History
When the curling facility opened in 2000 it was managed by the Sackville Sports Stadium staff under the Lake District Recreation (LDRA) umbrella.
When it opened the understanding was that the new Sackville Sports Stadium extension would be self sufficient within 5 to 7 years. However, Council was told at this time that the curling facility could be expected to run a deficit each year. This extension included the curling club along with a gym, restaurant and some new office space. In the subsequent years the restaurant went through several owners all of which never paid a cent in rent. The office space was not rented or used, whereas the curling club started slowly and grew considerably. In 2003 Council did a serious review of the finances of the Stadium and decided that the curling club was the cause of all the problems and voted to close the facility. At that time we were given 10 days to put forward a business plan to reopen the facility as a private club.
Our proposal was given to LDRA and was accepted. We were empowered to open September 1st 2003 under the banner of Lakeshore Curling Club. Our proposal gave financial numbers that were real and attainable. We believed, and still do today, that the original numbers given to Council on the potential earnings of the club were grossly inflated. Shortly after our approval LDRA was removed from the management of the Stadium and HRM staff took over.
Since then we have negotiated with HRM staff on a continuous basis. We have been give a one year agreement every year since 2003. During our negotiations we have continued to give real fiscal numbers. Our agreement has been for $10,600 per month with an additional payment of $25,000 towards the capital debt. The monthly lease pays for the calculated operating costs (based on numbers from HRM staff). We have never agreed that we could possibly raise enough funds to pay the estimated $180K of capital cost given to us by HRM staff.
We have always told HRM staff that if we were given a long term lease (10 years) we could improve on our payment numbers. 10 years would qualify us for CCA (Canadian Curling Association) grants, would enable us to bid on large bonspiel events (good money makers) and attack the advertising and sponsorship areas. We cannot bid on events or ask for advertising based on one year agreements.
Our membership is the second largest in NS, we have the largest junior program (ages 7-20) east of Montreal, we have 150+ seniors, adult wheelchair curlers and just starting junior wheelchair curling (no other club has wheelchair access) plus a regular special Olympic curling program. The sport of curling is growing considerably since the success of Brad Gushue at the Olympics and we estimate a large increase in membership over the next few years.
In December of 2006, Council passed a motion instructing staff to work with the Lakeshore Curling Club to ensure curling is a long-term component of recreation in Sackville. Instead, in defiance of that motion, and only one year later, staff are trying once again to shut our club down.