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City throws support behind Penticton Curling Club to the tune of $100K loan

Club will soon host a number of high-profile events, in need of facility upgrades
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Penticton Curling Club ice. (File photo)

The Penticton Curling Club is on its way to getting some much-needed facility upgrades after city council unanimously approved a loan request of $100,000 on Tuesday, July 5.

With a number of high-profile sporting events coming to the building — located at 505 Vees Drive — an upgrade project worth up to $200,000 has been drafted by leaders at the organization.

And as part of a capital grant request, the club asked council for an interest-free loan from the city on Tuesday, citing a number of electrical problems at the facility.

“We noticed this past season that we have been running into some problems,” Penticton Curling Club treasurer Cathy Jones said. “If the loan is approved, the first thing we’d be doing is upgrading the electrical that runs the plant, which has a cost of $70,000 and includes an option to control the plant remotely.”

Thanks to the city’s help, improvements to the washrooms and new carpeting are among the other upgrades set to take shape.

Council praised the club’s work in growing the sport locally, reaffirming its importance to the community.

“We all know how important the curling club is and the economic development it brings to our community,” said mayor John Vassilaki.

The upgrade project is expected to cost a total of $200,000. With the interest-free loan set to cover 50 per cent of the costs, the club hopes to get the other half from a capital grant.

Leaders from the club, though, weren’t only looking for a short-term financial commitment from the city on Tuesday. They were also hoping to secure a new 10-year building lease, too.

“The catch-22 to the matching grant is that we need to have a lease agreement,” Jones said. “Our lease agreement right now is running on a month-to-month and it’s been like that for the last year. We have to show that we have a 10-year commitment with the city for a capital grant to be applied for.”

Along with agreeing to provide $100,000, the city also engaged in the 10-year lease request.

Penticton Curling Club will host the 2023 B.C. Mixed Curling Championships, set to be played from Feb. 28 to March 5.

READ MORE: Penticton selected as host for 2023 B.C. Mixed Curling Championships

READ MORE: Penticton Curling Club seeks loan of $50-60k for facility upgrades


@lgllockhart
logan.lockhart@pentictonwesternnews.com