CHRONICLE April 2018 Volume 01, Issue 05 Message from Board Chair As the 2017-18 curling season slowly comes to an end and our thoughts turn to sun, beach and golf, it is important for us to look back on a very successful year for Ontario curlers and reflect on the future health of our sport. First, let me share my hearty congratulations to all of our Ontario Champions. Their commitment to curling and leadership abilities made them tremendous representatives for Ontario at each of our National Championships. This was also the year we saw the rise of Mixed Doubles curling, first at the Olympics and now in more and more clubs across the Province. This new game will further fuel the interest in our sport, particularly in our youth. The future success of curling in Ontario rests largely on the shoulders and successes of our local curling clubs. The CurlON Board of Directors recognizes this reality and continues to refocus its strategic priorities to reflect the need for an improved strategic partnership between CurlON and affiliated clubs. We have implemented a series of programs specifically designed for curling clubs to improve their financial health, promote the game and grow members across all leagues of play. (ie. Youth, Men, Women, Mixed, Senior, Wheelchair and Stick). Together, we will continue to identify opportunities to develop enhanced programs that will ensure financial stability and opera- tional success for clubs as well as foster a sense of enjoyment for all curlers. Programs like ’Learn to Curl’, ‘TryCURLINGnow.ca’, and ’Hit, Draw & Tap’ have aided to revitalize clubs across Ontario. In some cases, club growth rates have exceeded 25% in as little as four years. These new members bring a renewed volunteer energy that is contagious and leads to an increased level of excitement in the club. The side benefits of member growth are extremely noticeable, both financially and socially. At CurlON, we are committed to work for you, our affiliated clubs and all Ontario curlers to bring new and improved services that offer benefits not only to your game but to the everyday lives of curlers (eg. Preferred home and auto insurance rates through 2016-17 MA & TSN Cup Winners - CurlON BrokerLink that can save you considerable money). The year ahead poses even more challenges, but collectively, as an Association, Ontario will continue to realize its potential as a leader for curling in Canada. Doug Kreviazuk - CurlON Board Chair Working with and for our Members and Affiliated Curling Facilities. www.ontcurl.com @CurlON_ CurlOntario CurlON Chronicle March 23, 2018 Page 2 Stephen Chenier - Executive Director With the changes implemented over the past few years, CurlON has re-aligned its priorities to meet the needs of our affiliated clubs and their members. These priorities cover three pillars: Saving you money, Growing the Game and Ontario Proud. Saving you Money We have worked to meet the needs of our affiliated clubs by offering programs that directly save the club money. The most recent savings opportunity comes from our signed agreement with VGM of Canada. The agreement will allow clubs direct access to purchase savings for many products and needs. The agreement also allows for affiliated clubs to participate in a purchase rebate program from Xtreme Hospitality that will see affiliated clubs share in up to $ 300,000 in direct rebates. Clubs will begin to see the benefits of this program this Spring as the first rebate checks are issued for purchases from January to April, 2018. Your club should have received a complete information package via email and if you require more information please do not hesitate to contact me. CurlON, in partnership with our insurance provider, BrokerLink, now offers all members a savings opportunity in the purchase of home and auto insurance. The average savings is 12% across the Province and many members have taken the initiative to use the program to save them money. “I contacted BrokerLink and received a direct savings of 14% or $ 172.00 on my auto insurance. The process was easy and the savings will more than pay for my bonspiel at the end of the year” Lisa B—Toronto Growing the Game The Operations team has expanded its offerings directly to clubs in an effort to help attract new members or keep existing members. To attract new members the Association now offers two marketing tools: www.tryCURLINGnow.ca a proven advertising campaign that allows clubs to promote their offerings over social media accounts that will drive home the message and attract prospective members to the club and Learn to curl a program that takes newly recruited participants and gives them the proper introduction to the game over a chosen period of time. This group of curlers then integrates within the club membership and becomes a vibrant highly motivated