The City of Windsor and the Roseland Golf and Curling Club Board continue to look for public input on the future of curling in the city.
A public information centre was held on Thursday evening members of the community to attend to have their questions answered from City Administration on what could potentially be done to curling.
It's still unclear as to what the future holds for curlers in the city, and whether or not renovations will be done to the current site, tear it down, or relocate the curlers to one of the surplus ice pads in the city.
Other areas where the curlers could be moved to play could be the Adie Knox Herman Arena, Capri Pizzeria Complex, the WFCU Centre, or the Forest Glade Arena, where there could be the potential of five ice sheets to be accommodated for the curlers.
Other areas where the curlers could be moved to play could be the Adie Knox Herman Arena, Capri Pizzeria Complex, the WFCU Centre, or the Forest Glade Arena. May 18, 2023 (Photo Credit: Courtesy of AM800)
Alongside the information centre, a survey is available to the public, which launched on May 10, looking for more input on what curlers want to see be done with the current facility, located at 455 Kennedy Drive West, or what they'd like to see a different facility.
This survey and information centre stemmed after the Future of Curling Windsor-Essex, a committee representing seven curling leagues at Roseland, was worried the city was planning to tear down the existing clubhouse facility at Roseland.
Benjamin Iannetta, Chair of the Committee for Future of Curling in Windsor-Essex, says the information centre was helpful for members to get more information and voice their concerns.
"I think a lot of the members are just concerned that the lack of information. They don't know what's going to happen in the next season, they don't know what's going to happen in the next two seasons. And the community at large is just very passionate about not only the sport of curling, but the community around it, and they don't want to lose that community."
He says the members want to be involved in the decision.
"They just want to know what's going to happen next, and they want to be part or and work with the city on what that could look like. Could it look better than Roseland? Maybe. But, we want to be involved, and they want to be involved."
Iannetta says this is a good first step.
"I always have confidence in the city and its ability to do things. I think they need to work with the community more, and this is a good first step, but it's a stepping stone that's going to take us down that path. I think there's more stones to step on."
Gary Kaschak, ward 8 city councillor and chair of the Roseland Golf and Curling Club Board, says this is an important decision for council to make.
"Some people like it and some people like the idea of potentially moving it to a city rink as a standalone curling facility. But, there's many passionate people who'd like to keep it here as well. And that's something that we're going to consider at city council, there's a costing involved, but there's also how we're going to do this big picture moving forward is really important. It's an important decision for the city."
The survey is available online until May 25.
The results from the survey and from the public information centre will be shared in an upcoming report to city council.