‘The place where you met people’: Organizers speak of good times, socializing as Fort St. John Curling Club celebrates 80 years

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Preparations are well underway as the Fort St. John Curling Club celebrates a milestone this fall.

The club will celebrate its 80th anniversary in September, complete with a dinner and dance, along with appearances from former members who began their journey in the sport on the club’s sheets of ice.

Planning committee members Connie Richter and Gail Weber are hard at work for the festivities on Saturday, September 26th, at the club on 9504 96th Street.

Both ladies have family ties to the club’s founding in 1946 and told Energeticcity.ca the curling club was home to more than just action upon the ice sheets.

“My in-laws were founding members,” said Weber, who moved from Vancouver. “When I moved here 60 years ago, like a lot of people that moved to a strange town, this is the place where I met people.”

“This is the place where we had a social life. We got to know other people and became involved in the community.”

Richter’s mother was on the founding board, and “was at the curling rink a lot” growing up.

“It’s the place where you met people,” said Richter. “We are on our third curling club in Fort St. John. It’s been fantastic.”

According to the Fort St. John Curling Club’s website, it was founded in 1946, with a building commissioned and completed in 1947, consisting of three sheets to play.

After 13 years, the club moved to a building on its current site at 9504 96th Street, complete with six sheets for gameplay. 

A fire destroyed that building in the summer of 1978. However, the volunteer executive worked to ensure a new facility was constructed, and it opened in December 1979.

Currently, the facility has room for eight sheets, although half the ice surface has been leased to play indoor soccer. It also has banquet space and a bar.

Throughout the years, the club has housed several players who have gone on to national and international play.

Graduates of the club include Sterling Middleton, who has played the sport’s national men’s championship, the Montana’s Brier; Ina Forrest, a three-time wheelchair curling world champion and recent gold medal winner in the team competition at the 2026 Paralympics; and Heather Nedohin, a two-time winner at the women’s national championship, the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

The 80th anniversary, scheduled for the fall, will include cocktails, dinner, and music by the Sweetwater Band. 

Tickets must be purchased by Thursday, September 10th and are $50. They can be purchased at the club, located at 9504 96th Street in Fort St. John.

For more information, contact Richter at connie7@telus.net, Weber at gmweber@shaw.ca or contact the club by phone at 250-785-2037.