To our members:
As stated in our previous communication we regrettably have had to close the rink for the remainder of the 2020-2021 season. While we wish we could have been able to go the full distance this year, it just proved unrealistic from both a safety and a financial perspective. Our goal, since the day we started planning this season, was to curl as much and for as long as we could, and we did just that. Unfortunately, that time ended up being a lot shorter than we would have hoped. Since opening in October, we have made every effort to try and be as safe and financially prudent as possible to ensure the Highland lives to fight another day.
As promised, we have spent time at length discussing options regarding refunds for this season. After taking into consideration the amount of time the plant was operational and the associated costs that come with that, as well as the number of games played, we have decided to offer a refund of 65% of the annual fees. This will not include the Capital Improvement Fee, CurlSask Affiliation Fee and the Covid-19 Fee. The refund will be issued in the form of a cheque and would be ready by March 15th.
Thankfully, the club has worked hard over the years to build up some cash reserves and will be able to withstand this financial storm. We will come back in the fall, or whenever we are able to curl again, stronger than ever. That said this will have a VERY SIGNIFICANT impact on our financial position--40 years of building torn down in a single year. So, for those who are able to consider DONATING ALL OR PART OF THEIR REFUND to the club we would gratefully and humbly accept that support. We are also undertaking some significant fundraising projects to get our club back on the solid financial ground where we all prefer it. Please respond to this email if that is something you might consider.
We appreciate our membership and understand they are the only reason we are able to do what we do year in and year out. Over the Highland's many years of operating we have experienced highs and lows but this year will certainly be one we wish we could forget. The support we received from our members this year, both financial and emotional, was imperative for us to keep our heads up long enough to get as far as we did. We are forever grateful for having the best members!
We look forward to next year and know that when we pull together, we will make it through anything!
AJ Scott – General Manager
Kevin Fetsch - President
To our members:
Regrettably this message is to announce that effective immediately the Highland will be closed until the fall 2021 season. The latest health restriction extension put in place by the government has forced us to be financially responsible and make the difficult decision to cease operations for the remainder of this season. The rink did everything possible to try and make it through until the end of this season and unfortunately, we weren’t able to do so. We are going to use this opportunity to regroup and prepare to come back even stronger for next season. The rink is in the middle of putting together our refund structure that will be fair to both the club and the members. We will be reaching out over the next few days with our plan. We want to say thank you to each and every-one of you for struggling through this season with us, for having our backs when the times were tough. As always, we appreciate our members above anything else!
AJ Scott – GM
Kevin Fetsch - President
To our members:
As stated in the new Saskatchewan Covid-19 guidelines, curling is not eligible to resume play until January 15th. As always, we will monitor new restrictions to see if anything will affect us returning on that date. In the mean-time please keep an eye on your emails for a survey coming out. Please answer this survey to the best of your knowledge as it will aid us in our plan when we are able to resume play.
Thank you and stay safe,
AJ Scott – General Manager
To our members:
This certainly has been a year with far too many messages of sadness being conveyed. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our membership once again. I can truly say, without a shred of doubt, that we have the most modest, understanding and supportive membership in the world. Our membership is loyal, they expect effort not perfection. They understand that the Highland is a family first and a business second. This year has been one that I’m sure most will want to forget quickly. However, I want to remember this year forever, I want to remember the hundreds of supportive messages, the countless offers of help and the overall heartbeat of this club in times of adversity.
Last week when we received our notice from SHA that we would be deemed an “outbreak site” it was another obstacle that we needed to adapt to. We asked SHA what our next steps should be, to which they responded that they would handle things on their end and that they simply wanted us to be made aware. After validating facts and board consultation, the Highland decided to denounce the SHA’s recommendation of standing pat regarding communication to our membership. Upon further consultation the board then made the decision to pause the season prior to the province increasing restrictions.
Since that time the Highland board has had some time to assess the situation as a whole and determined that from a logistical standpoint we will remain closed until January 4th, allowing extra time for the current Covid19 situation in Saskatchewan to hopefully regress to a more comfortable state.
