Curling season underway here

The Fort Frances Curling Club has a saying: “You don’t have to curl to come to the curling club.”
FFCC president Maureen Thomson is eager to promote that message within the community and so is encouraging anyone and everyone to stop by and enjoy the facility.
In an effort to enhance the total FFCC experience, the club has formed a partnership with local restaurant Lee Garden this season. The popular local eatery has taken over the curling club’s dining room menu—much to the delight of the members.
“So far we’ve had just rave reviews,” Thomson said of the early response to the new menu.
The curling club’s restaurant—complete with full bar service—is open weekdays from 11 a.m.-1 a.m.
In addition to acting as a social gathering place, the FFCC remains one of the most active curling clubs in Northwestern Ontario—a fact recognized at a curling symposium in Thunder Bay last month.
According to Thomson, the FFCC’s fall membership drive was a success and the club is looking forward to another fun-filled winter.
“We’re still up at close to 500 members and that’s including your juniors, your Bantams, your seniors, and then your mixed,” she remarked.
“We’ve got a lot of new curlers,” she added. “A lot of curlers who’ve never curled before or haven’t curled in a few years, so that’s good.”
While most of the spots in the men’s, women’s, and senior leagues have been filled, anyone interested in signing up can add their name to the “spares” list.
The one notable exception is the First End League for beginners held on Tuesday nights, which still is looking for anyone who’d like to take up the sport.
Experienced curlers are brought in to help out the novices, making it a great environment in which to learn.
The FFCC also will be hosting several bonspiels and special events over the course of the winter—the first of which is the Early Bird Mixed bonspiel, set for next Saturday (Oct. 28).
As well, popular Quebec curler Guy Hemmings is scheduled to visit the local club on Nov. 7.
Hemmings represented Quebec at the Brier several years ago and now tours across Canada promoting curling to young people.
If you’d like more information concerning events at the FFCC, or want to register, visit its website at www.fortfrancescurlingclub.ca or call 274-6667.