Curling club’s finances are on thin ice
Coun. Kirk Cameron wants to know if the city can do anything to assist the Whitehorse Curling Club with its financial trouble.
Coun. Kirk Cameron wants to know if the city can do anything to assist the Whitehorse Curling Club with its financial trouble.
Cameron raised the issue at Monday’s council meeting.
The curling club rents a portion of the Mount McIntyre Recreation Centre from the city.
Cameron noted the letter received last week from the club seeking assistance.
The curling club, he said, is in some trouble due to lost revenue over several months because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cameron pointed out while the club has lost revenue, it still faces operating costs that it has to cover.
“They are looking to us to see if there is any way we can help,” Cameron told his fellow council members.
Curling club president Mark Evans sent the letter to describe the club’s situation.
The organization, he said, provides curling opportunities to residents of all ages.
“The club provides recreational league curling, wheelchair and Special Olympic programs, programs for youth, a learn-to-curl program and a venue for Yukon competitive curlers to reach national championships,” says the letter.
Evans said the club generates revenue from several sources, including membership and league fees as well as facility rentals and the sale of food and beverages.
“The Whitehorse Curling Club was fortunate to have completed a full league season during 2020-21, but this year’s stricter Civil Emergency Measures have dramatically changed the club’s ability to operate this season,” says the letter. “Since the end of 2021, the club has been completely shut down with no ability to generate any revenue.”
The letter says the club’s operational expenses amount to $25,000 a month, though it has been able to trim off $5,000 a month by shutting down the ice plant and saving electrical expenses.
There are, however, expenses the curling club cannot control, such as the $4,500 in monthly rent to the city, says the letter.
It says federal and territorial support programs that were available to the club last season have now ended.
The eligibility criteria for support to non-profit organizations is very limited, the letter says.
It also requests compensation for the monthly payments made in January and this month while the club has been shut down.
The lease does not include any provision for relief from monthly payments, says the letter.
It says the curling club is appealing directly to council because a similar request to city administration was not met favourably.
“As we have documented, our appeal for help is not unfounded and not without genuine concern for the viability of the Whitehorse Curling Club,” the letter advises.
“As it is, the club will lose money this year from the impact of shutting down at the height of our season. Any prolonged public health restrictions that continue to restrict revenue generation could cause irreparable harm to the long-term viability of the club.”
Cameron told council curling is in Whitehorse’s blood. It’s part of who the city is, he said.
The councillor said he would like to explore if there is some way the city could assist this year.
While there was general support for the club from members of council, caution was also expressed.
Coun. Ted Laking said he would hate to see the club fold because of its importance to the residents of Whitehorse.
“I’m sure we can find a way to assist,” he said.
Coun. Dan Boyd suggested administration review the curling club’s situation and come up with an analysis showing how the city could respond.
“I wonder how many other organizations are in the same situation?” asked Boyd.
“We have to be mindful of whatever we do has to be a benefit to the whole community.”
Boyd noted council does not have any information about how the club has fallen into financial trouble.
“We have almost zero information,” he said.
Councillors Mellisa Murray and Jocelyn Curteanu said the curling club’s matter is worthy of a full discussion going forward.
“There could be others in the same boat,” said Curteanu.
Acting city manager Jeff O’Farrell said if council decides to provide assistance, he believes it would be a first for the city.
The type of financial support the club is looking for would normally come from the Yukon government, he pointed out.
Comments (13)
Up 1 Down 2
Patti Eyre on Mar 3, 2022 at 2:00 pm
I think if the city doesn't help friends of curling, then Kirk Cameron should resign his seat in protest! I'm told he does that kind of thing.
Up 9 Down 4
drum on Mar 1, 2022 at 4:54 pm
Any society that gives recreation or socializing to people (especially seniors) are suffering.
Up 9 Down 7
Village Idiot Rules on Feb 28, 2022 at 9:52 pm
Cool idea: let the curlers curl! That would bring in some $$!
