Curling club kicks off its 175th anniversary season on Sept. 26

FERGUS - The curling club here begins its 175th anniver­sary celebration with a com­munity fun spiel Sept. 26.

Years after the first stones were thrown down a frozen road in front of a Fergus tavern, 16 teams will take to the ice for a day of curling and celebra­tion, in­clud­ing two six-end games, lunch at the club, and an evening ban­quet and dance at the Fergus Legion Hall.

Each team will register three players, allowing room for a surprise “rock star” to join as a guest curler. Expect a few surprises as well when curling poster boy Guy Hemmings, a Brier finalist from Quebec, joins the festivities as the after-dinner speaker.

The first bonspiel draw starts at 9am, followed by the second one at 11am, with lunch by Frab­erts. Dinner at the Fer­gus Leg­ion Hall begins at 7pm, with the Back Roads Band for the dance at 9pm. Throughout the day, door prizes and draws will be offered.

Curlers and non-curlers are welcome to register for the spiel (at the Fergus Curling Club) and purchase tickets for the banquet and dance by contacting organizer Cheryl Ben­nett at cbennett@­gmch.­fergus.net or 519-843-7118.  Or register and pay from the Fergus Curling Club’s website at www.ferguscurling.ca.

Future special events planned:

- A Week of Bonspiels slated for Feb. 6 to 13;

- 175th anniversary gala at the Fergus Sports Complex, Jan. 16;

- anniversary pins; and

- The Fergus Curling Club Celebrates 175 Years, an illus­trated book celebrating the club’s past, present and future.

For more information, contact Bill Rowe, at 519-843-1482,  or email bc_rowe­@­sym­patico.­ca.