Improve your game at our intermediate clinics

Under the guidance of ACD (previously level 4) coach and Curl BC coaching course conductor Chris Summers, VCC is offering a series of intermediate curling clinics on Saturdays from 4:50 pm to 7:50 pm at the Marpole Curling Club. The clinics are one hour off ice and two hours on ice. VCC staff coaches will be working with groups of eight or fewer curlers on each sheet. Click on the links below for more information and registration:

Saturday, Dec. 2 : Clinic One - Set Up, Drive and Slide (delivery mechanics part 1)

Saturday Dec. 16: Clinic Two - Releases and Weight Control (delivery mechanics part 2)

Saturday, Jan. 13: Clinic Three - Everything You Wanted to Know About Being a Sweeper (including skips!)

Toe dip offered on shoes over the Christmas break

VCC is offering a Tuff Toe application on your trailing foot shoe over the Christmas break. Leave your shoe off at the pro shop by Monday, Dec. 18 and it will be ready for pick up on Friday, Dec. 29. Cost is $40 including taxes.

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Team Prade wins Harvest Bonspiel

The annual Harvest Bonspiel was held on the Oct. 27-29 weekend with a full field of 32 teams. Event winners and pictures are shown below. 

A event winners

Team Prade, left to right: Floyd Bardell, Brian Cole, Patrick Prade

B event winners

Jeepers Sweepers, left to right: Brant Amos, Jeffrey Hernaez, J.R. Hammond, Reg Krake

C event winners

The Leftovers, left to right: Shawn Courtorielle, Adam Tumilson, Michael Miceli, Yves Moisan

D event winners

Team McKenzie, left to right: Koen Hampshire, Felix Lau, Taj McKenzie, Nolan Blaeser

Clancy Grandy team 18th in world rankings

The Clancy Grandy team that practices out of Vancouver CC hasn't had the same strong start to the season they had last year, but they are still the top BC team on the world women's team rankings, sitting at 18th. They have qualified in three of the five cashspiels they have entered so far this season. Click here to view their results. Click here for the team's Facebook page. As the defending champions, the Grandy team gets an automatic berth in the BC Scotties, Jan. 23-28 in Esquimalt.

VCC teams in Victoria for the Island Shootout

Three VCC men's teams have formed this season to compete on the provincial cash spiel circuit with an aim to qualify for the BC men's championship. Teams skipped by Trevor Ritchie, Jeff Guignard and Jeff Berg were at the Island Shootout in Victoria, Nov. 10-13. None of the VCC teams qualified for the playoffs but the Guignard team did reach a qualifying game. The Jason Montgormery team from Victoria won, their second BC cash spiel win of the season.

Time to register for the upcoming season

If you haven't done so already, please register for curling! The refrigeration plant was turned on Thursday, and we're getting ready for you to start curling in September. Visit league and program pages on the VCC website at www.vancurl.com to find registration links. Contact VCC assistant manager Richard Brower at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you need help finding a league to curl in.

Locker rentals open up on Saturday

The annual rush to get lockers starts online at noon on Saturday, Aug. 19. Click the links below to rent.

Men's locker rentals

Women's locker rentals

Curl BC coaching course at VCC Sept. 9-10

VCC is hosting a Curl BC competition coach course on the Sept. 9-10 weekend. Take the course and become a VCC coach! We are always looking for more coaches for our rental groups and learn-to-curl programs. For more information on becoming a VCC coach, contact Richard Brower at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

VCC staff to operate the Marpole Curling Club

VCC has entered into an innovative community-focused operating agreement for VCC to manage the day-to-day operations of the Marpole Curling Facility for the 2023-2024 season. 

Our organization is embarking on this new journey to support the growth and healthy future of curling in Vancouver. This arrangement for VCC to manage the Marpole Curling Facility will give added value to VCC members by providing increased ice access, expanded programming and more access to curling experiences for the Vancouver community. This will increase the visibility of our sport through our partnership, engage with new diverse curlers, and utilize both community spaces to their full potential to grow the Vancouver curling community. 

