SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — The Nutana Curling Club, one of Saskatoon’s most loved curling rinks, was established on Oct. 3 1929 as a Joint Stock Company after a meeting of some committed curlers at the Nutana Collegiate Institute. The Club opened in January 1930 with a six-sheet rink at the Dufferin Avenue. 

The city council leased the building site to the club in a collaborative effort, while a canvass of curlers in the Nutana district raised about $10,000.00 to erect the new building. According to Mayor J.W. at the Club’s opening, “It was only the bulldog spirit of the Saskatoon citizens that made it possible.”

The Club moved to Arlington Avenue, Saskatoon (their present-day home), on June 30 1966. The new building has eight sheets, two levels of club rooms, no basement, and an ice plant housed in a different compartment. By October 20 1966, curling began on the eight-sheet rink with a significant bonspiel.

Although the new rink was a sand-based field with its brine pipes exposed, renovations in the 1980’s and 90’s transformed it into a floating concrete floor, which allowed the facility to be used all year round. Eventually, every other part of the club was upgraded.

Over the years, the beautiful Club has hosted many national and provincial championships, including the 1969 Teen ‘spiel, 1993 TSN Skins game, the 1999 CIBC Canadian Seniors Championship, the Saskatoon Ladies Curling Classic, and the Pointopical Curling Classic. It also played host to 12 Junior Men’s and Women’s teams as they prepared to represent Saskatchewan at the 2016 Junior National Championships in Stratford, Ontario.

Curling is a great team sport, and the Nutana Curling Club in Saskatoon has some of the best teams in the province.

In November 2014, teams from the Saskatoon Nutana Curling Club made their way to Halifax for The Dominion Curling Club National Championship (also known as The Travelers Club Championship). They faced champions from the Regina Highland Curling Club. The men’s Nutana team, represented by The Kory Kohuch Team, comprised Skip Kory Kohuch, Mark Adams, David Schmirler, and Wes Lang.

Together, they defeated the Humboldt team–Aaron Gaudreau Team–5-4 to win the Championship and become the Dominion Curling Club Provincial Champions. The team only lost one game on its way to snatching the title.

The following year, 32 teams came together from the eight CURLSASK regions to compete for the 2015 CURLSASK Traveler Club at Saskatoon Nutana Club. Unfortunately, the defending provincial champions, the Kory Kohuch Nutana team, were not allowed to compete at this social yet highly competitive event.

Team Korte represented Saskatchewan at the 2016 Canadian Mixed Curling Championships in Toronto, Ontario. The team won the opener and made it to the next stage.

Fast-forward to 2018. The Muyres brothers and the Marsh twins joined forces to compete as a team instead of against each other as they once did. Together, the foursome, comprising skip Kirk Muyres, lead Dallan Muyres, second Dan Marsh, and third Kevin Marsh, won the provincial men’s Championship and have been progressing steadily.

As Kevin Marsh said, “On the curling ice, we got similar thoughts going around.”

Too bad some factors have dealt a heavy blow on the curling community in Saskatoon. Property taxes and the COVID-19 pandemic have brought untold hardship to curling clubs like Granite Curling Club, CN Curling Club, Sutherland Curling Club, and Nutana Curling Club, thereby putting them in a very dire situation.

In July 2021, the Club’s Board of Directors officially announced their decision to cancel the remaining 2021 curling season pending when the government allows them to resume play and re-install their ice. Following this announcement, funds paid for different leagues have been refunded, and the Club is trying to cut down its financial losses.

But the Club will not be idle for long. While waiting and hoping that curling will resume in the fall, a big event is coming up, and Nutana Curling Club will have to play host.

The SGI Canada Best of the West Championship is slated for April 22-24 2022. The event’s goal is to open up more opportunities for curling rising stars from Saskatchewan, Alberta, Manitoba, and British Columbia to compete in this historic sport. Top teams from under-30 women, men, and doubles will be competing for about $40,000.

The Championship will feature some of the best young players in Western Canada and will be an excellent experience for both participating teams and their fans.

Curling offers so many social and economic benefits to the city of Saskatoon, and it is imperative for the authorities to consider reducing their tax as they are a not-for-profit curling club.

The future looks bright for the 92-year old Nutana Curling Club as its players prepare for the 2021-22 curling season.

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