We can open again January 31^st

Hello again everyone. It is starting to look like we are through the worst. Here’s hoping we have seen our last shut down. This update is important!

We are cleared to start up again on Monday January 31^st with all of our regular and tag curling leagues.

Timing and Schedules

The website has updated schedules for all leagues. Throw out anything you already have on paper and rely on the website from this point forward. Session 2 will continue for 4 weeks from January 31-February 25 and session 3 will run 7 weeks from February 28-April 14. We will have a closing bonspiel after that through the end of April.

Skips please contact your team members to be sure they know about the new schedules and if you can’t get on the website please call your skip to find out when your team plays.

Most leagues are simply picking up where they left off in the old session 2 schedule. The exception is the Monday night league where the games missed have been added to the end of the existing schedule and that league now runs 4 weeks later than originally anticipated.

Session 3

Presently we have almost 50 people who are playing in session 2 that are not scheduled to play in session 3. This is a higher drop off than normal. Please go to the website by February 7^th to make sure your intentions for session 3 are properly recorded. We recognize that peoples’ plans in September and plans now may have changed. Some leagues have very low attendance next session and we may be forced to change or cancel leagues in session 3.

Health and safety

It’s a new world now in terms of keeping safe. We know we all were double vaccinated and even before the shutdown almost all of us were boosted. Despite that we are all aware that COVID has been all around us over the past month and most families have experienced some COVID issues with most people having relatively minor symptoms.

The onus is on us all now to keep the club environment safe. We are asking in very strong terms that on any given day if you are not 100% certain you or people you have been in close contact with over the past couple of days are healthy ---stay home! We will adjust the teams as required to get by without you.

We will not have a regular testing program at the club but suggest that you purchase an antigen kit to have handy should the situation present itself where you or your family members need to be sure of your health before you venture into the community. Kits of 2 tests are available from the local pharmacies for $40 and similar kits are available online also.

On ice and in lounge protocols will remain the same as they were prior to this shut down.

Entrance protocols

The Health Unit is insisting that your vaccination QR code must be scanned EVERY time you enter the building. One could be forgiven for questioning the utility of this since we are all regular members and our status is known but such is the law and we have been asked to rigidly enforce it. I suspect almost everyone has this code already but if not it can downloaded and/or printed from the provincial COVID portal.

That’s a lot to take in but we are getting ready to go. Should you have any questions please contact either myself, Wanda Stephen or Sue Mason. One of us should be able to help you or point you in the right direction.

Here we go again! The latest series of Provincial restrictions have closed all community indoor sports and recreational facilities for three weeks.

There is no doubt however, this closure is different. Unlike past closures it seems like many people are sick all around us although most are experiencing symptoms similar to a bad cold. We can only hope this situation abates quickly.

Where we go from here is unclear to say the least. The Provincial government tells us that it is hospital visits now that matter not case counts (which cannot be measured effectively anymore) and the Federal government is promising many more rapid tests in the near future. The Health Unit has not really said anything lately. All we can do now is be prepared, keep our options open and act appropriately when the time comes.

We are planning on reopening Jan 26^th or Jan 27^th (depending on precisely when we are allowed to do so) with appropriate protocols in place.

We will deal with sessional matters and timing etc in future updates when the path is a little clearer. We will likely extend the season to the end of April and we will do our best to accommodate the needs of those who wish to travel and of those who now are not travelling. If we can we will make it work for you.

We will keep you informed as usual. Please don’t take unnecessary risks and stay as safe as you can.

Kent

Curling Update

So Now What Do We Do?

Hello again everyone! I hope that your Christmas was enjoyable and safe.

I suspect you are fully aware that it has been a chaotic two weeks since our decision to close early for the break. During that time the quantified daily COVID cases count has increased from 1k -13k and we have had four southern Ontario curling clubs forced to close with outbreaks (one with as many as 40 curlers affected). Furthermore, the demand for COVID tests went through the roof and supply dried up as the case count mounted and Christmas drew close.

Clearly things are changing extremely quickly and the risk of contracting this virus is significant even for those who are vaccinated and boosted.

Your Board pledged to keep you as safe as possible and with that in mind we will remain closed next week and will re-evaluate the situation weekly. We need to have things cool down and ensure a viable plan is in place to make sure we are all safe when we resume and can stay that way.

We expect that Provincial and Health Unit protocols will change again over the next few days as the full COVID aftermath of the break becomes known and the authorities come back to work.

Suffice it to say we are all over it and want to get you back ASAP.

On behalf of the Board allow me to wish you all a Happy New Year and please stay safe and don’t take risks over the remainder of the holiday season.

Kent

Important Update!

Extended Christmas Break

I need to take this opportunity to update you on the latest COVID developments as they relate to the curling club.

During the past week things have escalated very quickly as the Federal and Provincial governments plus the Health Units have attempted to combat the Omicron Covid variant. The astonishing speed of transmission of this variant has resulted in a rapid series of somewhat chaotic and confusing directives and guidelines.

So where does that put us?

Throughout the entire pandemic we have pledged to keep you all as safe as possible at all times and this will not change. As it stands today we believe that legally we could continue to curl at 50% capacity if we choose to adjust a few protocols and split some draws down to 2 sheets.

The larger issue facing the Board is that we have 3 factors working against us over the next few weeks. The rate of transmission, the fact that fully vaccinated people are still at risk of infection and the probability that each of our personal contacts is likely to increase from now through the end of the holiday season means that we have a diminished ability to make sure you are safe.

It was a difficult and not unanimous decision but your Board has passed a motion to suspend operation of the club next week and through the Christmas break. This means we are losing 4 days of curling. We will look at extending the session and the season if we can.

We plan to re-open January 3^rd (if we can legally) with a revised set of protocols relevant at that time which include asking all curlers to take a rapid test (and obtain a negative result) immediately prior to your first game back after the break. Presently the club is attempting to procure these tests but we are not sure if this is possible now given the developments and demand over the past 48 hours. It may be necessary for individuals to obtain their own test kits. We will advise you further on this as we know more.

I know this is an inconvenience and frustrating but hopefully it’s just one more obstacle we will overcome. Your support throughout this entire pandemic has been phenomenal.

On behalf of the Board I wish you all a Happy and safe Christmas and New Year!

Kent

TODAY'S GAMES

Our county is large and weather conditions vary by lake. We do our best to make a decision to play or not that will apply to as many peope as possible. If bad weather is expected, please check here or on Facebook by 7am for day leagues and by 4pm for evening leagues, for possible cancellations. Daytime cancellations don't necessarily affect evening play, and vice versa.  

Curling starts October 4, 2021.

Haliburton Curling Club will be following Provincial Step 3 reopening guidelines. All members and guests must be fully vaccinated and will be required to show proof of vaccination. Masks must be worn at all times in the facility unless on the ice curling or seated in the lounge. Social distancing must be practiced at all times. As bar and restaurants are permitted to open for food and beverage services under Stage 3 reopening we will be offering these services following the Health Unit protocols with limited capacity in effect. For a full list of protocols please visit the link on the member’s page.