The Cranbrook Curling Club got a boost in funding from municipal coffers on Wednesday evening, as Mayor Wayne Stetski announced an annual sum of $40,000 as part of a five-year contract.
Taking effect at the beginning of October, money from the contract will go towards building and ice upkeep and maintenance, according to club president Bill Brock.
The club and the city's old contract—a three-year agreement for $50,000 of annual funding—had recently expired, but the two groups got together last fall to hammer out a new agreement.
"In essence, this is a city facility, still, the curling club, so we have a responsibility for the facility itself, but the operations are all looked after by Bill and curling club members," said Stetski.
"So it's a partnership that works really well, for the city, for the taxpayers of Cranbrook, and it works well for the curling club members as well."
Brock adds that while the curling club gets a few grants from various sources, the funding partnership with the city goes a long way to covering costs for the organization.
"We pay all the costs of running the building, all the utilities—everything, so it makes it worthwhile for us, for sure and it seems to work out well for the city," Brock said.
In addition to grants, the club also gets funding from advertising and building rentals in the off-season. Recent projects include the replacement of fans and some work to the upstairs lounge, which was done by club volunteers.