At its core, the Vancouver Curling Club remains steadfast in preserving our rich culture and traditions, while advancing our organizational visions of being a leader in community-focused curling. Our commitment to the long-term sustainability of Vancouver’s curling community drives the VCC to expand our reach, enhance our offerings, and provide additional recreational opportunities, creating an ideal environment for all curlers.  

If you have questions about this partnership, they can be directed to VCC president Andrew Forshner via email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Annual general meeting with board elections on Sept. 13

The annual general meeting will be in the upper lounge on Wednesday, Sept. 13, starting at 6:45 pm. More information for the meeting will be made available at a later date. VCC curlers are welcome to join the board by putting their name up for election at the AGM. If you are interested, contact VCC president Andrew Forshner at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Ron Braunstein to throw ceremonial first little rock prior to AGM

Former Brier champion and longtime VCC member Ron Braunstein has made a generous donation to pay for a new set of little rocks to be used by youngsters. The rocks arrived in the off season, and Ron will throw the ceremonial first little rock at 6:15 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 13, prior to the annual general meeting. All are welcome to watch.

The new little rocks are full size, but made of a material lighter than granite.

Ron in the Manitoba sweater he wore winning the 1965 Brier.

We need to save money to replace aging equipment

This chiller in the refrigeration plant at the Hillcrest Centre cools the brine in the concrete floor of the curling rink. VCC will need to pay its replacement cost once its lifespan ends.

By VCC president Andrew Forshner

Did you know that VCC budgets each year to set aside funds to save for the eventual replacement of the machines and equipment that make the Hillcrest curling facility into an amazing space that we all love? Established in 2016, the Sustainability Fund provides the VCC with the resource capital it needs to cover the capital expenditures for the Hillcrest curling facility’s physical infrastructure and assets, such as the ice plant and lounge furniture.

With over $500,000 in the Sustainability Fund - sitting in safe investments thanks to the help of our Vancity financial advisors - the VCC is in a good financial position to weather any issues that may befall our ice plant and ensure that curling remains available to our members and our community. Adhering to good governance, all expenditures from the Sustainability Fund are approved by the membership at the VCC AGM. Come out to this year’s AGM (Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 6:45 pm) to see how your curling fees and the VCC’s operations are helping save for the future of the Hillcrest curling facility.

New interclub league for youth curlers

VCC is joining up with the Marpole Curling Club and the Royal City Curling Club to start a new Greater Vancouver Youth Curling League, initiated by Royal City junior coordinator Chris Summers. Any junior-aged curler is welcome to participate. A registration form for the new league will be posted soon on the junior curling webpage.

VCC curlers will be able to book practice ice at Marpole CC

Practice ice at VCC can be in high demand, but a new feature this season will allow VCC curlers to book practice ice online for the Marpole CC. For more information on booking practice ice at both clubs, go to our practice ice webpage.

Engineers' League welcomes new curlers

One good reason to join the Engineers’ League at VCC is the year-end prize table!

Novice or experienced, all are welcome in the Engineers' League on Saturdays from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. We have fun but are also competitive, co-ed and you don’t need to be an engineer. Novices can learn from experienced skips. We will get you placed on a team and position that best matches your abilities. Cost is $300/ person based on four-person team, plus club fees of $47.50/person. Contact league reps at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Harvest Bonspiel registration is now open

It's fall, it's the Halloween season and it's time for our annual Harvest Bonspiel! The open format, four-person team bonspiel will be held Octobr 27 to 29.  Bring a constume to compete for prizes -- as a team or individual. Late-night trivia with Craig is back on Friday evening. And on Saturday, we have a live band.

Cost is $320 per team. Register here.

Curling in the club is now live-streamed

We are happy to announce the launch of Curling Stadium live streaming for league and event games on YouTube. This exciting addition will offer enthusiasts a front-row seat to the action. The state-of-the-art system promises to deliver high-quality broadcasts so members, their friends, family and fans can now follow their favorite teams and players increasing accessibility of this beloved winter sport. You can find the live streams on the Curling Stadium Vancouver YouTube Channel here:

 //www.youtube.com/@CurlingStadiumVancouver-jx5sj/featured 

Eight ender scored in the Thursday Open League

The Frosty Boys scored an eight-ender in Thursday Open League play on Oct. 5. Congrats to skip Ken Siggers, third Logan Siggers, second Dani Riecken and lead Garrett Bagg.

