by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
WHITEWATER REGION (Cobden) — The Cobden Curling Club members are appreciative of the support they have received from individuals and businesses as they fundraise to pay for the new plant and compressors, which makes the ice.
There have been about five to six fundraisers, with more occurring, including this Sunday’s breakfast, said Ken Francis, president of the club.
The breakfast is 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Cobden Agricultural Hall. Breakfast includes pancakes, sausages, eggs, home fries, baked beans, toast, juice and refreshments, all for $8 or if you are 12 years and younger, the cost is $5.
“We’ve had stupendous, really good support, from everybody and we’d like to keep it coming because we’re not out of the woods yet, but it’s coming good,” Mr. Francis said. “Businesses and private donations are coming in.”
Other fundraisers include euchre Wednesday nights, Oct. 18 and 25, at the Curling Club at 7:30 p.m. and a trivia night at the club on Saturday, Nov. 25. To register for the trivia, please call Shawna McGrath, 613-633-8910.
While the compressors were installed in mid-September, glycol, which is the same as antifreeze and makes the coldness to freeze the ice, has to be put in, he said. The glycol that has been removed was put in 40 years ago, he noted. It was going to cost $1,000 to test the old glycol, and to purchase new glycol it was $3,900.
“For $2,900 more, we’re putting all new stuff into the plant,” Mr. Francis said. “If we get old stuff into it, we could ruin the plant.”
Bob Hanak of Northland Refrigeration installed the old and new compressors, he noted. They were purchased from Berg Chilling Systems Inc. near Toronto.
“He’s been around for a long time,” Mr. Francis said with a laugh, adding, “He says this is the last time.”
Looking back to a year ago, he said one compressor gave out just prior to the season starting, so the club ran on one compressor.
“We crossed our fingers each day hoping it wouldn’t blow, because we had never run on one compressor before,” he said. “We even made ice with one compressor, which I didn’t think we could, but I was flooding at 12 o’clock at night.”
With the new compressors and cooling system installed on September 16, the final work is being completed and it’s to be tested on Oct. 18 by an inspector from the company.
Usually ice making has begun and it’s ready by the end of October, Mr. Francis said. A community bonspiel is held just before hunting season begins.
“We always try and open with a community bonspiel,” he said.
However, before the bonspiel can be held, the first layer of ice is put in, then it’s sprayed white, then a couple more coats of ice are put on, then the lines and circles go on, followed by more coats of ice, Mr. Francis explained.
“We have to build up the ice,” he said, hoping it will be ready by mid-November.
The cost to put in a new plant was estimated at about $100,000, but, with the volunteer labour and donations of machinery, “we saved a lot of money,” he said. “We’re hoping we can do it for $85,000 to $90,000.”
He noted a loan was applied for, and approved by, the Renfrew County Community Futures Development Corporation.
“We borrowed more than we needed, but we didn’t want to have to reborrow more,” Mr. Francis said. “We can pay it off at any time without penalty, other than the interest each month, which is fairly low. We’ve made one big payment already because we didn’t need it all.”
He noted the curling club was formed in 1960 and the first rink was located where the ag hall is today, just across the parking lot. It was officially opened in January, 1961 and Herb Francis was president.
“We made the round rafters,” he said. “This used to be a round dome. We made the rafters on the floor. I remember doing that when I was a young lad.”
Eventually, a new rink was built in the current location.
There are currently about 60 members, plus 21 juniors (high school students) and 33 Little Rockers (elementary students). While this year’s prices have not yet been decided upon, last year’s rates were $322.05 for non-shareholders and $305.10 for shareholders. Equipment needed includes a broom and shoes, which can be purchased at Canadian Tire.
