Why Windsor curlers are worried about their sport's future in the city

As the snow melts away, many golfers are getting excited to head out and tee off. 

But the same can't be said for Windsor-Essex curlers. They are worried that a popular facility in Windsor could be demolished, which leaves the fate of the sport in the city unclear.

Roseland is a city-owned property built in 1979 that includes both golf and curling facilities. A 2020 plan that was endorsed by the previous Roseland board suggested that the current building be demolished to make way for new golfing facilities. 

"We're worried about the future of the sport in our area," he said. "There's been rumours that we might end up curling in a surplus ice hockey arena and for a number of reasons that would not be great for the future of the sport."

In their petitiion, the curling committee requests that they be included in any planning that takes place in Windsor. 

Despite the reassurance of a consultation, which Kuntz hopes would include the curling community, there has not been a clarification yet. 

Coun. Gary Kaschak, the chair of Roseland, says that the Roseland board of directors has endeavoured to keep curlers aware of any changes. 

"[We] have been communicating and keeping the Curling Community leaders in the know over the past 18 to 24 months or more about the future of curling," Kaschak said. "The Roseland building is almost 50 years old and now an inefficient building ... [I] 100 per cent want to see curling remain in Windsor at a location which could possibly still be at Roseland or at a surplus city ice pad which would be converted to a dedicated curling rink."

But the possibility of moving curling locations in Windsor has enthusiasts like Kuntz concerned.

"In general the ice for curling is much different than the ice you