Some think all users should feel Windsor's ice shortage crisis — not just curling
Jim Morrison wants council to consider 'small reduction' in hours for all groups
While Jim Morrison admits he's a curler himself, the Ward 10 city councillor thinks the sport shouldn't be temporarily put on the shelf for an entire season because of an ice rink shortage in Windsor.
Morrison says his heart sank when he read the report heading to council next Monday. In it, municipal staff outline a plan that would see curling booted off one of the two ice pads at the Capri Pizzeria Recreation complex in the city's south end.
The recommendation follows extensive damage to one ice pad at the WFCU Centre from a late April solar panel fire on the facility's roof. That rink will be closed for at least 10 months, meaning less ice for all user groups — including the likes of Riverside Minor Hockey Association and Riverside Skating Club.
A trickle down effect of users and rinks would see the curling ice at Capri reconverted back to use for skating sports.
It was just last year curlers were ousted from their longtime home at Roseland Golf Club.
"It's a shock," said Morrison, to Windsor Morning host Amy Dodge on Tuesday.
"They've gone through a whole bunch of changes and uncertainties and everything else. I'm certainly very sympathetic … it's the only place we can curl."
Morrison says there has to be an answer for the curlers.
"My recommendation is going to be to have a small reduction. Everybody's going to have to feel a little bit of pain here to reduce all those other groups by a little bit of ice time."
According to Morrison, "It looks like to me we could run everything but with some reductions — and whether that means a longer season — we could make it up by adding a few weeks to the season or there might be few less games … maybe the games would be a little shorter."
He refers to curling as one of "those fragile sports" for the Windsor-area, unsure about its long-term future should the rocks and brooms get put on the sidelines for an entire season.
"We're not the hotbed of curling. We've seen reductions in the numbers over the years. A lot of people are seniors … if we take that away for a year … we'll lose a bunch. It could be a really a tough spot for curling in general."
Morrison estimates there are around 300 curlers in the city with about 200 of them registered.
Makeshift alternative?
Terry Fink is part of a committee that's been looking to save the sport in the city for the past few years.
His group is considering all of its options to save curling for the next season and not skip an entire year for the sport.
One possible alternative, he says, is an idea they've heard about from their regional and national curling organization counterparts.
"We understand … that there is a possibility of a carpet to be rolled out on a cement floor and hooked up to a compressor and you can have curling ice within four to five days — but you need a facility," he said.
Fink says local curlers were taken off guard by the extent of the issues at the WFCU Centre and how it could trickle down to other user groups at different arenas.
"Everybody felt blindsided."
"No consultation before the council report was put on the agenda," he said.
Fink says more than just one option should have been established before bringing it to council for a decision.
"It is a crisis for everybody so we started to gather on Saturday afternoon," he said. "We were shocked, dumfounded. It felt like somebody punched you in the stomach or the nose … we didn't see it coming."
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