Paris Curling Club rolls out the welcome mat during Olympic season

Graduates of the Paris Curling Club’s 2024 Learn to Curl program are pictured after completing the introductory course. The club is now offering Try Curling sessions this month to give new participants a first taste of the sport.

Casandra Turnbull

Managing Editor

With the Winter Olympics getting underway this weekend, Canadians can expect a lot more yelling and sliding granite on their television screens. As the only Olympic sport with games broadcast every day of the Games, curling is once again in the spotlight and clubs across the country are ready to use that momentum to welcome newcomers curious to try the sport for themselves. In Paris, the Paris Curling Club, located at 14 Oak Ave., is hosting a couple two-hour Try Curling sessions this month, with club members on hand to welcome newcomers and introduce them to the sport.

"Interest in curling always explodes during an Olympic year and this year at the Paris Curling Club, we decided we wanted to give people the chance to experience a little taste of what they are seeing on TV these next few weeks and to try it out for themselves,” said Ashley Heys, a local curler and member of the Paris Curling Club Board. 

The Try Curling classes are for adults 18+ who are either brand new to the sport or have only stepped on the ice once or twice before. With a team of experienced volunteer instructors to help safely teach the very basics in a supportive and fun environment, participants will learn how to safely navigate the ice, how to throw a rock and a bit of sweeping too. All participants need to pack is warm, athletic clothing, clean indoor running shoes and a desire to learn and have fun!  Heys said the sessions are a great way for participants to see if curling is for them before committing to the club’s full 6-week Learn to Curl program or before joining a league next Fall. 

“The Friday night Mixed League, Saturday Open league or our U5 (Under 5 years of experience) league are great ways for new curlers to play the sport while continuing to learn and develop their skills from more experienced curlers,” explained Heys. 

The Paris Curling Club strives to be "the friendliest house in town" and the club's end-of-year survey last year indicated that this is a huge reason why members continue to come back each year. What makes the atmosphere so friendly? Traditionally, curling games end with “broom-stacking,” a long-standing custom where teams sit together afterward to socialize. Paris curlers say that sense of community is just as important as the game itself.

The club also looks for ways to bring members together across all experience levels, from those new to the Learn to Curl program to curlers with decades on the ice, through regular league play and social bonspiels held throughout the season.

“It's always exciting to try and replicate the crazy shots you see the pros make on TV, but one of the best things about the sport, is that you will find yourself playing with and connecting with people from all sorts of backgrounds, with all sorts of experience that you likely never would have in your regular day-to-day,” said Heys. “I have been curling now for 7 years at the Paris Curling Club and I can truly say that I come for the curling, but stay for the friendships.”

Founded in 1843, the Paris Curling Club is one of the oldest curling clubs in Canada, with roots tracing back to Scottish settlers who first played the sport on local rivers and ponds. Over the decades, the club has weathered fires, relocations and rebuilding efforts, eventually settling into its current home in 1961. Today, the club continues that long tradition, offering leagues and programs that welcome curlers of all ages and experience levels while maintaining the sport’s strong sense of community.

Try Curling classes will be held from 3-5pm on February 8 and February 22. Registration is open now on the Paris Curling Club website and participants are welcome to register for both sessions if they wish! Any questions can be directed to info@pariscurlingclub.com.