Deep River Curling and Squash Club
1 Granite Lane K0J 1P0 Deep River, ON, Canada

Getting closer to opening!! The new bar shields are in place! The lounge being purged of evil spirits (viruses) by Wendy our resident ghostbuster using our electrostatic sprayer.

Ice making team tried out the ice today. It is ready to go. Club orientation for members starts tomorrow and continues all next week

More progress today. Houses and lines down!

White paint done

White paint this morning!

Back up and making ice. Flood this morning.

Thanks to the great support from the Deep River Fire Department and the Hazmat team from the Ottawa Fire Department, an ammonia leak from the club’s ice plant yesterday was safely isolated. Necessary follow up actions are underway as is planning to restart the ice plant. The start of curling will now be delayed somewhat. Further updates as our restart plans progress.

Chris and Brock putting on final leveling flood last night. Cleanup and preparing ice for painting next. White paint hopefully on Saturday.

Newest member of our ice team, Terry Vandenburgh, applying water Sunday morning at 7 am!

Ice plant started up this morning. Brine cooling down. Start building ice tomorrow!

The club held its first ever Outdoor Annual General Meeting (AGM) in it’s parking lot Saturday Sept 19 - the meeting was almost quashed by Premier Ford who only an hour before had announced the new COVID gathering limit of 25 people max. With some careful attendance management and proper social distancing, the meeting proceeded as scheduled. Outgoing President Janice Bunge led the meeting and had the honour of presenting a few special awards - one to Rick and Della Janzen ...who have for many years looked after stocking the bar and the Ruth and Evans Harrison Volunteer of the Year award to Phil and Diane Davis who have faithfully led the Friday night drop-in curling league for many years. Bill Shorter also presented Janice Bunge (18 consecutive years on the club executive in the roles of Treasurer and President) with a special gift and thanked her for her positive and strong leadership of the club. Reports from each of the Directors were made, highlighted by the Treasurer reporting a positive 2019/20 year in terms of finances. Although, with COVID looming over everyone this year, the future may eat up those funds very quickly - even if the club does not open the fixed costs including taxes, insurance and heating add up to more than $30,000. The Curling, Seniors curling and Squash Directors all reported successful years - squash has significant room to grow and is looking to add members although Covid protocols may limit this in the coming months. The most significant report came from the special Return to Play Committee which has been working with the National and Provincial Sporting Authorities and Local Health Unit to come up with a viable way of safely operating the club in the coming season. Things are looking cautiously positive as plans to start a little later (early November) to allow time to see COVID stats, making the club 3 sheets instead of 4 to allow for more spacing and many other cleaning and tracking processes that are being developed, were outlined to the members. The committee also surveyed last years members and based on the plans presented, over 85% of the survey respondents were planning to join this season. The meeting ended with the election of Officers and Directors. Chris Knight was nominated and accepted by the membership as President for the coming season. The other incumbent Officers and Directors agreed to continue in their positions. The club is also planning to offer special New Member rates to those who might be interested in playing either curling or squash - hoping to appeal especially to snowbirds that may not be flying away this year and others who may decide its time to give curling or squash a try! For more information or to express your interest please contact Chris Knight at [email protected] or 613 716 0846.

Members - you are being sent the return to operation guidelines for the 20/21 season and a feedback survey. Please take the time to complete the survey to give us your feedback on the club’s reopening plan. Prospective members for 20/21 - visit our website to review the guidelines and feel free to complete a survey.

Members - Don’t miss the fall AGM on Sep 19th. Checkout the club website for details. Club reopening update will be provided.

In recent Squash News:

CLUB CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE Due to the current widespread health concerns about the spread and impact of the COVID-19 virus, the executive has decided to close the club until further notice. Curling will not resume this season and shutdown of the ice plant will commence. The squash facilities are included in this closure. While these steps may be disappointing, given the actions taken and advice being provided by our governments, it is the prudent thing to do.

Congratulations to Bill Shorter!!