Curl BC’s member facilities have been investing in their staff to advance the development of our sport at the club level.

Last month, representatives from the Kimberley, Marpole, Kelowna, Chilliwack, and Vancouver Curling Clubs traveled to Edmonton, Alberta, to attend the first-ever training camp organized by the Association of Curling Professionals (ACP). Fifty Associate Curling Professional candidates had the opportunity to learn from Mentor Pros and Curling Canada staff.

Will Sutton, General Manager of Chilliwack Curling Club & Community Centre, highly recommends that other clubs take advantage of the ACP programs. “The ACP Program has given me a deep understanding of the technical and tactical skills essential for developing five-star curlers from their foundational stages. Additionally, I’ve recognized the importance of having a professional with a clear vision to enhance every aspect of the club experience, from ambiance and food to ice quality and lounge comfort — ensuring a positive and enriching environment for all members, both recreational and competitive curlers.”

“I highly recommend the ACP Program to other clubs in BC due to its comprehensive applicability across all levels of curling development. By integrating the technical and tactical principles learned, clubs can improve their training programs and elevate their overall service offerings.”

Chris Summers, Head Coach of Vancouver Curling Club, also highlights the benefits of ACP. “The Program gives me a framework for what Curling Canada thinks the sport should follow when it comes to curling and curler development across the country. The review of technical information and programming ideas for clubs is very welcome, and we plan to start incorporating some of the ideas into our programming in the future.”

“The ability to connect and network with other like-minded curling professionals is something that I think is just as valuable as the training and expertise you get access to.”

Blair Jarvis, Manager of Kimberley Curling Club, also shared his experience with the program: “The ACP program deepened my understanding, reinforcing what I knew and correcting some assumptions. My biggest takeaways were new strategies, stick curling techniques, and event ideas from classmates. While it’s early, we’re planning 1-2 new events and sharper Learn-to-Curl sessions based on the course. The networking and ongoing resources, like the support from Jock Tyre (Kelowna), will be invaluable. The program’s cost is small compared to the significant knowledge gained, and I expect it to positively impact our revenue in Year 1, with further benefits as we implement more improvements.”

For more information, visit the ACP website: https://curlingpro.ca/

In the same month, Jared Spencer from Victoria Curling Club attended Curling Canada’s Competition Ice Technician Course. The five-day course, held in Waterloo, Ontario, took participants through the steps of preparing ice in an arena setting. They simulated the experience of installing and maintaining ice at major competitions like the Scotties, the Brier, Canadian Seniors, and U20 Championships. Read the full review of the course here: https://www.curling.ca/blog/2024/08/26/summer-on-the-ice/

We encourage all Curl BC member facilities to take advantage of these resources to elevate their clubs.