Collingwood Curling Club asks for break on annual loan payment to town

The Collingwood Curling Club has asked to defer its annual loan payment to the town as it deals with the costs of addressing the pandemic.

Club president Bob Riches made the request of council’s strategic initiative committee. The committee recommended the request be considered as part of the municipality’s overall budget discussions.

The loan is the club’s share of $1 million in renovation costs undertaken on the building several years ago.

The club’s annual payment to the town for the loan is $23,750, and payments were scheduled to be made over 20 years.

“We’d like to make our 20 equal payments, we just don’t want to make a payment this year,” he said.

The pandemic has affected the club’s operations on several fronts this season, Riches told the committee. The club has reduced the number of playing surfaces to five from six, and limited times for curling, to maintain physical distancing guidelines.

The 140-year-old club typically has 550 members, with several leagues and programs for wheelchair curling, Special Olympics, and schools. It also hosts fundraising bonspiels for Breaking Down Barriers and Hospice Georgian Triangle.

This year, because of the pandemic, membership is down to around 360.

Riches expected the club’s revenue this year to be $120,000, with expenses of $150,000 — including $25,000 for cleaning and other health and safety protocols related to the pandemic. Riches said cleaning costs may top $40,000, however.

The club also sets aside money for a capital fund. Riches said the club is planning for an eventual replacement of the building’s roof, and every few years it needs to replace equipment such as the curling stones.