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Muenster Curling Club receiving interior renovations

MUENSTER — The Muenster Curling Club has received funding for interior renovations that includes upgrading the air quality, heating and plumbing, as well as resizing the main lobby.
Muenster Curling Club With Kirk Muyres
The Muenster Curling Club has received funding for interior renovations that includes upgrading the air quality, heating and plumbing, as well as resizing the main lobby. In this file photo, Kirk Muyres, who used the facility often when he was growing up, gives a curling class to local youth. File photo

MUENSTER — The Muenster Curling Club has received funding for interior renovations that includes upgrading the air quality, heating and plumbing, as well as resizing the main lobby.

Currently, anyone entering or exiting the facility as well as going to the upstairs lounge has to enter the same sets of internal double doors.

Gord Kiefer, caretaker of the club, said the goal of the renovations is to improve the flow of traffic through the building as well as the air quality.

 “We’re removing some walls inside and changing our entrance and the flow from ice to lounge so there’s no bottlenecks,” Kiefer said.

“You won’t have to pass people going in and out if you want to go to the bathroom and the people in and out won’t have to bump into each other.”

He said while it wasn’t the main goal of the renovations wasn't to save electricity, it’s expected to be one of additions with changing their air system.

“With the air quality half our building was on electric heat which does not lend to good air quality plus it’s expensive,” Kiefer said. “So it works out great for us that we will be able to put a forced air system through the whole building with a HVAC system for bringing in fresh air.”

For the HVAC system, two furnaces will be installed.

“All the electric will be gone, which will save us a pile as well as improve the air quality.”

Jan Sylevestre, Muenster’s administrator, said the new upgrades will not only lower the risk of transmissions, but also updates the facility to allow for a longer lifespan.

“Our curling club is very active and it just increases the vibrancy of our community immensely,” Sylvestre said.

“The curling club having an interior renovation would allow people less stress in their pursuits of going out and curling, it will just put them more at ease to allow them to go out and do these activities and participate in physical activities without being as concerned about contracting or having the possibility of contracting COVID.”

The funds for the renovations are being received through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The federal government will be investing $42,424 and the province is covering $35,350.

The Muenster Curling Club will be responsible for covering $28,287.

Kiefer said money comes from member fees and donations from groups such as the Muenster Elks.

“We do have the money in the bank. We’ve been fortunate that the last ten years our club has done quite well, largely because of good management through the years,” he said.

“All our work and everything is done with volunteers so we did a great job at keeping costs down and we’ve managed to save money the last dozen years.”

Other features of the renovations include plumbing, removing interior walls, and repairing flooring and ceiling finishing.

Work is expected to be completed during spring 2022.

“We wouldn’t have even considered this without tremendous support from not just Muenster, but the surrounding area. Our club really has been supported well and really is thriving as a curling club, as a place to rent.”