Port Alberni City Council has agreed to contribute $40,000 toward a grant to help the Alberni Valley Curling Club upgrade its ailing ice plant.
The AVCC has accumulated $35,000 in savings for a grant funding application through the Community Gaming grants program, which offers grants of up to $250,000 as long as the applicant provides up to 50 percent of an approved project’s cost.
If the club is able to secure an additional $40,000 to reach the 50 percent contribution level required by the program, they will be able to apply for the project in time for the 2018/2019 season, which would result in a $150,000 upgrade for the curling rink’s aging ice plant.
“The capital grant that they’re applying for is open from Aug. 1 until Sept. 30,” confirmed facilities operations supervisor Mark Zenko. “They’re looking for funds to be available in 2018.”
The AVCC is a not-for-profit organization that has been operating since the 1950s. Operation of the AVCC is funded by membership dues, bonspiel revenue, raffles and gaming fund grants.
The building in which the AVCC operates was built in 1962. The ice plant in the facility is as old as the building, and is integral to the operation of the club. The building is owned by the city and is leased to the club for $1 a year. The lease requires the AVCC to maintain the premises, including all equipment and machinery.
“The ice plant that the curling club is using right now is using a type of refrigerant that’s no longer produced,” said Zenko. “As a result they’re just basically depleting reserves and whatever reclaim gas they can use. It’s getting to be very expensive to maintain.”
Councillor Ron Paulson was in favour of supporting this request, pointing out, “The curling club has their own membership, but we have to keep in mind that our own recreation department runs programs in there from time to time, and also the school district, as well. So it’s a pretty valuable asset to the community. I’d hate to be without it.”
Councillor Sharie Minions said she saw the value of the club, but had some doubts. “I have a problem with us consistently going outside of what our lease agreements say we’re responsible for funding,” she said.
She pointed out that council recently agreed to pay more than $200,000 for a new roof for Abbeyfield, although the lease agreement said it wasn’t the city’s responsibility.
“I think if we keep paying for things like this, then the organizations that we make these agreements for are going to assume we’ll pay for them, regardless of what our agreements say,” she added.
City CAO Tim Pley agreed, “This is not our cost, it’s their cost. What is different about this request is that the curling club has done much of what we would ask that they do.
“They have saved, they have a long-term plan and they’re asking us for a portion of the money, not all of it. They’ve managed that facility in a way that we would hope that all of our leaseholders would do.”
Councillor Denis Sauvé echoed Paulson’s earlier sentiments, saying, “A lot of people count on that building. We have many community events attending there and the curling club association is much bigger than what everybody thinks here.
“The building is very well-utilized, so I think it’s a proper investment for our community.”