Up 12 Down 17
My Opinion on Feb 28, 2022 at 1:08 pm
What we need is a near permanent end to these controlling Mandates that pick winners and losers. Subsidies don’t help. It needs to be allowed to have its supporters back. Honk Honk.
Up 12 Down 20
Lawrence Bredy on Feb 28, 2022 at 10:59 am
Just open. invite anyone who wishes to curl to attend. No masks, no mandates, no bs. The curlers who want to will curl, the ones who don't, won't. if we all did this, the economy would re-open itself (kinda like balancing Trudeau's budget). Just do it...bike races, canoe races, restaurants, ball tournaments, golf tournaments, tennis, you get the picture. There can't be enough henchmen to arrest us all!
Released on the radio just now the buckwheat is operating this year...only the vaxed may attend! it's an outdoor event for christ sakes!
Up 23 Down 1
Nathan Living on Feb 27, 2022 at 10:25 am
The curling club is deserving of City financial assistance as is a number of other associations.
Hate to say this but maybe a city council committee can think about city financial help post covid for a number of groups.
This situation also shows more council oversight of city administration is desirable. How many times do we hear that groups or individuals are treated poorly by city administration?
Up 24 Down 4
AdmiralA$$ on Feb 27, 2022 at 8:14 am
Very sad, my Grandfather helped build that place. Was president for almost 10 years, then volunteered to teach all the kids at every school how to curl once he retired. Even had a burger named after his grumpy a$$ attitude on the menu. I hope the club doesn't fail because of all this COVID stuff. I suppose C'est la vie in the end.
Up 26 Down 10
Peter on Feb 27, 2022 at 7:31 am
So the City can operate the CGC at massive loss in the $$$, still pay wages to CGC employees while a struggling nonprofit trying their best to keep afloat and the City will not help?? If this is the case, tear down Mt Mac and close CGC.
The taxpayer are tired of tax increases and their disposable income shrinking. This City run on money being spent by taxpayer to private businesses, not eaten up by taxes and give a ways.
Up 17 Down 43
Matthew on Feb 27, 2022 at 5:38 am
Can I sign up for free money too? STOP bailing out companies and organizations! Pretty simple what needs to be done. Open up the damn economy!
Up 57 Down 0
Ryan Mannen on Feb 25, 2022 at 4:43 pm
The city sits there debating how to help on one hand, and is holding a bill for $4,500 rent in the other. I dunno. Real head scratcher.
Up 49 Down 7
Denny Kobayashi on Feb 25, 2022 at 4:42 pm
Hoping city council has a good look at this... the City posts a healthy reserve and has fared the COVID pandemic with limited impacts on its operations. Organizations on the other hand have had their opportunities to generate revenue evaporate due to restrictions. The curling club provides a valuable service to youth, the disabled, elderly and promotes healthy recreational activity in the community. In response the pandemic a large number of commercial landlords reduced or deferred taxes for their tenants. This is a volunteer organization that works very hard, like many others in the community, that need a hand up due to COVID. If they are obliged to close who will take up this lease? The City will lose 100% of the revenue. It seems reasonable to me that the least the City could do would be to reduce and defer the rents in the same manner the many private sector companies that reached out to help. Reaching out to the Yukon government to help when the City is not prepared to do anything to help the curling club out strikes me as an odd approach. Kudos to the councilors that brought this forward. For the record, I am not a member of the curling club but I know a number of Yukoners who donate hours of time and energy to the organization. Time to stand up for them...
Up 14 Down 31
Oya on Feb 25, 2022 at 4:01 pm
"It says the curling club is appealing directly to council because a similar request to city administration was not met favourably."
Handy when your buddy sits on council and is ready to advocate for you....
Up 60 Down 7
No kidding on Feb 25, 2022 at 3:14 pm
It’ll probably be worse next year if no one curls after this waste of money season. For the amount of games actually played due to covid in some way, it averaged about $75/game/player. Not very feasible and I don’t blame the curling club at all.