During this period, we are going to be tightening up on our safety protocols where we can, to add as much peace of mind in the way we operate as possible.
We came into this season knowing things would be far from easy but we are nowhere near ready to give up.
Stay safe and we’ll see everyone January 4th!
AJ Scott – General Manager
Kevin Fetsch – President
Congratulations to Team Schmeichel for winnining the masters portion of the Assante Masters and Seniors Event this past weekend. Earning themselves a spot to the Masters provincials, along with Team Weppler who earned the seocnd berth. And a HUGE congratulations to Team Arguin on their come from behind voctory over the power house Sherry Anderson team!
To our members:
This message is to inform you that on Sunday October 4th between the hours of 12:45 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. we had a member in the rink who has since tested positive for Covid-19.
We received a call from SHA in the afternoon on October 10th which lead to us immediately shutting down the Saskatchewan Women’s Curling Tour event we were hosting at the time. Since that time, we have performed a thorough sanitizing of every area of the rink.
We have informed everyone who was in the rink at the same as that individual and have asked them to self-monitor and to contact SHA is they feel they are developing symptoms.
We are proud and confident in the effectiveness and execution of the shutdown of the event this weekend. And with that comes the confidence to reopen effective Tuesday October 13th for business as usual.
Just a reminder about how imperative it is that we are ALL following the Highlands return to play guidelines to ensure incidents like this do not become frequent occurrence. Wearing a mask in the lobby will now be mandatory as well as when on the back boards in the ice area, practicing social distancing at all times, sanitizing rocks before and after draws, sanitizing score boards and cards if you choose to use them, following the new on ice distancing rules, as well as using hand sanitizer as often as possible.
Our number one priority is keeping our members safe and we will continue to do so at all costs. We appreciate the positivity we have been shown from everyone so far and hope it continues through these difficult times.
President Kevin Fetsch and GM AJ Scott
Here is a great video that shows the proper player positioning on the ice for this season!!
On Ice Traffic Flow Run Through
Message to Highland Members
Since 1954, the Highland Curling Club has provided a venue and an opportunity for friends to congregate and enjoy some good curling, get some exercise, and, most importantly, have some fun and fellowship during cold Saskatchewan winters. Suffice it to say, 2020 has been a challenging year to say the least. Since the board made the decision to close the club back in March it has been a game of “wait and see” for the upcoming curling season.
I am proud to say that after a number of meetings with Curl Regina, the Callie Board and some direction from Curling Canada and CurlSask that we are prepared to go forward with the 2020-2021 season. Thanks to our manager AJ Scott who has worked hard to develop a “Highland Specific” document that will hopefully explain some of the changes that will be necessary as we open the rink in a few weeks. We have attached that document here that will hopefully give you some comfort and confidence to return to curl at the Highland. Of course, it will be a work in progress and I am sure there will be many things we will learn and may have to adapt as we get into curling. That said, the board is committed to creating an environment that is safe and welcoming for everyone.
Along with the changes in protocol, the events of the last several months have also resulted in a fairly significant operating deficit. While the Highland was in strong financial shape and has been able to withstand a significant loss in revenue, we have ultimately decided that to protect our financial position we need to implement a “COVID Fee” of $20/curler. This will be implemented in both city clubs and will be pro-rated if you only play a portion of the year.
As president, and as a longtime member of the club I hope that you understand that some of these changes may seem inconvenient in the short-term but were implemented with much consideration. I hope that everyone will treat our staff and your fellow curlers with respect and ask that you adhere to the guidelines as requested. We want everyone to feel safe, welcome and respected at our club keeping with our long-term mandate which has always been “the small-town club in the big city”. I also hope you will continue supporting the Highland as we work through these challenges—I know we have the best members in the country and plan on operating will into the future.
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out to AJ or myself directly…or feel free to join us at our AGM on Monday, Sept 21 at 7pm in the Highland Lounge.
Yours in Curling,
Derek Boe, President
Highland Curling Club
