Now thirty years old, the present home of the Penticton Curling Club still looks relatively new and up to date. With six sheets, clubhouse, lounge, trophy cases and locker and change room facilities, this is a nice curling rink.
Along Eckhardt Avenue at Vees Drive, the rink is part of the large sports and cultural complex which includes the
South Okanagan Events Centre,
Penticton Memorial Arena, the
Penticton Trade & Convention Centre and the
Cleland Community Theatre.
Today the club hosts men's, women's, juniors', seniors', recreational and mixed leagues, as well as skins leagues. There's even a beginners' league on Sundays.
See a bit of the club's history below.
Curling was underway on outdoor ice in Penticton as early as 1910. In 1920, Penticton curlers had built a log frame building on Main Street, near the old power house. The building was later rebuilt in the 200 block of Winnipeg Street. Apparently curling died off for a while and was met with difficulties in getting re-established. In 1941 the club was going to rebuild but wartime emergency restrictions stopped the project. It was another thirteen years later in 1954 that another attempt was made. By December 1954, the Granite Curling Club was a reality and its four sheet of ice were opened for curling. The club sold the property in 1985 and constructed a new 6 sheet building on the present site.1958 Bonspiel …. $4000 in cash prizes!
Penticton Junior Curling started in Penticton in 1994 with 48 curlers. First bonspiel - January 27/96 with 56 curlers. The Penticton Business & Professional Ladies had a league going back to 1954 to 1983.
From the Penticton Curling Club