Thank you for filling out our survey! The background information is provided below the survey link.
You will automatically be sent to Part A (active curlers) or Part B (past curlers) based on the first question.
2021 Abbotsford Curling Club Survey
We are in Challenging Times!
The Board of Directors is seeking your input as we plan for the club’s future. Here is some background regarding the last few years of operation.
- Prior to 2019, the club’s membership was growing as were our profits.
- Last year we lost about $45,000, and this year we were projected to lose about $30,000.
- This year we have received significant and unexpected donations.
- We are not bankrupt! We have money in the bank and can meet this year’s obligations.
- We can begin operations next year
- But if we continue to operate as we are now, we may need to borrow to finish the 2023 season.
- We must either cut costs or increase revenues.
In 2018 we ran nearly full leagues, operated the rink close to capacity, covered the day-to-day operational costs and made a tidy profit. Coupled with various initiatives, we funded club improvements. Things looked great. But by the fall of 2021:
- Membership decreased about 30%
- Due to floods and weather, the rink has been closed for short periods of time
- Leagues have had to cancel or amalgamate, and the rink has been closed more often.
- Fees collected have not covered operational costs.
- The city has identified the curling ice as being under utilized
A longer-term problem is the demographics of our club, a problem shared by most clubs in Canada.
- The average age of our 365 members is over 60 (see the graph below)
- We need young members to keep the club going.
- We have developed plans hoping to attract new groups of curlers.
- We planned to target school groups, approach business groups, and offer 5-week leagues to diverse groups.
- Covid protocols have made this outreach even more difficult.
The Board has established committees to address the funding and membership issues. We will be sending out a short survey to all club members next week seeking your input, advice and assistance. The club’s email list includes people who are presently curling and those who have curled in the recent past. The survey is divided into two parts.
- Part A for those presently curling
- Part B for those who have curled in the past.
Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. There is a place for detailed comments. If you leave a contact phone number or email, we will follow up.
Often a crisis is an opportunity to review how we do things, make needed changes and seize new opportunities. The future of the Club is again being challenged. We have faced adversity before and have come back stronger than ever especially when we work together, share ideas and vision. This survey is the first step.
We Thank You for your input and ideas.