The Fort Rouge Curling Club began an affiliation with the Manitoba Curling Association in 1915.
The Fort Rouge Curling Club opened the original five sheet building on December 10, 1919, on land provided by the WERCo (Winnipeg Electric Railway Company), near Osborne and Kylemore, at a cost of $14,000.
In 1924, The Fort Rouge Ladies Curling Club was one of eight clubs to form the Manitoba Ladies Association.
The club’s mens, womens, and junior teams enjoyed success throughout the early decades. This peaked in the 1950s when the Fort Rouge team, skipped by Bill Walsh, won the Brier in 1952 and 1956. Just weeks after the second brier win, the Winnipeg Transit Commission informed the club that the land on which their rink stood had been sold to Loblaws Groceteria Company.
In the late 50’s, this structure was demolished to make way for a Loblaws Grocery store that has since been converted to the Fort Rouge Leisure Centre and Sam Southern Arena.
The club played its 1958-59 season at the Granite Curling Club, and construction began the following spring on the new $130,000, six-sheet Fort Rouge Curling Club. It opened on December 5, 1959, with Premier Duff Roblin cutting the ribbon, and area councillor Charles Avery throwing the first rock.
The present six sheet building located at 750 Daly Street South between Morley and Kylemore is two blocks northwest of the original building..
In the 1972-73 season, a pizza oven was purchased with the hope of paying it off in a year or two. It took only a few months.The "ROUGE" as it is affectionately known to its' members and the curling community became famous for its pizzas, known amongst curlers to be "The Best in Town".
In 1976, a major project was undertaken in the ice area, with new pipes installed on a re-leveled Styrofoam base. A volunteer group did most of the work.
For the 1985-86 season, an addition to the basement and the two upper floors was completed at a cost of $186,000.
In the 1990’s, a series of refurbishment projects took place, the main one being the replacement of the ice barn roof at a cost of $110,000.
In 2004, our aging ice plant compressor was replaced to the tune of $30,000.
In the summer of 2005, the 35 year old ice plant condenser was replaced at a cost of $35,000.
In 2009, an Infrastructure Renewal project took place with the bar, lounge and 2nd floor washrooms being renovated.
2010 saw another Infrastructure Renewal project with improvements to the ice area, 2nd floor ceiling and lounge area. A new roof was also installed on the club house.
In 2011, the main floor was upgraded with new lighting & carpeting.
These projects would not have been completed without volunteer support, whether it was attaining government grants or assisting in the various work parties, all greatly appreciated by the Club.
Other projects are being contemplated at this time.
For the 2016-17 season,
· The Men's club consists of 84 teams curling in one night a week leagues.
· The Ladies club has 7 teams playing twice a week during the daytime.
· The Business Women's League has 24 teams, playing Tuesday nights.
· The Masters Curling league has 20 teams playing Monday mornings.
· 24 teams in the Friday Mixed League
· 24 teams in the Saturday Night Mixed League
· 12 teams in the Alternate Mixed League- Saturday nights
The Junior program currently has 12 teams curling on Saturday afternoons.
Other rental groups use approximately 60 sheets of ice a week making Fort Rouge Curling Club, one of the busiest clubs in the city.
Many leagues have been with us for over 40 years, namely:
· the Manitoba Telephone System (now Manitoba Telecom Services)
· Winnipeg Firefighters Curling Club
Others with 25 years include:
· Fort Rouge Legion
· Parks and Wrecks (recreation)
Newer leagues operating out of the Rouge include:
· Attorney General CC
· Manitoba Hydro
· Schoolmasters
· On the Rocks CC
· Rockwood
· MLCC
· Learn to Curl League
The Senior Mens' Recreational League (also known as the 65 Club) had teams playing afternoons three times a week, along with Bridge and Cribbage Leagues. They are now down to just the Bridge Club, which meets on Tuesdays.
The Fort Rouge also has had other renters/associations that have used the Club.
They are:
· Rosedale Curling League
· Misericordia Hospital
· Great West Life
· Simon Day
· Crocus Curling League
· IB Curling League
· Shriners Hospital League
· Manitoba Implement Dealers Association League
· Churchill, High School
· Grant Park High School
· Kelvin High School
· Sunday Sweepers
· Sunday Supper Club
· Sunrise
· Elks CC
· Earl Grey
These Leagues have either folded or gone to other curling clubs, but all have provided a positive contribution.
We thank all of our rental leagues for their support over the years because they are a big part of the reason for the strength and longevity of the Fort Rouge Curling Club.