Another purple heart on the wall! 

The latest purple heart is now up on the wall beside sheet 8 and the banner from Curl BC will be going up as well. Congrats Team Grandy!

Double Back Bonspiel begins new curling season at VCC

 The first bonspiel of the season was the 16-team Double Back Bonspiel, Sept. 8-9 . The event winners are pictured below. 

A event winners: Good BYE - Patrick Prade (left) and Brian Cole, Vancouver CC

B event winners: Janie Berg and Daniel Simon, Evergreen Curling Club, Portland

C event winners: D&A - Jeff Guignard (left) and Chris Faa, Vancouver CC

 D event winners: Spectacurls - Ben Smith and Sabrina Pitre, Vancouver CC

Annual general meeting brings new board of directors 

The VCC had a very engaged annual general meeting on Sept. 13 where the board of directors presented the membership with our organization's three-year strategic plan and presentation on the board's decision to enter into an operating agreement to manage the Marpole Curling Club. The VCC is excited to announce that Andrew Prest, Jon Benjamin, and  Floyd Bardell were elected to serve on the board of directors, having been elected to serve the open three-year terms.

If you are interested in serving on any club committees, please contact the directors below:

Floyd Bardell, chair of the membership committee  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dale Bradley, chair of the facilities committee  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Andrew Prest, chair of the finance & governance committee  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

If you have a question about our board, contact VCC president Andrew Forshner at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Little rocks now in use

 General manager Patrick Prade (left) and Ron hold one of the new little rocks that are actually full size but weigh less.

Prior to the September AGM, 1965 Brier champion and longtime VCC member Ron Braunstein delivered a ceremonial first little rock. We thank him for his generous donation to fund a new set of little rocks to be used by youngsters, primarily in our little rockers program on Saturdays. The little rocks can also be used if advance notice is given to the ice techs, who must cool them with mesh between the rocks and ice before they are used.

Jerry McKenzie awarded an honourary life membership

Motors League rep Jerry McKenzie has been awarded an honourary life membership to VCC for his long-time service to the club. This year marks Jerry's 20th year of curling at the Vancouver Curling Club, as he joined the Motors League in 2003. Some of his contributions to the club include:

• VCC Board of Director from 2010-2013
• Helped setup the Hillcrest facility with TV, internet, and phones
• Spent two to three years negotiating with beer companies for facility and bonspiel in-kind support
• Led the sponsorship committee, developing pricing packages and secured many the advertisers who are still with the Vancouver Curling Club
• His company, Digitel Systems Inc, has been a VCC sponsor since 2012
• Supported bonspiel with donated prizes every year since 2012 and has been a long-time returning volunteer
• Motors’ League rep since the 2007-08 season
• Joined the Shamrock League in 2011,  becoming its league rep and uniquely serving as league rep for two VCC leagues
• Spearheaded changes to membership in the Motors and Shamrock Leagues to make them more diverse and inclusive
• Participated in bonspiels outside of the Vancouver Curling Club and has always promoted the Vancouver Curling Club

Kathy McInnes is 2022-23 volunteer of the year

Kathy McInnes is already an honourary life member for her years of volunteer support of VCC. She's also been named VCC's volunteer of the year for the past season. Some of Kathy's contributions are:

• Co-chair of the VCC special events committee, ensuring the success of VCC bonspiels each year
• Volunteer coordinator for the Barry Naimark Skins Bonspiel.
• Long-time league rep for the Tuesday Women’s League and the Pharmacists and Travelers League

Practice ice now available at Marpole CC for VCC members

One of the changes included in the operating agreement that VCC now has with the Marpole CC allows members from both clubs to practice at each other's facility. VCC curlers can book ice to practice at MCC for $10 per hour, just like at VCC, but they cannot drop in for free practice ice. If you can't find a sheet to practice on at VCC, there is a good chance you might find one at MCC at a similar date and time. Click here to book practice ice at either rink.

