‘It’s a game for life’: Sudbury celebrates 130-year curling history

A celebration of curling was held at Sudbury’s Northern Credit Union Community Centre on Friday.

It was the official grand opening of the centre, which recently adopted its new name.

Political figures, members of the curling community and Northern Credit Union workers were on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony.

It marked a three-year, $60,000 partnership between the Northern Credit Union and Curl Sudbury, which will go to facility improvements and new equipment.

“We’re really excited to work with them. It’s been in progress for over eight months and we’re so happy to see it come into fruition,” said senior vice president of member experience with Northern Credit Union, Liisa Woolley.

She added that Curl Sudbury supports bringing people together.

Tom Leonard, the general manager of the Northern Credit Community Centre, said the funding will help ease capital expenditures.

“We can focus on growing the game and diversifying the game and getting people who wouldn’t normally curl into curling,” he added.

Established in 1892, Curl Sudbury was also celebrating 130 years.

Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre said curling is an integral part of the city’s history.

“The people who created Sudbury back in the day, it was important to have a curling rink and share in that sport and share in that culture,” Lefebvre added.

“We’re celebrating 130 years and we look forward to the next 130 years.”

Leonard, who is an avid curler himself, said he wants the sport to grow and explained a key part of doing this is to diversify curling.

“We have too many people who look like me who curl. We need people who don’t look like me curling,”

He added that the sport encourages all to play.

“We want people from every walks of life,” Leonard said.

“We don’t care about race, gender, skin colour, age; we just want people to curl.”

He told CTV News he believes encouraging new comers to Canada will help curling grow in popularity.

He also said he enjoys the comradery and strategy behind the sport.

“It’s a game for life,” he added.

To celebrate 130 years, a 24-hour tournament will wrap-up Saturday, consisting of 52 local teams.

For updates on the 130 End Game Bonspiel taking place, visit the centre’s Facebook page.

A 24-hour and 130-end tournament is being held to celebrate 130 years of curling in the city. (Amanda Hicks/CTV News Northern Ontario)