Drumheller Curling Club is hanging up its brooms and has dissolved following the demolition of the Drumheller Curling Centre in 2024 and unable to raise the funds required to build a new facility.
It was announced in March 2022 that the Town of Drumheller would not be renewing the club’s lease beyond June 30, 2022 due to significant repairs needed on the aging facility.
Following this announcement, a meeting was held between the club’s executive and members, representatives from the Town of Drumheller and Curling Alberta, as well as members of the public. The Town agreed to complete some minor repairs to extend the life of the curling rink and extend the club’s lease until the end of June 2024.
With a new deadline in place, the club looked at the possibility of a new facility using a high performance tensioned membrane structure, commonly used for curling rinks, called a “sprung structure” in 2023. This was estimated to cost approximately $3 million, and the club continued its ongoing fundraising efforts to make the possibility of a new facility a reality.
A proposed location for the new facility, not far from the original rink, was even included in berm designs for the Centennial Park area in February 2023.
However, the club hit a rough patch when a leak was discovered in the roof of the curling rink which prompted air quality concerns, and the decision was made to cancel the 2023-2024 curling season.
In April 2024, the Town awarded the contract for demolition of the facility to Roadbridge Services with a complete project budget of $500,000. During demolition of the building it was revealed that there was soil contamination, resulting in the need for asbestos abatement and mould remediation, along with extensive environmental testing.
The Mail reached out to Drumheller Curling Club President Debra Walker for comment regarding the dissolution of the club; however, she declined to comment.

It has been 17 years since the sounds of the gates crashing open, and hooves pounding the ground for eight seconds until the horn blast, have been heard at the Drumheller and District AG Society, but this summer rodeo is back.
The Drumheller and Morrin Lions have partnered with the Ag Society and will be hosting Dino Days Stampede on June 20- 21. This is a full slate evening rodeo that includes bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, junior bull riding, all the roping events and barrel racing.
Rodeo performances are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, with slack on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Al Bouchard, president of Rugged Rodeo is producing the show.
“It looks like it is going to be a good event, it’s going the right way,” said Bouchard.
This is an open Rodeo, and Rugged Rodeo does about six events a year. They have been growing and returning to many areas like Drumheller that once had rodeos. COVID took a toll on events, but Bouchard said they are slowly regrowing the sport.
“We’re trying to add three new events a year,” he explains. “I used to come to Drumheller when it was a pro rodeo and compete, and it was a really good event. I could never figure out why it came to an end. Drumheller is a rodeo town.”
He says the organizers are working hard to make preparations for the event build sponsorship and set up volunteers.
“It’s a lot of work. The Drumheller Lions Club, Morrin Lions Club and the Ag Society, there are a lot of people working on this thing to make it happen. It is a lot of people wanting to do something good for the community,” said Bouchard.
The funds raised by the rodeo will go back to the community.
President of the Drumheller Lions Kat Mundell says she is feeling enthusiasm as the word spreads. Right now they have just begun its sponsorship drive and will also be looking for volunteers to help with the event. There will also be a lot of work to get the venue in shape.
For more information or to learn about sponsorship opportunities contact 403-823-8543 or email drumhellerlionsrodeo@gmail.com.