Club Development – Weekly Update – November 6, 2026

Club Coffee Chats (Monthly) ☕

Join fellow Curling Alberta member clubs for an informal opportunity to connect, share ideas, discuss challenges, celebrate successes, and learn from one another.

When: 3rd Monday of each month (November through April)
Time: 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Agenda

• Curling Alberta Updates (5 min)
• Club Spotlight (10 min)
• Featured Topic (10 min)
• Open Discussion & Questions (25 min)
• Networking & Key Takeaways (10 min)

Help Shape the Conversation

We want these Coffee Chats to reflect the needs and interests of our member clubs. Share your questions, discussion topics, challenges, and success stories, or volunteer to be featured in a Club Spotlight.

Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, hosting a unique event, growing membership, launching a new program, or trying something different, we’d love to hear about it and help share your story with the curling community.

Coffee Chat Meeting Link

Save the link to your calendar and join whenever you’re available:

Join the Coffee Chat: Curling AB – Club Coffee Chat (Monthly) | Meeting-Join | Microsoft Teams

☕ Have a topic, question, celebration, or success story to share? Contact Atina at [email protected].

Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) – Local Impact Stream

PrairiesCan has opened the second intake of the Build Communities Strong Fund (BCSF) – Local Impact Stream, with applications accepted from October 28 to December 9, 2026. Eligible applicants include municipalities, Indigenous communities and organizations, and not-for-profit organizations. Funding is available for public infrastructure projects that strengthen communities, support economic development, and enhance community well-being.

Funding Available:

• Non-repayable contributions of $125,000 to $1 million per project
• Projects must be completed by March 31, 2030
• Priority will be given to shovel-ready projects with confirmed funding and planned construction in 2027-28

Examples of Eligible Projects:

• Community buildings and gathering spaces
• Recreation and cultural facilities
• Infrastructure that supports local economic development and community growth

Learn more and apply through the Government of Canada’s Build Communities Strong Fund program – link is in the gold button above.

ASLA SAFE SPORT TOWN HALLS

The Alberta Sport Leadership Association (ASLA) is hosting a series of free Safe Sport Town Halls across Alberta this November and December. These sessions provide a plain-language overview of the Alberta Universal Code of Conduct and the safe sport complaint mechanism (ABSSCM) in Alberta.

Club leaders, coaches, officials, volunteers, parents, and participants are all encouraged to attend. Whether you’re new to safe sport or looking for a better understanding of the current system, these sessions offer an opportunity to learn, ask questions, and engage in meaningful discussion.

All sessions begin at 6:00 p.m. Venue details are available on each registration page.

• Grande Prairie – November 24 – Register Here
• Fort McMurray – November 26 – Register Here
• Red Deer – November 30 – Register Here
• Medicine Hat – December 1 – Register Here
• Lethbridge – December 3 – Register Here
• Calgary – December 8 – Register Here
• Edmonton – December 10 – Register Here

Use the registration button above, or select a session from the list above to register.

Why attend?

• Learn how the Alberta Universal Code of Conduct applies in sport settings.
• Better understand how safe sport concerns and complaints are managed.
• Ask questions in an open, welcoming environment.
• Help create safer and more respectful sport experiences in your community.

Register today for a session near you!

Club Championships: Important Information for Member Clubs

Last week, Curling Alberta distributed the information package and supporting documents for the 2026-27 Club Championships to all member clubs. If your club did not receive the email, please contact [email protected] and we will be happy to resend the package.

Key Information for Clubs

• Clubs and interested teams should review the Club Championship Appendix and FAQ prior to the registration deadline and familiarize themselves with all eligibility requirements and event details.
• Affiliated Curling Alberta clubs in good standing may enter one team per gender. Clubs with 250 or more members may enter two teams per gender.
• Club Championship Qualifiers: March 4-7, 2027
  • Men: Lethbridge, Granite, Fairview
  • Women: Okotoks, Spruce Grove, Fairview
• Club Championship Provincials: March 31-April 4, 2027, in Cochrane.
• Team Declaration Deadline: February 1, 2027, at 12:00 PM.
• Clubs are responsible for confirming that all team members meet the published eligibility requirements.

If you have not yet reviewed the information package, please do so and share it with any teams interested in representing your club. Full event details, eligibility requirements, and registration information can be found in the documents distributed last week.

Curling Day in Canada

February 27, 2027

Planning is already underway for Curling Day in Canada 2027. Clubs interested in hosting activities or celebrations are encouraged to learn more and participate.

U15 RockFest West 2028 Hosting Applications Now Open!

Could your club host the next generation of curling stars?

Curling Canada is now accepting applications from clubs and communities interested in hosting one of the four 2028 U15 RockFest regional events:

• West (BC, AB, YT, NT)
• Prairies (SK, MB)
• East (NO, ON, NU, QC)
• Atlantic (NL, NS, NB, PE)

The U15 RockFest combines skill development, education, and competition in a fun, athlete-focused environment designed specifically for young curlers. Through a unique blend of training sessions, skills challenges, and triples competition, participants have the opportunity to learn, compete, and connect with peers from neighbouring provinces and territories.

The event is designed to support long-term athlete development by helping young curlers build technical skills, strategic understanding, and confidence on the ice. Whether their future lies in competitive curling or lifelong recreational participation, U15 RockFest provides athletes with the tools, experiences, and inspiration to reach their full potential.

U-12 RockStars Program

Inspire the Next Generation of Curlers

Join the 180+ curling centres across Canada already delivering the U-12 RockStars Program.