group of volunteers and curlers. This past season, the Association launched a newer version of the Clinic Team Program which sees a group of instructors hold ‘free’ clinics for club members. These clinics allow club curlers to enhance their skills in areas of need which makes them better, happier curlers. By enhancing their game, we contribute to members sense of well-being and will keep them curling for many years. Ontario Proud In all sports, the Champions from each province become folk heroes to the loyal curlers who cheer either live at events or follow along diligently on television, internet and social media accounts. These great champions also attract new members who follow the game because of the exposure and opportunities. I am never more proud than when Ontario either medals or has a great showing at our National Championships. We all need to celebrate these amazing athletes (see page 5) who dedicate themselves to our sport. Good curling we look forward to working with you again next year. Have a great summer. CurlON Chronicle March 23, 2018 Page 3 Andrew Denny-Petch - Web and Communications Coordinator Curling has evolved and the challenges facing our sport as a collective have never been more apparent. We’re not talking exclusively about the transition in equipment, ice conditions or strategy either. The way we approach the busi- ness and operations side of the game (something players seldom have to think about) has changed exponentially in a historically short period of time. The days of faxes, rotary phones and manual credit card machines may still be fresh in the minds of some, but like many of our beloved trends, they’ve gone the way of the dodo bird. It’s far from detrimental but forces CurlON as a whole to reflect upon how to remain modern and up to date on the latest trends. Growing the sport of curling has been one of CurlON’s mandates since its inception. Much like how the sport has evolved, our approach to accomplishing this task has changed as well thus giving birth to tryCURLINGnow.ca TryCURLINGnow.ca was conceived with a singular goal in mind: remove the barriers, that exist for prospective curlers who want to join a club and play the game on a regular basis, and provide an easy way to circumnavigate those barriers. Working closely with CurlON member facilities, tryCURLINGnow.ca is a website where a prospective player can visit, input their location and immediately see local curling clubs who are hosting open houses, information sessions or try curling events. An integrated registration system then allows them to be enrolled in any club’s event in a matter of minutes alerting both CurlON and the host club of the registrants’ information. In a matter of a few simple clicks, someone who thought “I’d love to try curling” has all the information needed to try curling. 2017 was the inaugural season for tryCURLINGnow.ca and the program saw resounding success. A total of 65 clubs, province wide, enrolled to be part of tryCURLINGnow.ca with 2500+ new prospective curlers entering the doors of their local curling clubs. While these figures show promise, CurlON has plans to expand the program for 2018 including a revamped tryCURLINGnow.ca website, a new core geo based search engine and a complete social media rollout for each individual club event. If your club would like to be part of the tryCURLINGnow.ca program for Map of 2017-18 participating clubs the 2018 season, registration is simple! Contact [email protected] to receive an application form, an information package about the program and any marketing collateral you might need to promote your event internally. Thank you for a wonderful season and we look forward to a prosperous 2018/2019! CurlON Chronicle March 23, 2018 Page 4 Brier—EPPING Scotties— DUNCAN Mixed—ANDERSON Junior Men—HALL U18 Men — LEUNG Senior Men— COCHRANE Junior Women— WALLINGFORD U18 Women — WARRINER Senior Women —MADONIA Master Men - HUTCHINSON Travelers Men—RICHMOND HILL Wheelchair—REES Master Women—CURTIS Travelers Women—HIGH PARK Mixed Dbls—TUCK/TUCK Int. Men — BALSDON Challenges Men — WOODS Colts—ROBILLARD Int. Women — FROUD Challenges Women—WILLOUGHBY Trophy—CADORIN CurlON Chronicle March 23, 2018 Page 5 SILVER - 2017 World Senior Championship Skip - Bryan Cochrane, Vice - Ian MacAulay, 2nd - Doug Johnston, Lead - Ken Sullivan After winning the 2016 Canadian Senior Championship the Cochrane team went on to represent Canada at the World Senior Championship in Lethbridge, AB. The team captured the silver medal after a close extra end loss (5-4) to Sweden. GOLD - Canadian Mixed Championship Skip - Mike Anderson, Vice - Danielle Inglis, 2nd - Sean Harrison, Lead - Lauren Harrison Finishing the round robin at 8-2 tied for 2nd, Team Anderson defeated NB (7-6) in the semi- finals and went on to beat QC (7-3) in the final.