The downtown business improvement district is looking for a new home for CrokiCurl.
Last year Prince Albert Downtown Business Improvement District (PADBID) received a grant to buy a game of CrokiCurl for the city. The game is a combination of crokinole and curling. It’s essentially crokinole on ice using modified curling rocks.
Last year, the game proved popular when it was set up downtown in Memorial Square. But this year, that might not be an option.
PADBID executive director Carolyn Carleton explained that there used to be two organizations — PADBID and Main Street Events. After a recent strategic planning session, the two entities were combined into one. With Carleton as the only staff member, she’s not able to do the work that’s required to run and maintain crokicurl this winter.
“Just the way everything worked out with timing, it’s too tight for us to try to put something together.”
Part of that is because to put the game up in Memorial Square, PADBID would need the permission of City Council, which takes time.
“We still want CrokiCurl to happen,” Carleton said.
“Let’s see if somebody else would be interested. It was something we talked about last year too after we did CrokiCurl in Memorial Square.”
The game has been designed and built and is ready to be put up. All you need is a little bit of water.
“It was quite difficult last year trying to get water brought in to keep flooding it because there isn’t that resource there,” Carleton said.
The fire department lent a hand. But having better access to water would make it easier.
“A place that might work well would be a community hall,” Carleton said.
“Most of them already have outdoor rinks, so they have the equipment needed to run something like this.”
Carleton said that last year’s CrokiCurl rink was popular with groups, families and individuals.
“It’s something we can build on in other (parts of the community),” she said.
“It’s been a neat process. Every other year we could have it in another location.”
The setup for the game itself came out of plans from an engineering firm in Winnipeg. It was then fabricated with a local welding company.
“it is a very good sturdy structure. We received a grant from Northern Lights Community Development Corporation,” Carleton said.
It does require a bit of work to maintain, to keep clear of snow and to store and lend out the rocks, Carleton said.
“I took care of it for the six weeks it was up last year,” she said.
“I shovelled it off, booked all of the groups, met all of the groups, put the rocks out every day, put them back every day. It is a lot to maintain and work through.”
That’s why, she said, a community club would be the perfect fit to take it on.
“They already have people that are monitoring things, so if we could have it someplace where there’s some type of management, that would be a fantastic fit. It’s definitely something that families enjoyed last year.”
Anyone who wants to learn more or inquire about hosting CrokiCurl this year is encouraged to call 306-763-1802. They are required to have a minimum 60’ by 60’ flat land surface, be available to set up the structure and have access to water for flooding and regular maintenance. They also need daily maintenance, security and organization for daily use and group bookings or tournament, as well as event insurance. Ice paint and other materials may also need to be purchased, which could cost about $1,000.
