Club News

the HOG LINE

Newsletter of the Port Elgin Curling Club

TANKARD NEWS

As members now know, the Port Elgin Curling Club, in conjunction with CurlOn, will be hosting the 2022 Ontario Men’s Curling Championship also referred to as THE TANKARD, February 9 – 13, 2022 at the Plex.

The Steering Committee for the event is lead by Doug Flowers with members Earl Anderson, Kate Hagen and Brian Crabbe.  This committee “steers” seven different committees, each with specific responsibilities that are being co-ordinated and developed so everything is organized and we can be the best hosts possible.    The goal is to make this Tankard an unforgettable event for the curlers and the spectators while we build the image of curling in our community and provide a significant economic stimulus to the town of Port Elgin and surrounding area.

Our members will be amazed to learn of the interest that has already been generated.  Just the day after town council ok’d the event and the use of the Plex, we received phone calls from curlers in other clubs and towns who want to lend us a hand.  We have even had requests for tickets!  

The success of the Tankard in Port Elgin depends on volunteers and we need lots of them.  We are issuing the “call” for volunteers with this newsletter.  We require volunteers for many tasks and in many areas.  You can take your pick. Please, keep in mind that we need you!

Attached you will find a letter from the co-chairs of the Volunteer Committee, Sue Little and Deb Campbell. This letter will give you important information about how to become a volunteer. Sue and Deb are looking forward to hearing from you.

Over the next few weeks there will be lots of news rolling out to keep you informed. The Hog Line will update you with TANKARD NEWS.

Newsletter of the Port Elgin Curling Club

CURLING DAY IN CANADA SUCCESS

Saturday was a fun day at the club.  COVID restrictions limited the numbers of members who could attend but we filled each event and the ice surface was busy, there were lucky draws for prizes (thank you PECC and our Pro Shop), pizza (thank you Dave and Adel Middleton), Scotties on a large screen TV (thank you Square Deal Neil’s) and the bar was open and busy right up to closing time.  

Thanks to all for making the day a happy one at the club!!

TANKARD LAUNCH

The official launch of the 2022 Men’s Tankard was held at the club as part of our CURLING DAY IN CANADA CELEBRATION.  Dave Middleton emceed the launch with Earl Anderson, our president and Luke Charbonneau the Mayor of Saugeen Shores.  We are up and running and heading to the biggest curling event in the history of the Port Elgin Curling Club.

During our launch Dave Middleton treated us to a Zoom interview with Glen Howard, one of Ontario’s mast recognized curlers!!  You can see the interview on our Facebook page.  You do not have to have an account to view it but we would really encourage you to like us on Facebook to see photos and updates of all our PECC happenings…INCLUDING this interview!!

You may want to the interview using this link:   https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=159184635929032

MORE TANKARD INFORMATION ON THE WAY

This week you will be receiving, via the Hog Line, details of our Tankard preparations.  We will answer your questions on how to volunteer.  WATCH HERE FOR DETAILS!!

the HOG LINE

Newsletter of the Port Elgin Curling Club

CURLING DAY IN CANADA

The big day is tomorrow at the club!  A schedule of curling has been planned (all for the fun of the game) and we still need curlers for one time slot.

12:30– 2:30: FOUR PERSON CURLING:  Sign up as a single, couple or as a team.  This is a chance to get out on the ice for some fun.  Contact Jan McGarry: jan.a.mcgarry@gmail.com.

2:30 – 4:00:  DOUBLES CURLING: SOLD OUT!!!

7:00 – 9:00: SATURDAY NIGHT SPECIAL FREE STYLE CURLING:  SOLD OUT!!!

NOTE TO CURLERS: Look through your closet for your favorite “Canadiana” curling attire.  Let’s face It…it’s CURLING DAY IN CANADA…why not look like it?  Wrap yourself in a flag, put on that Mountie costume you use at Hallowe’en or…wear whatever floats your canoe!!

VOLUNTEER ASSISTANCE:

A few time slots are still available for bartenders and greeters (to welcome curlers, direct them to team tables and remind folks of the COVID protocols).  If you have some time on Saturday to lend a hand, contact Jan McGarry: jan.a.mcgarry@gmail.com .  Your help will be appreciated.

TANKARD LAUNCH:

The formal announcement of the 2022 ONTARIO MEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP, also referred to as THE TANKARD, will be made Saturday at the club.  The event’s official emcee Dave Middleton will be presiding. Local dignitaries and the press will be on hand!!  It’s a very big announcement for the club and we are preparing to roll it out.

