MADAWASKA – In the village of Madawaska there is a group of dedicated curlers. So dedicated they started playing in June. Every Thursday evening they meet at the Madawaska Community Centre.
Rather than curl on a sheet of ice, they unroll an iceless curling sheet on the floor of the community centre.
The idea was pitched to the Madawaska Recreation Committee by Ian Collins in June 2019. He has been learning to curl on ice over the past four years at the Killaloe Curling Club.
South Algonquin Township Councillor Sandra Collins said the attraction of iceless curling is that it can include people of all ages.
“There is no ice to be concerned about,” Sandra Collins said.
She said it is important to provide opportunities to adults for recreation, a little fitness and social time.
The iceless curling mat is somewhat shorter and narrower than an ice sheet, the one in Madawaska being 36 feet by five feet.
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