October sees enthusiasts of all ages getting out their brooms and slides for another winter of fun and activity

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By Susanne MacDonald
This Week Staff

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There are over a million Canadians curling at 1,250 facilities across the country and 3.4 million Canadians watch curling on television. Small wonder then, that there are three curling clubs serving the Greater Moncton area: Beaver Curling Club, Curling Beauséjour, and the Moncton Curlers' Association.

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With three local rinks to choose from, curling can be a great way to get active this winter.

The Beaver Curling Club (BCC) says there are as many reasons to curl as there are curlers and, that when compared to sports like golf, hockey or skiing, curling is affordable. The entry-level skills required are minimal, curling clinics are available to everyone, and that people are never too young or too old to start curling.

In terms of fitness and cardiovascular benefits, the club describes curling as an excellent sport for all ages where you can get a good workout when you want one, but you can also avoid undue stress when necessary. The BCC touts curling as "fun, healthy, social, inexpensive, easy, strategic, exciting, and entertaining".

"Curling is an affordable and healthy activity for people of all ages and can be an important component in anyone's physical fitness program," agrees Georgie Caissie, president of Curling Beauséjour Inc.

Curling Beauséjour is located at 80 Lockhart Avenue in Moncton. 'Le Beau', as it's fondly referred to by its members, provides curling from mid-August to early May along with a comprehensive training program by qualified personnel.

The Club has hosted the Canada Games 55 , the Surf & Curl Bonspiel, and the Sounds Fantastic Early Bird Challenge. From Oct. 16 to 19, Curling Beauséjour will be hosting the Lady Monctonian Bonspiel, which will feature 20 of the top teams in the Maritimes.

"The Moncton Curlers' Association is a non-profit organization and was the first club to be established in the area in 1881," says President Dan MacPherson.

Its purpose is to provide a curling and recreational facility to residents of the Greater Moncton area. The club, located at 358 Lutz Street, Moncton, has approximately 120 members and the season begins on Oct. 14.

MCA is open to men, women, seniors, and students. They host high school curling and are currently developing a Little Rocks curling program for youth. Saturdays are generally reserved for mostly one-day fund raising bonspiels for charities, such as the SPCA, Curl for the Heart, etc. They are offering a free clinic for new and novice curlers at 9 a.m. on Oct. 18.

The Beaver Curling Club has been a fixture in Moncton since 1946, serving the curling community for over 50 years. Located at 73 Capitol Avenue, it is a member-owned club with over 250 members, operated by the members for the members, but serves the community as well.

Over the years, the BCC has had several New Brunswick curling champions with Canadian titles for Ladies and Mixed curling. The BCC's popular recreational league, where people can enter teams and pay a weekly fee rather than have a club membership, takes place on Sundays.

For more information on curling in the Greater Moncton area, contact one of the three local clubs listed below.

Local clubs

Beaver Curling Club
Phone: 382-6412
E-mail: info@beavercurlingclub.ca
Web site: www.beavercurlingclub. ca

Curling Beauséjour Inc.
Phone: 857-4285
E-mail: info@curlingbeausejour.ca
Website: www.curlingbeausejour.ca

Moncton Curlers’ Association
Phone: 855-6019
E-mail: MCAcurl@canoemail.com