History of
the Rouge |
| The Fort Rouge Curling Club began affiliation with the
Manitoba Curling Association in 1915. In 1919 the original five sheet building
was built on Winnipeg Electric Railway land at the corner of Kylemore and
Osborne at a cost of $14,000. This structure was torn down to make way for a
Loblaws Grocery store that has now been converted to the Fort Rouge Leisure
Centre and an arena. |
 |
| In 1924, the Fort Rouge Ladies Curling Club was one of the eight clubs to
form the Manitoba Ladies Association. The present six sheet building located at
750 Daly Street between Morley and Kylemore is two blocks northwest of the original building and was in
operation for the fall of 1959. It was built at a cost of $110,000 with lots of
volunteer labour. An addition to this structure was completed in 1986 at a cost
of $186,000. A new insulated roof was put over the ice barn in 1997. |
|
 |
|
| The "ROUGE" as it is affectionately known to its' members enjoys
an excellent reputation throughout the curling community and is particularly
famous for its' pizzas, known among curlers to be "The Best in Town". |
|
| The Fort Rouge Curling Club is now one of the busiest clubs in the city. The
Men's club consists of 60 teams curling in the one night a week leagues. |
|
| The Ladies club has 8 teams playing twice a week during the daytime. The
Business Women's League has expanded to 24 teams, playing Tuesday nights and
the Senior 65'ers also have 15 teams playing three times a week in the
afternoons. The Junior program has 10 teams in the boys section and 8 teams in
the Girl's. |
|
| Other rental groups use approximately 100 sheets of ice a week. Many leagues
have been with us for 40 years, namely the Manitoba Telephone System (now
Manitoba Telecom Services) and the Winnipeg Firefighters Curling Club. Others
with 25 years include: Fort Rouge Legion, Parks and Wrecks (recreation) Curling
Club, Sunrise, Earl Grey, Fort Rouge Seniors and Elks Curling Club. New leagues operating out of the Rouge include: Attorney General Curling
Club, Sunday Sweepers and Manitoba Hydro. |
|
| The Fort Rouge also has other renters/associations that have used the club. A few leagues such
as the Rosedale Curling League, Misericordia Hospital, Great West Life, Simon
Day, Crocus Curling League, the IB Curling League, Shriners Hospital League,
Manitoba Implement Dealers Association League and the Grant Park and Kelvin
High School Leagues have either folded or gone to other curling clubs, but all
have provided a positive contribution to curling at the Rouge. |
|
| We thank all of our rental leagues for their support over the years because
they are part of the reason for the strength and longevity of the Fort Rouge
Curling Club. |
