The annual New Holland Prairieland Curling Camp is an opportunity for youth across Saskatchewan to come together and develop their curling skills over the summer. (Facebook/CURLSASK)

By Martin Martinson

Curling Camp Cancellation

CURLSASK Curling Camp cancelled this summer

Jul 10, 2020 | 2:00 PM

The Twin Rivers Curling Club and CURLSASK announced Friday, the cancellation of the 2020 New Holland Prairieland Curling Camp.

Manager of the Curling Club, Doug Flasch said the decision was not made lightly, but at the end of the day, seemed like the right call.

“We were on a call with CURLSASK yesterday and they kind of made the call,” he said. “Between the CURLSASK people and our directors, we decided it was better to err on the side of caution than to continue going ahead with it.”

The camp, which was slated to run back-to-back weeks from Aug 5 to 8 and 9 to 12, is an annual event for youth ages 13 to 18. Generally just under 100 kids attend the event per week, from all over Saskatchewan and into Alberta.

Previously held in other locations throughout the province, this summer would have marked the second of what will be five years the camp will be held in North Battleford.

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While it’s never an ideal situation to cancel a camp designed for the next generation of curlers in the province, Flasch said the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic made for a unique concern.

In a recent survey by CURLSASK, several parents and guardians who had registered their child had expressed some uneasiness about going ahead during this time; with some saying they would likely have had to cancel anyways had the camp been held.

Flasch said while nothing is set in stone yet, and it is still very much speculation at this point, there does remain the potential to hold the camp early next spring. However, that would rely on how concerns surrounding the pandemic have improved by that point.

“We discussed maybe leaving our ice in [following the fall season],” he said. “Our ice usually gets taken out at the end of March, but possibly leaving it in until the end of April, or at least through the Easter Break (2021) and then they could hold it then if that works.”

Regardless of whether this year’s camp can be held early in the new year, it will not affect the regularly scheduled camp next summer or moving forward. Flasch also added whenever the next camp is, it remains something the curling community in the Battlefords are already looking forward to.

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Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: MartyMartyPxP1