A Message from the Board of Directors
START DATE
It is with sadness that the Board has determined that as a result of current COVID-19 numbers in the community the start of the season will be delayed until January 2021.
This decision was difficult for us to make but, according to all the experts, we are in the middle of the “second wave.” The numbers in the community are currently higher than they were in the spring when the City requested that we end our season early and the Board does not believe that it would be safe or prudent to go forward with opening the Club at this time. The Board has canvassed Clubs in the area and a number of other Clubs have made a similar decision not to start their season until January 2021.
While the government has indicated that there is no threshold number of cases to move Burlington (Halton) to a “modified Stage 2” they announced on Monday that Halton was being carefully monitored at this time and further restrictions could be imposed at any time. The City of Burlington, following the recommendation of Halton Region’s Medical Officer of Health and emerging evidence of cases from indoor physical activity, as at this time “paused” all City of Burlington-run indoor fitness classes including those run by other organizations at City locations and sports have been limited to training (no games).
MEMBERSHIP FEES
The Board wishes to thank all the members who have paid their membership fees. An even bigger thank you to those who, despite not feeling comfortable playing this season, chose to pay the amount that they would have paid in order to assist the Club through these difficult times.
With the shortened season those of you who have paid your full fees will be eligible for a partial refund. The Board would like to ask you to consider whether you are willing to waive the refund to assist the Club as, despite not being able to commence curling at this time, we will continue to have expenses throughout the fall.
LEAVE OF ABSENCE FEE
If your situation has changed and you have now decided that you do not intent to return to curling this season please remember that if you want to have a spot held for you in your section(s) for the following season you are required to pay a $250.00 Leave of Absence Fee.
ADDITIONAL DONATIONS – Sport4Ontario
The Board is in the process of setting up a charitable donation fund for the Club with Sport4Ontario. Anyone wishing to contribute to the Club (whether or not you intend to play) may donate through this program and will be issued a charitable receipt. We thank you in advance for giving consideration to making such a donation.
The Burlington Curling Club is a Not-For-Profit organization and given the loss of membership fees this season, both due to reduced numbers and a shortened season, the Club will have a substantial shortfall in funding required to cover our expenses. We continue to investigate government funded opportunities to assist in offsetting these shortfalls.
We thank you all for your expressions of support through these uncertain times. Our strength is in our membership and we are confident that the Club will remain a strong, vibrant Club regardless of when we are all able to see each other in person again.
Welcome to Our Club
The Burlington Curling Club is one of the finest curling clubs in Ontario with five sheets of quality curling ice, first-rate food and beverage service, and a friendly atmosphere that fosters the love of the game on and off the ice.
If you are interested in membership information, please go to the “Club” dropdown box and click on “Membership” to access information on the Burlington Curling Club Leagues, 2020-21 membership rates, and our $99.00 introductory special.
We also offer an introductory Learn to Curl league for people new to our sport. See details below.
If you are interested in joining the BCC, please go to the “Club” drop-down box, then to “Membership Form”. Fill out the form and submit it. There is no cost to do so. You will be contacted within a few days confirming the receipt of your application. Many of the BCC sections have short waiting lists so it is important to apply early.
You can contact the Club Manager, Jim Holland anytime at 905-634-0014 or jwhbcc@gmail
The Burlington Curling Club gratefully acknowledges a Trillium Foundation grant of $67,900 that has allowed us to update our ice plant and remove the mold infected areas of the club. This will provide both energy savings and a safer environment for our curlers.
Things You Need To Know
- Season will be extended beyond Easter to allow enough games for sections to complete playoffs
- Absentee Memberships are available for $250. This will guarantee your spot in the sections you played in last year. You can take the year off but maintain your membership. Please Note: Basswood and Crystal Teams make their own teams so you need to talk to teammates to make sure your spot is saved.
- You will be able to join in January if the numbers work out within the sections. We will try to make room for everyone.
- Masks will be mandatory everywhere inside the club unless you are sitting at a table and eating or drinking. This includes sweeping and throwing. See Mask suggestions and what our thought process involved below.
- Club Brooms, sticks and stabilizers will not be available for members, so you will have to purchase your own equipment this season.
- Bar will be open with disposable glasses
- In most cases there will be at least an hour after your game to socialize
- Kitchen will be closed
- We are asking everyone to go cashless
- We will maintain the 50 person bubbles per section
- There will be a Tracing App at the front door that everyone must scan in as they arrive. It works like a boarding pass, You can use your phone or print a card you can scan.
- No Little Rocks this Year
- Juniors will be playing with same 50 bubble limit
- Calendar will be produced once everyone responds to invoices so we know section numbers and how many games are needed.
- Draws will be spaced out as much as possible to allow for distancing between 50 person bubbles.
- If there is ever a Member that tests positive to covid our local health authority takes over and determines what happens. We provide all our Tracing information and they determine the spread and who might be infected. They will let us know if we have to temporarily close while testing is done and whether it is one or more bubbles that are affected.
- If we are forced to close early we may have to implement a Assessment Charge to all members to ensure we can still exist once we are allowed to open again.
- Assessments will only be implemented as a last resort
- We are investigating Charitable Tax Receipts for any Assessment if it is required
- We are investigating making an outside bar area
- One option we are considering is making all games 6 ends and you must play all 6 ends. Once a 4th end starts the people in the lounge must leave to allow for cleaning and sanitizing. Sections need to weigh in with their preferences.
If you click on the link above you can download a PDF of the latest guidelines for reopening curling clubs that our curling associations have released..
If gives you an idea of how our game will be affected and some of the steps, we as a club, will have to take to open. Most key steps are noted above in Andre’s message..
Videos to show Game Flow
CurlON has created a couple very short videos just to show you the flow of a game with the covid procedures in place. One sweeping, where to stand when other team is throwing and one skip in the house etc.
Click on the links below to view.
