It’s official!  There will be curling in Chester this Fall, but it’s going to be a little different thanks to COVID-19 and we will need your help make it happen. Please take five minutes or so to complete the survey after you have looked at the following update.

The Nova Scotia Curling Association recently received approval from the provincial Health Authorities for a Return to Play Plan.  (Click here to view the plan).  It provides a minimum level of measures that will have to be taken both on and off the ice to allow any Nova Scotia curling club to open and to operate safely within current provincial health regulations.  
 
I would encourage you to read the entire document to understand all of the detailed requirements, but the important highlights are:
 

1. 1. Rules of play for the standard four person game of curling have been modified to ensure that a 6 foot physical distancing can be maintained throughout the game.  This includes limiting the number of sweepers to one person at any time and having all members of the non-throwing team, including the skip, restricted to specific locations on the edge of the ice surface until a shot is completed.
      
      
   2. No specific procedures are suggested for stick curling or doubles curling, but the smaller number of players on the ice will allow for a less formalized maintenance of the 6 foot physical distancing measures during game play,  so these may be more attractive types of curling for some members than they have been in the past.
      
      
   3. Timing of individual games will have to be staggered to prevent all of the curlers from arriving at the club simultaneously and entering and exiting the ice at the same time.
      
      
   4. Operation of the club off of the ice will be restricted in a manner similar to restaurants and bars, including logging of entry, maintenance of 6 foot physical distancing, frequent disinfection of high touch surfaces, etc.
      
      
   5. Locker rooms will likely not be available so curlers may have to arrive dressed to curl and take their equipment home with them between games.
      
      
   6. The NSCA has received approval to start at Phase 3 of this plan, so the Chester Curling Club will be able to operate with all four sheets of ice in play.
      
      
   7. The junior program will run a junior league, like last year, we will have limited on ice instructional, which will be less curlers on the ice and more instructors. There will be limited, if any spectators for practices and games

 
Like all of the COVID-19 related restrictions, some or all of these rules may change prior to the start of the season or during the season but, as a club, we have to start planning now and preparing a budget that will allow us to operate sustainably for the coming season.  Last season, we experienced some challenges in recruiting volunteers for daily tasks such as bartending and ice preparation, but dealing with all of these new restrictions will either require us to have the support of a larger number of committed volunteers or we may have to consider hiring paid staff to ensure that our operations are done in a manner that protects the health and safety of our members and our club.  
 
In order to make informed decisions about our operations and budget for the upcoming season, we would like you to take five minutes or so to complete the following survey.

Clickhereto complete the survey

The 2020 edition of the Chester Curling Club’s 37th Annual, Snowball Mixed Bonspiel, was by all accounts a huge success. It provided for a fun filled event with keen curling competition and renewed friendships and rivalries that are synonymous with our club’s character. There were 12 teams participating in all, including many local hybrid and league teams, as well as, teams from Halifax and Windsor.

Friday evening draws got off smoothly as teams were eager to get an early read on the ice and have that first game behind them. When teams were finished, they were able to relax with live entertainment and enjoy refreshments, and fine hors d’oeuvres. Although there were a couple minor power outages followed by a “one hour-ish” outage on Saturday, it did not dampen the spirits of the participants. This rather contributed to a festive atmosphere and the seventh end “candle light” snack and beverage break that everyone seemed to enjoy and take in stride.

Once again we wish to congratulate the winning teams;

• 1st Team Taylour Stevens, Adam Cocks, Kate Callaghan and Bret Dorey
• 2nd Team Dan Fraser, Haylee Nauss, Wendy Sheppard and John Sheppard
• 3rd Team Greg Rafuse, Micayla Dorey, Patrick Fraser and Rachel Wilwang
• 4th Team Renata Graham, Charles Walker, Darlene Gates and Ken Johnson.

We wish to extend a huge “Thank You” to our dedicated volunteers, without which, the Snowball would not run as smoothly or be as successful. Special thanks goes out to the following; Carla Rafuse, overall coordinator, MJ Barkhouse and her helpers, Diane and Cindy, for the wonderful meal and Beth Atherton with the junior curlers for serving, Danette Grey for procurement, food prep and set-up, Linda Townson and Norma Swinamer for food prep, set-up, Beth Bleasdale for canvassing, bartenders Morven McLaughlin, Tommy McLaughlin, Dean Dunford and Dale Rafuse.

Thank you, Kevin Koloff and the Gypsy Minstrel Band, for the live entertainment.

To all club members who donated food, be it the painstakingly decorated and (very tasty) star cookies, loaf cakes or store bought items, we are most appreciative. And here is a “shout out” to Dan Fraser, our MC, for the banquet and awards presentations.

Lastly, let us not forget the excellent and challenging ice provided by Randy Cocks.

Well done and thank you all for making your curling club a welcoming place to be!

The Chester Curling Club would like to thank our Community and private Sponsors for their gracious gifts:

Monday, February 17, 2020
Heritage Day

Church Memorial Park invites you to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Eleanor Pew Morris Memorial Arena

Come and enjoy events for all ages:

• Demonstrations
• Skills competitions
• Curling
• Skating
• Hockey Games
• Awards

The celebrations begin at Noon

• Commemorative Curling Games (Noon to 2:00pm)
• Official Puck Drop (2:30pm to 3:00pm in the Arena)
• Official Stone Throw (3:00pm to 3:30pm)

More information can be found on facebook and the-park.ca.

February 14-15, 2020

Chester Curling Club would like to invite you to enjoy a weekend filled with good curling, good friends and good food at our annual Snowball Mixed Bonspiel!

The 2 day format remains popular so each team will play one game (two draws 6:30pm and 9:00pm) on Friday night and two games (four draws TBD) on Saturday. 

Click here to find out more

The 18th Annual Chester Ladies Day Spiel takes place on Saturday, November 16, 2019.

Entry Fee is $120.00 and is limited to 16 teams so please register your interest as soon as possible.

The streets and business throughout our charming village are decorated with giant cut-out "gingerbread people" displaying their Yuletide spirit. Activities such as gingerbread house building competitions, Christmas Craft Fairs and Christmas-themed plays all help us to celebrate the festive season.

Click here to find out more

Visit the Chester Curling Club to celebrate our 50th Anniversary and the many volunteers that have made our club what it is today,

AND ..

Give curling a try for free.

The day will showcase the following types of curling:

• Little Rocks 
• Doubles Curling
• Stick Curling
• Regular Curling

View more details here.

Now that curling is over for the year (and the Club is closed), we have something exciting to look forward to next season... celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Chester Curling Club!

The Executive is working closely with The Church Memorial Park staff in planning various activities to commemorate the opening of The Eleanor Pew Morris Memorial Rink on February 14th, 1970.

Thanks to a recently re-discovered scrapbook from the Ladies Division, newspaper clips and photos have been preserved showing the early history of the Club and women's curling in Chester.

Stay tuned for more details on plans to mark this great occasion...

Here are a few snapshots from the scrapbook...

The Official Programe (below) displays the list of invitees and scheduled events for the opening day.