Club History

In late 1950, the Civic Centre Association of Prince Rupert appointed an Arena Committee to investigate the possibility of an arena for skating and curling. When the committee's suggestions were turned down, the Prince Rupert Curling Club was formed on its own with seven members on January 16, 1951. The club then sold memberships to raise money for a rink. Members of that early enthusiastic group were Lindsay Eby, Barney Eyolfson, Jack Laurie, Angus McDonald, Bill McKenzie, Neely Moore, and Mel Matthews. They acquired an R.C.A.F. Mess Hall at Seal Cove with a brine pipe from the B.C. Packers plant nearby. On February 6, 1952, the rink opened its doors to the public for the first time, but only as a skating rink. Then on February 18 it was officially opened as a curling rink. From March 21-24, 1952, the first Marine Bonspiel was held. A new six-sheet rink was built in 1956, opened for business on January 19, 1957, and was extensively rebuilt in 1973