Special thanks to SQUARE DEAL NEIL’S, SOUTHAMPTON for lending us and setting up a large screen TV so we can watch the Scotties in comfort at the club on Saturday.

the HOG LINE

Newsletter of the Port Elgin Curling Club

BREAKING NEWS…

THE PORT ELGIN CURLING CLUB WILL HOST THE 2022 ONTARIO MEN’S PROVINCIAL CURLING CHAMPIONSHIP, FEBRUARY 9-13, 2022.  THE EVENT WILL BE HELD AT THE PLEX.

Saugeen Shores council approved the event on Monday evening.  A formal announcement will be made at the curling club this Saturday during our Curling Day in Canada celebration and local dignitaries will be present.

A Steering Committee for this important curling event is in place.  The committee is chaired by Doug Flowers and he is joined by 3 curling club members: Earl Anderson, Kate Hagen and Brian Crabbe.  Sub-committee chairpersons have been identified and work is underway.

This is a very prestigious opportunity for our club and the benefit to our community is an expected economic impact of approximately one million dollars! 

 Volunteers will be needed and information will be coming in the next week or so about our requirements.  Keep the event in mind.  There may be an area where you would like to assist.  You will have the opportunity to sign up soon and join in for the fun and festivities as well as see a great show of curling in 2022 right here in Port Elgin.    STAY TUNED!!   

the HOG LINE

Newsletter of the Port Elgin Curling Club

CURLING DAY IN CANADA

It’s a big day Saturday February 27 at the Port Elgin Curling Club as we join Canadians and celebrate CURLING DAY IN CANADA!  This national event is sponsored by Curling Canada and celebrates the game, the players, the icemakers and everyone else associated with the game of curling.

YOU CAN PARTICIPATE

A day of celebration is planned at our club and it centres around games of curling out on our beautiful ice surface. Our members can be part of the action and have some fun.

12:30 – 2:30: FOUR PERSON TEAMS…teams will be created from those who sign up…there could be Ladies teams, Men’s teams and Mixed teams. 

2:30 – 4:00: DOUBLES CURLING…teams will be created from those who sign up…this can be your opportunity to give doubles a try…it’s a fun way to curl, it moves quickly and you get to throw a lot of draw shots.  Don’t be shy, give it a try.

WATCH THE SCOTTIES…the Semi Final will be shown on a large screen television loaned to us by Square Deal Neil’s.  You can watch our women’s national championship as well as club curling at the same time!  Have a beverage from the bar and relax… THE BAR WILL BE OPEN!! 

7:00 – 9:00: FREE STYLE CURLING…sign up and get on the ice…any way you want…Doubles, Four Person, Three Person, Mixed, Men’s, Ladies… Remember you haven’t had a Saturday night out for a long time!!  You may even want to challenge some members to a friendly match.  The SCOTTIES will continue on the big screen with the second semi final game. 

PLEASE NOTE:  THERE IS NO CHARGE FOR THIS EVENT.  IT IS OPEN TO ALL MEMBERS OF PECC AS WELL AS LEARN TO CURL AND THE FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL LEAGUE.

SPECIAL NOTE: COVID PROTOCOLS REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGHOUT THIS EVENT AND WE CANNOT EXCEED MAXIMUM NUMBERS IN THE CLUB.  YOU MUST REGISTER TO PLAY.

FOR REGISTRATION PLEASE CONTACT:

12:30 – 2:30: FOUR PERSON TEAMS…Jan McGarry: jan.a.mcgarry@gmail.com

2:30 – 4:00: DOUBLES…Doug Hamilton: jandd@bmts.com

7:00 –9:00: FREE STYLE, SATURDAY NIGHT OUT…Doug Flowers: doug@goldline.ca  

the HOG LINE

Newsletter of the Port Elgin Curling Club

LET THE CURLING SEASON RESUME!

Today we return to curling as the stay-at-home order is lifted.  The curling club will re-open and our members are ready to go.  Please keep in mind that this is not a return to normal, it is a return to curling with COVID.  The COVID protocols that were in place prior to the recent lockdown are still in place.  Wear a mask, physically distance and please respect the rules.

THE CLUB WILL BE BUSY:

It looks like everyone is ready to get into action!  Monday afternoon Ladies and Monday night Men’s will be back and curling next Monday.

Learn to Curl resumes tonight and the curlers and volunteers are ready to go.

Tuesday night the Open Fun League will be on the ice.

Wednesday evening, Mixed Doubles has 17 teams scheduled.

Tuesday and Thursday afternoon drop in, “pay as you play” curlers will be back in action.

Thursday night, Skips Choice teams will resume their competitive schedule.

Friday afternoon drop in curlers will pick up where they left off with their new “league”.

Friday evening bookings for social curling are happening.  March looks busy and some of the Fridays are already booked full!

You can see that planning has been continuing and curlers are ready to slide out onto the ice for some fun and exercise.  If YOU ARE NOT PART OF THE ACTION but you want to join in, please email Susan Anderson sanderson@bmts.com and she will get you linked up with a scheduler(s).

