Pinawa Curling Club

The social values of volunteerism, community, and sportsmanship are instilled in every level of activity in the Pinawa Club, making them part of the social fabric in Pinawa. The Club offers a variety of curling activities and events, including but not limited to the following: Monday and Thursday Drop In Curling, Wednesday Juniors Programs and Mens League, Thursday Mixed League, Friday Afternoon Stick Curling, Various Bonspiels, Open House during Whiteshell Winter Arts Festival, and countless ice rentals from surrounding business and various visiting groups. On average, they usually get between 600 and 800 participants that benefit from the space in a season; however, the spectators that come to support events and patrons to the Club restaurant bring that number to the thousands. The Pinawa Curling Club Restaurant is a social gathering place and the ONLY dining facility in town in the winter months. Not having curling and its supporters could possibly result in the restaurant having to close during the winter, which would result in loss of jobs and impact the entire population of Pinawa. All ice making and ice maintenance, administrative duties, organizing and running of bonspiels, leagues, drop in curling, ice rentals and instruction, organizing events, etc. is done through volunteers.

In 2019, the space suffered a catastrophic ice plant failure and then in 2020 there were failures with their headers. Thankfully, through fundraising, grant submissions, and the astonishing generosity of this and surrounding communities, they were able to replace all the failed equipment. Now, unfortunately depleted of funds, the community finds themselves unable to get any replacement bulbs for their 55-year-old lighting, as the bulbs they currently use are no longer available. Luckily, the community has sourced LED bulbs that will save thousands of dollars compared to alternative installations, and that will work with the current fixtures.

Their Story Now

“The Pinawa Curling Club is so grateful and appreciative to Red River Mutual for approving our Spruce Up Your Story  grant application.  We are an aging curling club that has fallen on some pretty hard times in recent years due to our aging equipment and club.  Thanks to this successful application we are absolutely thrilled to have been able to update our lighting and things are looking very bright for us now.   It has made the world if difference for us.” – Linda Gifford, Curling Director of the Pinawa Curling Club