For Robbie Doherty, the Charlottetown Curling Club is not only home to the greatest sport on earth, but also a cornerstone of the community.
Doherty, a long-time member who took over as club manager in the summer, challenges anyone to name another sport with the same level of camaraderie and addictiveness.
"You know your opponent by first name, you get along with them, you laugh the whole time and when you get off there's a bar waiting for you. It's one of the greatest games on earth," he said. "If you go over to Europe, there's 20 thousand people watching darts. There's no reason why this curling club can't be filled up seven nights a week."
That's Doherty's mission for the club, which held an open house and kick-off party for the season on Saturday night.
The past couple of years haven't been completely celebratory for the club, which received a $25,000 one-time grant from the city last week to help pay off debt.
Doherty said while it was great to see the city support the club, it still has some financial challenges to face.
"We're not out of the woods yet, but that's why I'm here. To change the perception and direction of this place and bring some fun back," he said.
The efforts to revitalize the club have seen a strong response from the corporate community, he said.
It's also involved reaching out to more community groups, as well as promoting the club's space for functions such as weddings, banquets and other special events.
The club, which has been in Charlottetown since 1887, also hosted the Children's Wish Foundation Wishmaker Walk for Wishes on Saturday.
"We want to develop relationships with everyone in Charlottetown because we are a cornerstone in this community," he said. "We've been here since the 1800s and we plan on being here for the next 100 years."
Member Ken Fisher said he hopes to see the club continue for another 100 years.
Having previously curled in Montague before getting out of the sport, Fisher returned to the game in Charlottetown about 10 years ago.
He said one way of attracting more newcomers would be having a volunteer base to help teach the sport.
He has seen and experienced first-hand how the sport can be enjoyable, but also difficult when first learning.
"We had a work group all come and try it one night, they all liked it but it was so hard for them at first," he said. "I think the biggest thing is to have somebody out there to show them how to slide, once they know that they'll love the sport."
In fact, it was a program for returning and new curlers that renewed Fisher's own interest in the sport.
"It really taught me how to slide better, now I enjoy it twice as much."
Doherty said a new junior program this year called Rock Star curling will see some of P.E.I.'s top curlers help teach the sport to youngsters.
However, he also wants to see individuals of all ages give curling a shot and encouraged anyone interested in the sport to drop by the club.
"I'm here all the time and if they want to try curling, I'll take them out onto the ice myself," he said. "It's a great sport you can do from the ages of four-year-old to 100-years-old."
More information about the club can be found online at www.charlottetowncurlingclub.ca or through the Charlottetown Curling Complex Facebook page.