Try the triples curling game at Marpole CC on Sunday, Nov. 5

Try out triples curling as developed by Curling Canada (https://www.curling.ca/files/2020/06/Triples-Curling-Canada-EN.pdf). A coach will be on hand to introduce the game and provide help with rules. The event runs 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm on Sunday, Nov. 5 and cost is $20 per curler. Click here for registration.

The game features teams of three, six rocks per team, three sets of two ends each, and players rotating positions after each set. If you enjoy the try triples event, you can sign up for a four-week program on Sundays at 3:00 pm from Nov. 12 to Dec. 10 with no curling on Nov. 26. This program will include a coach on hand to help with rules and also help new curlers with deliveries, etc.

Get fit for curling - new session of CurlFit 101 in November  

Jeff Guignard team wins VCC Championship

VCC champions from the Thursday Open League, left to right: Richard Brower (lead), Patrick Prade (second), Chris Faa (third), Jeff Guignard (skip) 

The annual VCC Championship ran April 14-16 with 32 teams taking part, representing nearly every league in the club. The championship started in 1994 as a way to have teams from every league play in a club event together.Visit the VCC Championship webpage for pictures of event finalists and the championship draw results.

Clancy Grandy team in Grand Slams

Clancy Grandy at the Princess Auto Players' Championship

The Clancy Grandy team (Kayla MacMillan, Lindsay Dubue and Sarah Loken) that practices at VCC continues to qualify for Grand Slam of Curling events. The BC Scotties champions were 3-2 at the Princess Auto Players' Championship in Toronto, April 11-16, losing a tie breaker to Switzerland's Silvana Tirinzoni, the reigning world champion. They posted a shocking 13-0 victory over Scotties champ Kerri Einarson, along with defeating Sweden's Anna Hasselborg and Jennifer Jones. They are also in the field for the final Grand Slam event, the Kioti Tractor Champions Cup, May 2-7 in Regina. Olympic gold medalist Niklas Edin has been showing up at VCC recently, coaching team members, as he did at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

VCC board member wins BC senior women's championship

Diane Gushulak (far right) skipped her team to a BC senior women's title over other VCC curlers.

VCC board member Diane Gushulak skipped her team to the BC senior women's title at Langley CC, March 22-26. Gushulak, curling out of the Royal City CC with Grace McInnes, Danielle Shaughnessy and Cory McLaughlin, won the championship final over a team that included VCC curlers Sandra Comadina, Shiella Cowan and Christine Mathews. Gushulak's team will represent BC at the Canadian Senior Women's Curling Championship, December 4-10 in Vernon.

Legendary Brier curler Ron Braunstein is retiring

Ron Braunstein (left) with Motors League teammates Joel Bronstein, Robin Wong and Steve Zolnay

Longtime Motors League member and 1965 Brier champion Ron Braunstein is retiring from active league curling. Ron was second on the Manitoba team that won the 1965 Brier with his brother Terry skipping, Don Duguid at third and Ray Turnball at lead. Ron was a medical student at the time, and unable to join the team at the world championship, where American Bud Sommerville claimed an upset win over the Canadians in the final.

The Braunstein legend started in 1958 when teenagers Terry, Ron, Ray and John Van Hellemond shocked the curling world by winning the Manitoba title, and losing the tie-breaking Brier final to Alberta's Matt Baldwin after the two teams were tied with 8-2 records in the round robin. Having teenagers competing at the Brier was controversial, and resulted in a ban on teens participating that lasted nearly 60 years.

Ron and his Motors League team won the A event in the league playoffs this season and last season.

Ron in 2019, wearing his Manitoba team sweater with two Brier crests

In December of 2019, the Motors League had a jersey day, and Ron showed up wearing his Manitoba team sweater from the Brier. VCC posted pictures of Ron on Facebook that ended up becoming our most widely shared post ever.

Ron generously donated money to pay for the recent acquisition of our little rocks, and has been using them to teach curling to his grandchildren. 

Jack Dunlop got OK Tire as a curling sponsor first

Jack Dunlop was ahead of his time getting OK Tire as a curling sponsor.

