind everyone that if you are showing symptoms PLEASE STAY HOME. Flu and COVID shots are now available and we encourage you to go and get your vaccinations.
- Current Ice conditions. This has been a tough challenge so far this season. There are several confounding factors and we know that the ice has not been optimal. Repairs are imminent for the dehumidifier. Together with our Head Ice Technician, we continue to explore options to have safe and consistent ice for optimal curling. This is our top priority.
Upcoming Events:
- We have an exciting new event taking place November 9th and 10th. The Ontario Mixed Doubles Curling Tour is coming to RKCC, with some of the biggest names on the tour participating. There are 5 draws on Saturday and 3 on Sunday with the finals at 3:00. Everyone is welcome to come out at no charge to watch some fantastic curling and cheer on our local teams Hale/Mulville and Wong/St-Laurent.
- Also coming up in the next month we have our popular Christmas Craft Sale hosted by our Junior Curlers (sponsored by Kingston Mazda) on November 23rd and to keep the Doubles momentum going our 5th Annual Open Doubles Bonspiel on November 30th. The Pratt Senior Men’s Bonspiel goes on the 22nd and is already full.
Season Opening
- The Board of Directors is carefully looking at opening and closing dates for future seasons. The ice installation process was tough with a very warm, humid September and October. A less than optimal functioning dehumidifier did not help. We appreciate your patience while we deal with these issues
- On a positive note we have had a robust registration this year with over 570 members registered. We have many new members - which is tremendous. If you see an unfamiliar face, be sure to introduce yourself and offer a friendly RKCC welcome. For new curlers coming to the club it can be an initial challenge to find a flight team when there are so many established teams. Signing up for the club league format can get you curling regularly. For all curlers, please check the spare list when you need someone, and give those curlers a chance to show their stuff.
Shout Outs
- We appreciated the September 26th presentation by Kingston Police Detective Caroline Gauthier. The presentation focused on cyber security and timely, practical ways to protect yourself in an online world. Additional flyers from the presentation are available in the lounge. While it can be worrying, information is the best way to protect ourselves
- A “Well Done” to Dave Leeson and John Whitaker for another great Limestone Senior Men’s Bonspiel. The lunch was fantastic and we had a number of out of town teams join us. As a member of “Team Frankenstein” I can say we all had a great time.