Medicine Hat city council meets in chambers on July 17 (CHAT News photo Brendan Miller)

By Brendan Miller

City buys curling club building to fund purchase of new ice equipment

Jul 18, 2023 | 2:34 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The city will purchase the Medicine Hat Curling Club building to help fund the cost of a new ice plant and ice mats. Council approved the purchase agreement of $870,000 for the building.

The funding is half of the $1.74 million price tag to replace the equipment. The curling club will use the money from the sale of the building as a down payment for the new ice equipment.

“All of council was really on board with this but we have a responsibility to make sure we understand the numbers. We understand what this is going to do to the curling club,” says Acting Mayor Shila Sharps.

“So not just give out the money but understand that if it doesn’t happen in 24 to 36 weeks what does that mean for our community? So it’s not just about money, it’s about making sure our community is being taken care of,” adds Sharps.

With time running out before the start of the curling season co-chair Cal Hauserman says the manufacturer can now begin construction of the new ice plant and ice mats.

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He says that means there’s still a small chance the curling season could be saved this year.

“I did talk to one of the company representatives and asked what was the fastest they’ve ever done it and that was in two months,” says Hauserman.

“So there’s a possibility that we could have curling this year but we know it’s an outside possibility and the two months really depends on the supply chain if everything is in good shape and everything comes in and they have all the access to equipment they need,” adds Hauserman.

The club will attempt to generate the rest of the $870,000 needed through grants, insurance proceeds and fundraising activities.

If the club is unable to raise the additional funds needed for equipment the city will create a loan bylaw to cover the remaining amount.

The club needs the new ice plant and ice mats to become operational after a brine leak ceased operations last fall.