Peace Arch Curling Club – The Home of Curling in White Rock

The Peace Arch Curling Club (PACC) is a small club—only four sheets—with a big heart. We are the busiest little club around, with 447 enthusiastic members ranging in age from 10 to 89. Our

curlers are primarily from White Rock and South Surrey, although, as we are just across from the U.S. border, our American neighbors occasionally play in our leagues and bonspiels.

PACC can trace its beginnings to the Silver Moon roller rink, located just west of the iconic White Rock pier, that was converted into a curling club in 1956. The curling facility was rebuilt up the hill at its current location in the late 1960s, thanks to financing through the sale of private debentures and bonds. The member-owned building sits on land leased from the City of White Rock for a nominal annual fee of $1.00 and is operated by a not-for-profit society.

In 2006, the members and directors of PACC began plans to renovate their aging club building. After many years of preparation, the rebuilding of the club began in April 2010. By then, the project had expanded, with the club becoming part of the new Horst and Emily Werner Centre for Active Living—a partnership between the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, White Rock/South Surrey Foundation, the City of White Rock, and PACC. The curling facility itself continues to be member-owned, with the club sharing common areas “on the warm side.” Our curling facility benefits from increased awareness thanks to traffic from the programs and activities that run in the adjoining spaces.

Our new facility enjoys the friendly services of Candlelight Cuisine, which is open daily, serving fresh coffee, delicious baked goods, and hearty lunches with soups and sandwiches. This kitchen also provides catering services for our bonspiels or other functions held in the upstairs lounge.

In addition to men’s, women’s, and open leagues, our senior men’s league, known as the Senators, has always been a cornerstone of the club. Over the past two years, stick and “sturling” leagues have become active at PACC under the leadership of the Senators. Although the majority of curlers in these leagues are seniors, some younger curlers are enjoying the quick games and modified rules of stick curling.

For over 25 years, PACC has had an active school program supported by a dedicated team of volunteers. Teachers of grades 5–7 in local elementary schools are invited to bring their class for a 90-minute learn-to-curl session. A volunteer attends the school to give the students an introduction to the game in advance of their on-ice experience. We also offer learn-to-curl sessions for high school students and an after-school league for youth who want a more advanced and competitive curling game.

PACC enjoys hosting curlers from across Metro Vancouver at their annual senior ladies, Pacific Coast Masters, and open bonspiels. As well, two in-house events are held that bring members from various leagues together for fun and camaraderie. Often, curlers’ acquaintances are primarily those in their own league. Our Senators and Ladies bonspiel gives curlers from all-day leagues an opportunity to meet each other and curl together, thus building a stronger feeling of membership in the club. The Hutch Spiel is a fun bonspiel held between Christmas and New Year’s, with the idea of providing exercise during the week of festivities and offering a change from a diet of turkey. The event, organized by the Senators, is open to all members of the club and provides unique curling fun with friends and family.

Despite having only four sheets, PACC has risen to the challenge of hosting or co-hosting provincial, national, and international events. In 1980, we hosted the International Tankard, an annual event that celebrates the hard work and dedication of volunteers at curling clubs in BC Region 11 and the northwestern United States. In 2013, senior women curlers from across BC came to Peace Arch for spirited competition and camaraderie in the Nifty Fifty Bonspiel, an event established at Royal City CC in 1968. The provincial mixed doubles championship, won by Tyler Tardi and Desaray Hawes, was played at PACC in 2015. Together with Cloverdale Curling Club, PACC co-hosted the 2018 Canadian Masters. In 2023, PACC hosted 20 Scottish curlers touring western Canada to compete for the right to hold the Strathcona Cup for the next five years. Ach, what a time, giving our local curlers the unique opportunity to compete with the Scots.

PACC is proud of our champions over the history of the club. Most recently, our members generously donated to support Sarah Loken, who began curling in the school program at PACC. With experience, she became a competitive curler and played lead on Team Grandy, who represented BC at the 2023 and 2024 National Scotties.

There was a time, not so many decades ago, when the Peace Arch Curling Club was the heart of the community and “party central” in White Rock. The old barn, as the original building was called, was the hub of social activities for our members, and the evening leagues had regular wait lists.

The long-gone days of corn brooms, ashtrays, and drinks on the ice have given way to responsible partying, smaller bar bills, and shifting league preferences. As population growth on the Peninsula exploded and demographics changed, PACC has adapted and continues to provide both recreational and competitive curling to our community.