An open house is planned for Wednesday May 8th from 6 pm to 9 pm - all are welcome, instruction will be provided

NEWS RELEASE

HALIFAX CURLING CLUB

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The oldest continuously operating Curling Club in Canada was looking for new ways keep their doors open throughout the summer and provide the community with an alternative recreational activity. The Club’s President had brunch with a family member who asked if they had considered Pickleball. The Halifax Curling Club (HCC), which opened in 1824, is located in South End of Halifax and has had a rich history as a curling club- but Pickleball?

The first step in the experiment was to see if there was any interest in the community? A demonstration night was planned and people were invited to come on down and see what Pickleball is all about. A Facebook post announcing Pickleball was coming to the club had over 31,000 views in just under 4 days.

Club President Rob Belliveau has been overwhelmed with the response from Curling Clubs and Pickleball enthusiasts from across Canada. “Curling Clubs are empty in the summer and it seems like a perfect fit to make our space available for Pickleball. The size of the floor surface is perfect and converting the space from ice sheets to pickleball courts was easy.”

Roger Peters from East Coast Pickleball is thrilled with the new space. “We have a difficult time finding suitable space to play on evenings and weekends as most facilities are already booked with other leagues and youth programs. This gives us a place to play for the summer season that is indoors and available to us almost anytime of the day.”

On the first evening more than 30 players Peters helped organize were on the courts to demonstrate the sport while members of the curling club and others from the community came to learn more. Belliveau was pleasantly surprised by the attendance at the event “This is a bit of our field of dreams moment, if we built it, will the come? It looks like they will and I am very happy to see the Club serving its members, local community and pickleball enthusiasts."

Due to the demand it looks like the Halifax Curling Club is going to have a busy summer with Pickleball play, having daytime and evening leagues running 7 days a week until the ice goes back in for the fall curling season.

An open house is planned for Wednesday May 8th from 6 pm to 9 pm - all are welcome, instruction will be provided.

To learn more go to https://halifaxcurl.com.

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