Featuring VCC curlers Angelica Perez, Estefana Quintero and Ismael Abreu

VCC volunteers participate in the International Tankard

Longtime VCC volunteers Keltie Worrall and Ron McKay were rewarded for their years of service with a trip to the International Tankard held March 24-26 in Chilliwack. Keltie is a long-time Point Grey League representative and VCC finance committee member, and Ron is a past president and honourary life member. It was the return of the International Tankard after three years off due to Covid, and the BC side won over their American counterparts.

The International Tankard is a legacy event that started in 1962 as an unwritten agreement between the Pacific Coast Curling Association, a forerunner to Curl BC, and the Washington State Curling Association, now the Pacific Northwest Curling Association. It honours curling club volunteers by having their clubs send them to the event and pay expenses.

The International Tankard’s initial format had six teams from each association meet in a friendly competition with Canadian teams playing only American teams. Each team still plays three games, but there are now eight teams for each country. The games are eight ends, including a break at the end of the fourth with a broom stack and teams enjoying a libation together.

The rotation of the event is two years in BC and one year at the Seattle Granite Club. VCC will be hosting the event in April of 2026.

Keltie and Ron were placed onto their respective teams under the tutelage of Jim and Hilda Gordon from the Abbotsford Curling Club. The Gordons added their own contribution to the 2023 International Tankard by putting on display their collection of curling memorabilia, chinaware, books, and pins. The most interesting memorabilia from our club's perspective was the program from the 13th annual VCC men's bonspiel in 1953.

Click here to view phographs from the International Tankard.

VCC curler skips team to bronze at BC Winter Games

VCC curler Erin Fitzgibbon (right) with father and coach Brian beside her

Prior to reaching the final of the VCC Championsip, Erin Fitzgibbon skipped the Zone 5 team to a bronze medal at the BC Winter Games in Vernon, March 24-26. Erin teamed up with three Delta Thistle CC members -  Alexandria Halliday, Brooke Halliday and Sydney Taylor-Hunt - and her dad, Brian Fitzgibbon, coached the team.

VCC team wins silver at BC Curling Club Championship

Left to right: Jeff Guignard (skip), Chris Faa (third), Deryk Brower (second), Richard Brower (lead)

The Jeff Guignard team from the Thursday Open League won the VCC Championship, but two weeks earlier they nearly won the BC Curling Club Championship in Abbotsford against other club league teams from around the province. They lost the championship final in an extra end to the Tyler Orme team from Vernon.

Sunday Open League Champions

Indiana Stones and the Temple of Broom, left to right: Dennis Leard, Nishad Jamaldeen, Graeme Duckett, Trevor Knox, Kristin Defer

Pharmacists recruiting curlers for next season

The Pharmacists & Travelers league (you DO NOT have to be a pharmacist or a traveling sales rep) is looking for new members and we want you!

A little bit about us:

• We are a social and fun league and welcome all players of any skill level.
• Our league has been part of the Vancouver Curling Club since 1950.
• We curl from late September / early October to March, and our draw time is on Thursdays at 4:30 pm.
• Our members range from 13 years old to 80+ years young.
• While full teams are welcome, we do make up new teams each year from existing players

Please email our league rep (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) by no later than May 15 if you are interested in joining our league, or if you just want to learn more about us. We would love to have you.

Submitted by Anna Bond

Norwesters looking for senior men and women

The Norwesters’ Curling league is looking for new curlers for the 2023/24 season. The league consists of curlers aged 55 or over, and is open to both men and women.

Our curling year is made up of four quarters. At the beginning of each quarter the makeup of the teams is changed. This provides a chance to curl with with different members throughout the curling season.

There is a bit of competitiveness in the club, however the primary objective is to have fun and enjoyment. To further this objective, following the Thursday morning games we gather in the lounge for coffee and muffins. The cost of this is included in your registration fee.

Our club plays each Tuesday and Thursday mornings at the Vancouver Curling Club from 9:45 am to 12:00 pm. Curling usually commences near the end of September and ends about the middle of March each year.

If you are interested or know of someone who is, please have them contact Ron at 604-565-8021.

Submitted by Ron Cox