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This history of the club was prepared by
May Ellis.
It was 1956 when a group of Army, Navy and Air
Force veterans who had settled in Carleton Heights decided that curling would
be an excellent winter sport to introduce to the area. These enthusiastic
people canvassed the locale and found that there was sufficient interest to
pursue their idea. The Ottawa Recreation Department granted permission to lay
out two sheets of ice alongside the outdoor community hockey and skating rink.
Stones were borrowed from the Rideau Club, the club house was a pair of
salvaged garages and, between snow banks and bundled in parkas and toques,
curling got under way.
Despite sub-zero temperatures, snow and thaws,
these avid curlers made it through two winters. However, in 1957 it was
proposed that if eighty people would be willing to purchase $100 bonds, an
indoor two sheet rink could be built. Carleton Heights Curling Club was
officially incorporated on May 16, 1958. On June 6, 1958 the sod-turning took
place and in December, 1958, the official opening of the new facility, which
was planned and built mainly by these hardy veterans, was a dream realized.
In order to carry on this dream, those same
hard- working members now had to face having to make and maintain the ice. This
entailed many very late nights and quite often, while the men were working on
the ice, their wives would be there to serve coffee and goodies.
The first executive meeting was held in the
club house on January 11, 1959, with 76 people in attendance. The club colors
were declared to be Royal Blue and White. The members of the first executive
were Morgan Park, Neil Duncan, Jack Willis, Bob Masson, Lyons Allen, Maynard
Mulvagh, and Joyce Sherman.
Two new sets of rocks were ordered for the
1959-60 curling season The Opening Dance took place at the Convention Hall,
Lansdowne Park, at a cost of $5 per couple. In March, 1960, the club had four
rinks entered in the City of Ottawa Bonspiel and since then Carleton Heights
has never looked back. In 1961-62, it was necessary to limit active membership
to bondholders and spouses only, in order to provide all members with two games
per week. This same year, the area voted "WET" and two liquor permits were
issued that season. The Men's Smoker, which had previously been held at the
RCASC Mess, was held at the Club for the first time.
Continued interest in curling led to the
formation of the first Junior League in 1964, with George Caskey and Hugh
Crawford at the helm. This program was undertaken by many dedicated members,
including Al Magee, Bob Grant, Gerry Barnabe, Keith Gibbs, Joe Barthelette, Rob
Dunn and Barry Mersereau.
Curling was proving to be a popular winter
sport. An ever-increasing membership led to the addition of two sheets of ice,
a more spacious lounge and more modem facilities in 1965. McDonald Tobacco
provided four scoreboards, two more sets of rocks were purchased and, once
again, curling was under way at Carleton Heights.
In 1976 it was incorporated into the constitution of
the club that a Permanent Property
Committee be established to review and approve any proposals relating to
alterations of any kind to the building. The committee consisted of Bill
Whitman, George Caskey, and Don Ellis.
Also in 1976, as many of the originals were
readying for retirement, a Seniors' Afternoon League was formed and has proven
to be very popular among our male members. They also get together for their
Annual Golf Tournament which always proves to be a fun event.
In 1977, a decision was made to insulate the
ceiling in the rink area. This was partially financed by a Wintario grant,
while the work was done by our working members. Also in 1977, the walls of the
curling rink were insulated. This undertaking, which was completed by a number
of members, became known as "THE WALLBANGER PROJECT" and was financed by
special donations from the members.
During the summer of 1985, major renovations
to the lounge, kitchen, bar, cloak room, locker rooms, as well as improved
lighting on the ice surface took place. Once again this project, which was
under the capable direction of Don Ellis, was made possible by grants through
the federal government's "Make Work" and the "New Horizons" programs, as well
as cash donations by some members. Our expansion party on November 16, 1985 was
a great success and, once again, Carleton Heights had taken a big step
forward.
Carleton Heights is what it is today as a
result of thousands of laborious hours contributed by our many dedicated
members, both men and women, who have always been more than willing to
volunteer their services. These services would range anywhere from such major
tasks as replacing the ice headers, roof repair, installing suspended ceilings,
cleaning, washing and painting the entire premises, to baking pies, cakes and
goodies as well as providing canteen service. On several occasions when the
club was experiencing financial difficulties, these same members always came
through with monetary loans and donations in order that the Club could carry
on.
Over the past fifty years, Carleton Heights
has certainly been well represented by all sections of the Club, ranging from
our Little Rocks and juniors to our Seniors, at various bonspiels throughout
Ottawa and the Valley. Our ladies have brought many championships to the Club,
to name a few, the Tweedsmuir winners in 1966 which were the teams of Jean
Bassett, Betty Joiner, Hellon Geldart, Ethel Jackson, and Marion Caskey, Nan
Stonehouse, Irene Watson and Pat Christie. In 1995 Linda Martin and her rink of
Debbie McCreanor, Carol Ann Campbell and Chris Henry captured the Ladies
Crystal Pebble Bonspiel.
In March of 1991, the team of Art Scoby, Del
Tracy, Don Ellis and Howey Dash won the City of Ottawa Seniors' Event and went
on to win the first Seniors' Grand Aggregate (Pappy Rugby) Trophy. Later that
same month, the team of Pat Hamilton, Del Tracy, Len Baird, and Don Ellis
brought accolades to the Club when they won the Provincial Masters pennant
which is proudly displayed at the Club. Many City of Ottawa trophies have been
won by our teams over the years. One that stands out was won by Harry Adams and
his rink. The members were so thrilled to have one of our teams win a City of
Ottawa Trophy that a party was immediately arranged and champagne was poured
into the trophy and sipped by all those in attendance.
Carleton Heights has always extended a warm
welcome to our fellow curlers. In this vein, to name a few special occasions:
Centennial year, 1967, saw us hosting the Nova Scotia Brier Rink; 1978, the
Ontario Junior Girls' Playdowns; 1979, the New Brunswick Brier Rink; 1986, the
Scottish Ladies; 1990, the Saskatchewan Tournament of Hearts Team, and in 1993,
the Manitoba Brier Rink.
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