For a one-time fee of $185, clubs receive:

✅ 12-Week FUNdamentals Program (U9)
✅ 12-Week Learn to Train Program (U12)
✅ Skill-Building Activities & Drills
✅ Achievement Reports
✅ 30 RockStars Bag Tags
✅ Annual Digital Program Updates

Whether you’re launching a new youth program or enhancing an existing one, RockStars provides a fun and structured pathway for young curlers.

Club Celebrations & Community Activations!

🎉 100th Anniversary Celebrations

Oilfields Curling Club (Diamond Valley) celebrates its 100th anniversary on October 17. Take a look back at a century of curling history through the video A Century On Ice – 100 Years of Curling in Diamond Valley and check out the Little Brown Jug Bonspiel – 100th Edition!

Westlock Curling Club will celebrate its 100th Anniversary on November 21. Visit their website for event details and updates. Westlockcurling.com | Westlock

🎉 80th Anniversary Celebrations

Viking Curling Club is celebrating 80 years of curling in its community. Congratulations to the club on this significant milestone!  (3) Facebook

🎉 40th Anniversary Celebrations

Chestermere Curling Club is celebrating 40 years of curling and is currently fundraising to support a special 40th Anniversary Arena Bonspiel planned for April 2-4, 2027. The club is working toward creating a seven-sheet event by expanding beyond its existing facility and has already reached approximately half of its fundraising goal. Learn more about their anniversary celebrations, sponsorship opportunities, and fundraising efforts at www.chestermerecurling.com.  (1) Chestermere Curling Association | Facebook

🥌 Interested in Booking the EXPRESS RINK?

Bring curling to your community, local event, school, or celebration with the EXPRESS RINK. This portable curling experience is a fun way to introduce new participants to the sport and support community activations across Alberta.

🔗 Learn More: First Rocks presented by Sentinel Storage | Curling Alberta

Save the Date: Curling Canada Congress & National Business of Curling (BOC) Symposium

We’re excited that Curling Canada will be bringing both its National Congress and National Business of Curling Symposium to Alberta this season. Club leaders, volunteers, and curling stakeholders from across the country will gather to connect, share ideas, explore emerging trends, and discuss strategies for building strong and sustainable curling clubs. Planning is currently underway, with additional details to be announced in the coming months.

📅 Save the Date: June 11-13, 2027
📍 Calgary, Alberta

2026-2027 Waiver Template Clarification

In May 2026, Curling Alberta updated its Adult and Youth Waiver Templates to include information related to the Alberta Safe Sport Complaint Mechanism (ABSSCM). These templates are provided as a member service resource and are available through Curling I/O for clubs that choose to use them.

To clarify, clubs are not required to use Curling Alberta’s waiver templates. Each club may select the waiver, registration, and risk management processes that best meet its legal and operational needs. The updated templates are simply one of several resources available to support affiliated clubs.

If you have questions about the ABSSCM, waiver templates, or other club resources, please contact the Curling Alberta team. We’re always happy to help.

2026-2027 Member & Fee Tracking Spreadsheet

Reminder: Completed Member & Fee Tracking Spreadsheets are due to Curling Alberta by February 28 each season.

The Participation Report supports Curling Alberta’s reporting obligations to provincial and federal sport partners and helps ensure accurate membership, participation, and funding data. Clubs are asked to report all Regular Curlers and provide the total number of Casual Curlers for the season.

Thank you for your assistance in collecting and reporting this information.

Questions? Please reach out to Atina or Cori. We’re always happy to help.

Courses (Ice Techs, Coaches & Umpires)

Curling Alberta Website Resources

Looking for tools and resources to help grow participation and strengthen your club?

Try Curling
Promote curling in your community with ready-to-use marketing resources, promotional materials, and program ideas available through Curling Alberta’s Try Curling initiative.

Youth Development Pathway
Explore programs, resources, and pathway information designed to support youth participation, skill development, and long-term engagement in our sport.

Additional Resources for Member Clubs

Tip: Bookmark these resources and share them with your board members, volunteers, league coordinators, coaches, and ice technicians throughout the season. They are designed to support club operations, member engagement, recruitment, and program development. 🥌

Government of Alberta Community Engagement Branch

Strengthen your club with free training, resources, and support designed for non-profit organizations and volunteer-led groups.

The Government of Alberta Community Engagement Branch offers learning opportunities and advisory services on topics such as strategic planning, board governance, grant writing, volunteer management, and public and stakeholder engagement.

🔗 Learn more: alberta.ca/NonProfitLearning
📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 310-0000, then dial 780-963-2281
📬 Stay informed: Subscribe to the Community Engagement Branch mailing list for updates on upcoming webinars, resources, and learning opportunities.

🙋 Volunteer Recruitment & Retention Webinar

Building Strong Volunteer Teams

Volunteers are the foundation of every successful curling club. Recruiting, supporting, and retaining volunteers remains one of the most important challenges facing community sport organizations.

Join this practical webinar to learn strategies that can help your club:

✅ Recruit new volunteers
✅ Improve volunteer engagement and retention
✅ Create positive volunteer experiences
✅ Develop succession plans for key roles
✅ Reduce volunteer burnout

📅 Tuesday, November 24, 2026
🕖 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM MST
🔗 Register Here: Volunteer Recruitment and Retention | Eventbrite

We encourage club board members, managers, committee chairs, volunteer coordinators, and anyone responsible for leading volunteers to attend.

Other Helpful Government Resources

🔗 Understanding the Complexities of Finding Grants (AB Municipalities)
🔗 Government of Alberta Community Engagement Branch Events & Training

Why it matters: Strong governance, effective volunteer management, and sustainable leadership are essential to the long-term success of Alberta’s curling clubs. These free resources can help your club build capacity, strengthen operations, and support future growth. 🥌