Founder(s) Allan Gilmour CCA region OCA Zone 1 Rock colours Red and Yellow Phone +1 613-235-3662 | Club type Dedicated Ice Sheets of ice Five Province Ontario Established 1851 | |
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Location 440 O'Connor Street
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
K2P 1W4 Address 440 O'Connor St, Ottawa, ON K2P 1W4, Canada | ||
Ottawa curling club home to gay friendly league
The Ottawa Curling Club is an historic curling club located in O'Connor Street in the Centretown neighbourhood of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is the oldest curling club in Ottawa, established in 1851 by Allan Gilmour as the Bytown Curling Club. The Club first played on the Rideau Canal until 1858. It subsequently moved to different locations around the city until finally settling at its current location on O'Connor in 1916. In 1931 the Club was expanded to the current capacity of 5 curling sheets. Artificial ice was also installed at that time. In 1998 and 1999, former club member John Morris won the Junior Men's World Curling Championship. The Ottawa Curling Club is one of two clubs in Downtown Ottawa, the other is the Rideau Curling Club, which maintains a rivalry with the Ottawa.
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S h i t the ottawa curling club 5 4 2013
History
The By Town Curling Club was established in 1851 under the presidency of lumber businessman Allan Gilmour. Its earliest facility was a rudimentary shed located near Lisgar Street adjoining the Rideau Canal. Canal water was used to construct the single ice sheet. The club constructed a new rink on Albert Street east of O'Connor in 1867, expanding play to two sheets. In 1878, the club spent $510 to move the building structure to a property near Wellington Street west of Kent on the former Vittoria Street which is today federal property in the Supreme Court district. The rink structure was replaced by a brick building which opened in December 1906. In 1914, the club lost the land due to a significant federal government expropriation.
The club's present location was opened on December 1916 when premises on O'Connor Street were provided through a gift by James Manuel, a wealthy local businessman, curler and club president. In 1927, the club was threatened with eviction by Toronto General Trust which represented Manuel's estate at that time. The club maintained that the terms of agreement with Manuel that it had rightful control of the property as long as the facilities were maintained for curling. In the following year, the courts ruled that the club had no formal claim to the property due to the club's unincorporated status at that time, combined with the lack of a written will or agreement regarding Manuel's wishes. The club therefore was required to purchase the property from the estate.
Formal incorporation of the Ottawa Curling Club Limited was completed in 1929. Artificial ice and expansion from four to five sheets followed in 1931.
Presidents
- 1851-1895: Col. Allan Gilmour
- 1895-1914: John Manuel
- 1914-1917: James Manuel
- 1918-1921: William Manuel
- 1922-1936: George F. Henderson, KC
- 1936-1942: Hugh Carson
- 1942-1950: Darcy Finn
- 1950-1952: Olin Beach
- 1952-1955: W.E. Hodgins
- 1955-1958: Ted Moffat
- 1958-1961: B. Brocklesby
- 1961-1963: Howard Grills
- 1964-1966: Alan Brown
- 1966-1968: Gordie Perry
- 1968-1970: Harold Scrim
- 1970-1972: Bill Davis
- 1972-1974: E. Macdonald
- 1974-1976: Don MacKinnon
- 1976-1978: Dick Rich
- 1978-1980: Dave Smith
- 1980-1982: Stan Grover
- 1982-1984: Ted Root
- 1984-1986: Pat Craig
- 1986-1988: Bob York
- 1988-1990: Rod Matheson
- 1990-1992: Sandra Chisholm
- 1992-1994: Brad Shinn
- 1994-1996: Steve Mitchell
- 1996-1998: Eric Johannsen
- 1998-2000: Barbara Brown
- 2000-2002: Terry Clark
- 2002-2004: Gord Perry
- 2004-2006: Gayle Greene
- 2006-2008: Gord Critch
- 2008-2012: Geoff Colley
- 2012-2014: Michael Loewen
- 2014-2016: Tom Sinclair
- 2016-Present: Matthew Kellett
Leagues
The Ottawa Curling Club has a number of different curling leagues that participate at the club. Some are club leagues, while others (like the teachers league or the Rainbow Rockers Curling League) are rentals. Official leagues at the club are the Monday Ladder (open). Business Women (Tuesday), Open Cash (Wednesday), Business Men (Thursday), Mixed (Friday), Saturday Men, Sunday Open, Daytime League, Little rocks/bantam and the University/College League.
Cash League
The cash league which runs Wednesday evenings is the league with the highest calibre of curling. Some of the top curlers in the world curl in the cash league at the Ottawa Curling Club. Winners of games receive money, which can vary depending on the level the teams involved are at. The league is open, so there are both men's and women's teams. Curlers in the OCC Cash league include Lynn Kreviazuk, Chris Gardner, Craig Savill, Erin Morrissey, Karen Sagle, Ian MacAulay, Jean-Michel Ménard, Jamie Sinclair, Jenn Hanna, Pascale Letendre, Stephanie Hanna and Mark Homan.
University / College League
For the 2006-07 season, the Ottawa Curling Club introduced a league on Sunday nights for students in the Ottawa area to participate. At the time, no university in the city had a curling team, so this league was created to facilitate interest in curling from students in Ottawa. At the end of the year, the first championship was played between Carleton University and the University of Ottawa with Carleton winning 6-4.
Club Champions
The club championship is held annually. It is a playoff round featuring the top teams from each of the leagues at the club.
Current famous curlers
Source: 2006-07 Ottawa Curling Club Directory. See also Hall of Fame
Famous past members
Events
The Ottawa and Rideau Curling Clubs used to host the John Shea Insurance Canada Cup Qualifier. In 2003, both clubs hosted the 2003 Canadian Junior Curling Championships. The club also hosted the 2006 and 2007 Canadian Blind Curling Championships.
Provincial champions
* As Scotties champions, the Homan rink represented Canada at the 2014 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, without having to play in the women's provincials.