By Lyonel Doherty, Times Chronicle
The Oliver Curling Club will soon undergo renovations to make the facility more accessible to the handicapped.
Last weekend a “Give Our Club a Lift” bonspiel was held to raise funds for the project that will see an elevator and two accessible washrooms installed.
Cathy Pidduck, a member of the building committee, said the Club received a $100,000 government grant to build the extension, but additional money is needed to complete it.
Pidduck said a contractor and architect are working on the plan that will make the facility totally accessible for people in wheelchairs. She noted they offer curling to school children and have one youth from Okanagan Falls who relies on a wheelchair for mobility. She added the Club built a ramp to make the ice surface wheelchair accessible.
Pidduck said the elevator will help give people access to the area upstairs where curlers socialize. She noted this area will be revamped to accommodate groups and other rentals.
Pidduck said they hope to complete the first phase of the project in 2023.
She noted that curling is one sport that you can play all your life. Instead of kneeling down to deliver the rock, you can use a stick to deliver the stone to overcome mobility limitations, she pointed out.
The Club offers a stick league with shorter games and less sweeping, she said
“Our accessibility project will reduce barriers to participation in all our activities on and off the ice.”
The bonspiel raised approximately $3,500 on Nov. 19. Pidduck thanked local businesses that donated prizes for the silent auction.
Contributed photo