STAY TUNED for information about Curling Day in Canada celebrations at our club.  That will happen on Saturday, February 27 and you will be invited to join in!

the HOG LINE

Newsletter of the Port Elgin Curling Club

BACK TO CURLING!!

The announcement by the government yesterday is welcome news and if all goes well and there are no unexpected changes, we will be back to curling on Tuesday, February 16.  At this time the club is scheduled to re-open and curling draws and schedules will resume.  

COVID RESTRICTIONS:

Grey Bruce will continue with the same COVID restrictions that were in place prior to the latest lockdown.  Curlers will be required to physically distance and wear masks as they did previously.  The restriction rules will remain in place for the bar and for the use of chairs and tables in the lounge area.  The locker rooms will not be in use.  Washroom restrictions remain in place.

CURLERS:

Curlers will be notified soon about draw schedules, lineups and any other requirements before we get started.  If you want to get included in a draw that you didn’t plan on prior to the disruption please contact Susan Anderson by email: sanderson@bmts.com and she will get your request to the appropriate scheduler.

LET’S DO IT:

The ice is ready, the club is warming up.  Find your gear, start your stretches and limber up so we can enjoy being back on the ice with friends.  Let’s put the boredom of stay at home behind us.   

the HOG LINE

Newsletter of the Port Elgin Curling Club

GETTING CLOSER???

Next week we will hear the news about the end of the current restrictions and things are looking promising with improved numbers in the COVID data.  Let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that we can finish off winter on the curling ice with friends at the curling club.  A little bit of social interaction and a few laughs would be a nice change from lockdown isolation.

CURLING NEWS FOR YOU:

Curl Canada has a Curling Day in Canada program that includes a story contest.  The deadline for submission was Monday and PECC got a story submitted, prepared by Kristen Biederman with help from Jan McGarry and Tracey Doll.  Our story focuses on our community, how we support each other and the fun we have at the curling club, in this case, at the Brad Doll Memorial Bonspiel. The story is shown below.

IT’S BEEN A WHILE…

It was before Christmas when we last touched base via the Hog Line.  We were entering lockdown and preparing to celebrate the holiday season in a different way.  And here we are, “phase one” is over and we are into the “extension” of the lock down and a “stay at home” order that hopefully will end on February 10^th.  It has been a difficult month for the province, the country and indeed the entire world. We are lucky to live in Grey Bruce where we have small numbers of infection.  Hopefully in two weeks we can bust out of this in some fashion, get to see some friends (in masks) and (fingers crossed) get back to curling!

WHILE WE’VE BEEN AWAY…

A few things have been happening at the club:

THE ICE is being maintained by our ice guys three times weekly.  The ice surface is groomed and kept in top condition to prevent deterioration that could happen with lack of use. A few things happen even when the guys aren’t there! https://fb.watch/2EoJeT8RCi/

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS is meeting virtually and discussing plans for the club reopening as well as other business that comes their way.

OUR FUTURE? If everything goes the way we all hope with COVID, the curling club will re-open on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15^TH.  More information will be coming your way about schedules, draws and other plans.  Let’s all try to maintain the momentum that we were experiencing at the club as we get ready for some fun and good curling in 2021!

ITEMS OF INTEREST:CURLING DAY IN CANADA: The great game of curling gets the recognition it deserves on Saturday, February 27!  Plans are in the works to have an event at our club.  Stay tuned.  In the meantime, check out this link, curlingdayincanada.ca.

the HOG LINE

Newsletter of the Port Elgin Curling Club

LOCKED DOWN

As you heard on Monday, and we all now know, we will enter a mandatory provincial lockdown at 12:01 AM on Boxing Day.  The lockdown, in our Grey Bruce region, will be in placement until Saturday, January 23, 2021.

HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE CURLING CLUB?

The curling club, because of the lockdown, will close tonight, December 23, after doubles curling. We anticipate re-opening the week of January 25, 2021 after the lockdown ends.  During this time no curling is allowed in our sports and recreation facility including practice. 

It is sad but health must be our #1 concern. We are fortunate to live in this area and be relatively untouched by COVID19 but the virus is out there and we need to be vigilant and protect ourselves and everyone else from it.  Let’s not let the momentum that we were feeling at the curling club with new members, new curlers, successful leagues and great ice conditions be lost.  Hold on to that feeling of a successful curling season and keep your fingers crossed that this lockdown ends and we can pick it up again.  We have been having fun on the ice and we will again.  Let’s all be determined to do that.

BE SAFE, BE WISE, STAY HEALTHY.

MERRY CHRISTMAS and LETS’S HAVE A HAPPY 2021!