Curling club throws final stone at its home rink since the 1950s

This week marked the final end inside the Scott Street arena for a Westboro curling club that has occupied the space since the early 1950s.

The Granite Curling Club of West Ottawa saw its property taxes skyrocket in 2021 — the rink is steps away from a future LRT station in desirable Westboro — and an agreement to save it couldn't be reached, so most members approved a plan to buy a new property near Highway 417 and Pinecrest Avenue.

The new arena is expected to open in the fall, according to Greg Mathieu, who chairs the 400- to 500-member club's redevelopment subcommittee.

It's a bittersweet development. Many upgrades will come with the new building, including a snazzy HVAC system and a concrete floor that will allow the club to preserve its value in the longer term and be a bit more competitive, Mathieu said.

But saying goodbye will be hard for those who like the old facility's charm. 

"A lot of people have invested in this old building and this site for a long period of time here in Westboro. It's been very good to us," he told CBC Radio's Ottawa Morning.

They're bringing all of the club's old banners, trophies, uniforms and other memorabilia, but the new space is much bigger and will present somewhat of a decorating challenge, he added.

Here's what the Scott Street arena looked like when it opened in the 1950s, and what it looked like in its last week of operation.

If you want to see what the new facility will look like, scroll to the bottom of this page.

Then

Now

Future