Free name tags for VCC members
Any curler who has paid the VCC membership fee this season can now get a free VCC name tag. Get yours here!
Senior men raise over $12K for food bank
By John Mathews, president of Vancouver Senior Men's Curling League
Left to right: Dave Sawrey, Frank Fornelli (wearing the VCC Jacket) and John Mathews
Several years ago, one or our curlers, John Bell (who passed away in 2021), made an appeal to our curling league members to donate to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank in support its mission to provide healthy food for those in need. Every year since John made that challenge, we have continued this tradition of making a personal donation in support of the Food Bank, culminating at our annual year-end Christmas luncheon. This year, the members of our league donated a record $12,302.
As part of our fundraising efforts, the Vancouver Curling Club donated a VCC jacket that we auctioned off at our luncheon. After a spirited bidding involving several of our members, Frank Fornelli made the winning bid of $185 with all of the funds donated to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank.
VCC curlers qualify for BC Scotties
VCC curlers Amanda (far right) and Sarah Wong play front end for the Shawna Jensen team that has earned a berth in the BC Scotties through the BC Curling Tour.
VCC curlers are on four of the eight teams that have qualified for the BC Scotties, Jan. 10-15 in Chilliwack. The last team to qualify was the Shiella Cowan team that includes VCC curlers Cowan, Sandra Comadina and Christine Matthews. They qualified through the BC Open Qualifier last weekend at Delta Thistle CC.
The first VCC curlers to qualify were Clancy Grandy, Kayla MacMillan and Sarah Loken. The team, skipped by Grandy, earned a Scotties berth as the top BC team this season on the Canadian Team Ranking System. Two cashspiel wins this fall have put the team in fifth place on the CTRS standings, making them a favourite to win the BC provincial championship.
The two teams earning berths through the BC Curling Tour also include VCC curlers. Diane Gushulak skips and throws lead rocks on the top-ranked team on the BC cashspiel circuit. Amanda and Sarah Wong play front end for the Shawna Jensen team that secured the second berth.
Nominations sought for honourary life members and volunteer of the year
- Have contributed to the betterment of the entire Club, for outstanding volunteer efforts throughout the season
- Have provided value and effort beyond minimum requirements
- Service must benefit the Club as a whole, not just a specific league
- Volunteer service may be done outside the VCC (e.g. a VCC delegate to an external curling group)
- Board members are not eligible as a function of their board activities
- Must be current VCC members
- The nomination should be supported by at least two Club members
- Demonstrated a solid commitment to the sport of curling in general
- Demonstrated a strong commitment to the Vancouver Curling Club
- Has a record of involvement in VCC sponsored events, involving both time and effort
- Commitment to all facets of curling, including fair play, association with other curlers, etc.
VCC team to take on Scots in Strathcona Cup
By Keith Switzer, VCC honourary life member
Scottish curlers (front row) in Langley during the 1983 Strathcona Cup tour of Canada. Photo courtesy of VCC curler Ken McGregor. Ken’s father, John, is in the back row, second from the left, part of one of the local teams that played against the Scots.
A team of VCC curlers will be taking part in the Strathcona Cup, a competition pitting teams of Canadian curlers against a contingent of Scottish visiting teams. Al Moore, Keith Switzer, Scott Robertson, Jeff Guignard and Richard Brower will take on a Scottish team, 1:00 pm on Friday, Jan. 13 at the Royal City CC in New Westminster. We hope you can come to help us defend Canadian honour.
The team representing VCC was put together by Ron McKay, a VCC director and former president. VCC member Ron Braunstein, a 1965 Brier champion, will be on hand for the banquet, and is throwing the ceremonial first rock at another Strathcona Cup competition at Turnnel Town CC.
The Strathcona Cup tour was first held in 1903, as Scotland sent a group of curlers over the water. The Canadians mounted a return tour to Scotland in 1909, and this is when Sir Donald Smith (Lord Strathcona) established and offered the trophy to commemorate the winning side’s victory. The tour has alternated between Canada and Scotland about every four or five years, with the last event occurring in 2018 when Canadian curlers toured Scotland.
This year, the Scottish teams travel to Canada and divide between clubs in eastern, central, and western Canada that are hosting scheduled games. Besides Royal City and Tunnel Town, a few other BC clubs will be taking part in the western tour, which also includes Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The game records are tallied from all three geographical tours of Canada, and the event ends in Ottawa, where some final games occur, and the Strathcona Cup is awarded.
As you know, curling is more than hurling granite…. It’s about history, community, family, camaraderie, friendship, development, growth, prowess, success, health, fitness, pleasure, memories… and much more! Time passes, generations are added, connections are made here and around the world.
The picture above is from a prior Strathcona Cup visit from team Scotland and a game played in the Valley (Langley Club in 1983, we believe). The Scottish team looks remarkably happy and this either had something to do with a ‘wee dram’ at half time in their game or it was a post-game victory celebratory picture.
We don’t know who all the participants were, but this picture was pulled up by Ken McGregor who is a long-time VCC curler and member of the Pharmacists and Travelers League. In the back row, second in from the left is Ken’s father, John McGregor. John hailed from Edam, Saskatchewan where kids were said to be handed a curling broom at birth. Of course, you can tell by the family name, that there may be more to this story than prairie winds and snow drifts. It would not be at all surprising if John retained a soft spot for the visiting troops from the former homeland and generously missed a few shots to give the boys a leg up.
Curling is about family! Ken’s father got him started in the game and he became more serious about the sport at UBC, where the Faculty of Pharmacy had its own curling league. Some of the faculty professors also played in the VCC Pharmacists League, and this drew Ken in. We must credit Scotland with getting us all going, but - make no mistake - on the Strathcona Cup ice in January, it will be survival of the fittest!
Protect your shoe with a toe coat
VCC is now offering a toe coat service for your trailing foot at $35 per shoe including taxes. We plan to do a batch of shoes over the Christmas break. Leave your shoe with Richard in the pro shop or contact him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 604-874-0122.
Register for January programs and leagues
Our learn-to-curl programs, novice leagues and doubles league start up again in January. Click the links below for more information and registration.
Point Grey League looking for one more curler
The Point Grey League on Wednesday evenings is looking for one more curler for the second half of the season. The only requirement is that you have at least one year of experience. If you are interested, email Kelli at https://vancurl.com/index.php/leagues/weekday-evening/point-grey.
Become a paid VCC coach
We are always looking for coaches to help out with our busy rentals and learn-to-curl programs. One of the steps to getting hired is to become a certified club or compeition coach by taking a Curl BC course. The next competition coach course is coming up Jan. 7-8 at the Golden Ears Winter in Maple Ridge. Contact Richard Brower at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 604-8784-0122 if you decide to take the course and want to learn more about become a paid VCC coach. Registration for the coaching courses is done online through the Curl BC website.
To register visit https://vancurl.com/index.php/events/doubles-bonspiel-feb-2-5.
To register go to https://prcl.ca/pacrimcup/.