The Cornwall Curling Club’s Annual General Meeting was held tonight. Club President Paul Neima reported another successful season, with membership increasing from 272 last year to 294 this year – the only club on PEI to report a membership increase, and for the first time, the PEI club with the largest membership. Club revenues increased over $10,000 over last season, even though membership rates and bar prices were not increased. A number of capital improvements were realized, with the assistance of an Island Community Fund grant, including a new Ice King scraper, new boot cleaners, a sofa. larger viewing monitors for the ice area, a laptop computer for live scoring and other purposes, a new ice cube maker, and new club brooms.
A number of successful bonspiels were held, along with new Friday night drop-in curling events, which brought new curlers into the Club. Club members had considerable success of the provincial, regional and national scene, with provincial Juniors, Masters, Stick, Under 16, and Junior Mixed winners at the provincial level, along with winning most of the curling and stick curlingcategories at the 55 Plus Games. Regionally, UPEI’s Veronica Smith rink, comprised of Cornwall Club members, won an AUS berth in the CIS/CCA championships, and Cornwall teams won both Maritime Stick championship divisions, while the Shirley Berry rink won the Maritime Masters Women’s Division. Cornwall’s Chloé McCloskey and coach Bill Hope won a silver medal in the Canadian Juniors Mixed Doubles event. Derek MacEwen won Sport PEI Amateur Sport Awards administrator of the year while the UPEI women’s team won two awards at the CIS/CCA championships.
One of the biggest issues facing the Club this season was the renegotiation of our rental agreement with the Town of Cornwall for our new Clubhouse and our ice shed. A price was negotiated which, although an increase, is considered to be reasonable. A members’ survey was conducted with over 90 members responding, which will help determine the direction for the Club to take next season.
Brent Irving was acclaimed as a new Board member.