As a previous board member and volunteer at the Cochrane Curling Club, I would like to provide back story on the circumstances that led us to be at the SLSC Facility. The proposal to have the YMCA operate the facility, as outlined in the Town of Cochrane Meeting May 20th, will permanently damage curling in Cochrane.
In 2010 The Cochrane Curling Club (CCC) press release stated that the decision has been made to relocate to the SLSC Centre. Our facility was located at 109 5th Avenue (Now the Lions Event Centre). The aging structure required upwards of $900,000 in upgrade costs that the CCC could not afford and the TofC was unwilling to spend. The TofC was actively pursuing the redevelopment of the entire area including the rodeo grounds. Why else would we have to move? Why not rewrite our lease and fix the facility, it was way more expensive to move us.
There was much negotiation with all involved. For the CCC it was about maintaining our identity and one of those things is the lounge. I personally discussed this with the SLSC Manager of the day, Robin Mitchell. We discussed who would be responsible for the lounge? It was agreed the Facility would operate the lounge. Frankly not having a lounge would have been a deal breaker at the time and losing the lounge is a deal breaker now. The CCC would not have agreed to relocate to SLSC without the lounge.
Due to cuts in the original build the CCC lounge was cut from the initial build. Many more years went by and still the CCC had no lounge. It has been an uphill battle. SLSC Management and Staff have worked very hard to make the On the Rocks Lounge the space you see today. A successful space. This is what the CCC was promised when we agreed to move. This is what I was promised as the CCC president at the time. This is what I agreed to.
Curling in Cochrane has never been as good as it is right now. Cochrane curlers just returned from Italy playing at the world level. Many others are competing at the highest levels as well. CCC with the SLSC curling manager and staff we have developed programs for all ages to learn the game, and grow the sport. The lounge is an integral part of this growth. The lounge is how the CCC fundraises to run our programs. The CCC will lose this source of revenue… It will affect programs. It will impact SLSC revenue.
The fact that the elected leaders of this community would even consider making this change is outrageous. This change may be financially attractive to the TofC but it will devastate curling in Cochrane.
Michael Buxton
Cochrane, AB
