The Ottawa Curling Club

What The Ottawa Curling Club does

The Ottawa Curling Club is a private member-owned curling club operating continuously since 1851 from a 4-to-5 sheet curling facility at 440 O'Connor Street in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Incorporated in 1929 as The Ottawa Curling Club, Limited under the Companies Act of Ontario, it is the oldest curling club in the Ottawa area by 37 years and one of the oldest in Canada. The club serves adult curlers across all skill levels, from beginners enrolled in its Adult Learn to Curl (ALTC) program to elite competitive players, and is the official home club of Team Homan — Olympic bronze medalists at the 2026 Winter Olympics, 3x World Champions, 5x Canadian Champions, 20x Grand Slam of Curling title holders, and currently ranked #1 in the world.

The club's core offering centers on eight regular weekly leagues (Monday Ladder, Tuesday Ladies, Wednesday Cash, Thursday Men, Friday Mixed, Saturday Open, Sunday Colts/U5, plus Daytime, Sunday University, and Teachers and Friends), running seasonally from October to early April, and is supplemented by annual bonspiels including the Currier Cup (established 1861, the longest annual sports trophy competition in North America), the Ottawa-Rideau Challenge, the Roy Blair Bonspiel, and the Gordie Perry Bonspiel. Technology is limited to the club website powered by CurlingClubManager.com — a third-party club-management SaaS handling online account requests, membership registration, league sign-ups, ice bookings, sparing lists, and free-agent listings — supplemented by Google Groups for league-specific bulk email from volunteer convenors. The physical facility includes a professional kitchen, full bar lounge, two banquet rooms accommodating 10 to 100 people, and a 29-space parking lot.

The Ottawa Curling Club's business model is diversified across six primary revenue streams: annual membership fees (Category 1 full-playing, Category 2 pay-as-you-play, Category 3 spare/practice, and Social Participant tiers, with student discounts and installment plans); transaction-based ice rental of 1–5 sheets for corporate team-building and social events; banquet facility rental with catering; summer parking rental (June–August); bar and kitchen sales; and bonspiel event participation fees. The club operates with minimal paid marketing, relying on word-of-mouth, member referrals, email newsletters, organic social media, the Adult Learn to Curl waitlist, and the reputational halo of Team Homan. Governance is provided by a volunteer Board of Directors — currently led by President Alexandra Birtwistle, the first all-women Executive Team in club history — with day-to-day operations managed by Club Manager Dalal Abou-Eid.

Name

The Ottawa Curling Club

Legal name

The Ottawa Curling Club, Limited

Website

https://ottawacurlingclub.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1851

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Ottawa Curling Club is a private member-owned curling club founded in 1851 in downtown Ottawa, operating a 5-sheet facility with 8 weekly leagues, beginner instruction, ice and banquet rentals, and the home club of Olympic bronze medalist Team Homan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Recreational Curling Services

NAICS

Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (713940), Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Ice Rinks & Winter Sports Facilities (MPAKAEAG)

Keywords

• Curling club membership
• Curling league programs
• Curling instruction services
• Ice rental services
• Event venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees with two primary categories: Category 1 (full-playing membership) and Category 2 (pay-as-you-play). Additional fees include Curling Canada and Curling Ontario association fees, and a Capital Expenditure Assessment (CEA). Students receive a 20% discount on qualifying fees. Category 3 (Fifth-Player/Spare/Practice) offers sparing privileges at lower cost. Early and deferred installment payment plans are available.
2. Ice Rental: The club rents 1 to 5 curling sheets to individuals and groups on a per-use or multi-visit basis. Rentals include equipment loan (brooms, stabilizers, sliding tape). Groups can also host team-building and social events on ice.
3. Banquet Facility Rental: Two banquet rooms accommodate 10 to 100 people year-round, with food and beverage service, air conditioning, and 240-amp service for live music. Revenue generated through room rental fees and catering.
4. Summer Parking Rental: Monthly parking spaces rented June through August to both members and non-members during the curling off-season.
5. Bar and Kitchen Sales: The club operates a professional kitchen with paid kitchen staff; all servers and bartenders are employed by the club. Bar and kitchen revenue is generated from events, leagues, rentals, and member gatherings. A credit card fee does not apply to bar and kitchen tabs.
6. Special Events (Bonspiels): Revenue from special bonspiel events including Roy Blair Bonspiel, Gordie Perry Bonspiel, Ottawa-Rideau Challenge, and Currier Cup. Roy Blair includes a team auction and banquet; Gordie Perry includes live entertainment and closing banquet. The club also sends representatives to Canadian Curling Club Championships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Ottawa Curling Club is a member-based curling facility operating 5 sheets of curling ice in downtown Ottawa. Its core offering centers on organized curling league play across 8+ weekly leagues (Monday Ladder, Tuesday Ladies, Wednesday Cash, Thursday Men, Friday Mixed, Saturday Open, Sunday Colts, Sunday University, Daytime), a structured Adult Learn to Curl (ALTC) instructional program, seasonal ice rentals (1-5 sheets) for groups and corporate team-building, banquet facility rentals (10-100 people) with food and beverage service, summer parking rentals, and annual bonspiels including the Currier Cup and Quebec Challenge Cup.

Product overview

The Ottawa Curling Club is a membership-based curling facility offering a unified suite of curling programs and services. The core offering centers on five sheets of ice for league play, instruction, and rentals, supported by the club's website for membership management and communications. The product portfolio includes: the Adult Learn to Curl Program (ALTC) providing structured beginner instruction; multiple weekly leagues (Monday Ladder, Tuesday Ladies, Wednesday Cash, Thursday Men, Friday Mixed, Saturday Open, Sunday Colts, Sunday University, and Daytime) catering to various skill levels; ice and banquet facility rentals for external events; summer parking rentals; and special bonspiel events including the historic Currier Cup and Ottawa-Rideau Challenge. The club also hosts the Teacher's League as a specialized program and is home to Team Homan, world champions who represent the club.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ottawa Curling Club Membership Program Annual memberships granting access to league play, sparing privileges, club facilities, social events, and representation under the Ottawa Curling Club banner. Includes Curling Canada and Curling Ontario association fees and Capital Expenditure Assessment (CEA). Student discounts (20%) and installment payment plans available.
• Curling Leagues Program Weekly curling leagues including Monday Ladder, Tuesday Ladies, Wednesday Cash, Thursday Men, Friday Mixed, Saturday Open, Sunday Colts/U5, Daytime, Sunday University, and Teachers and Friends, accommodating varied skill levels and formats.
• Adult Learn to Curl Program (ALTC) Structured instructional curling program offering Level 1 and Level 2 instruction for beginner curlers ages 16 and up, with certified instructors providing weekly coaching from October to April.
• Ice Rental Part-time curling sheet rentals available for 1 to 5 sheets, single or multiple visits, including equipment loan (brooms, stabilizers, sliding tape). Suitable for individuals, groups, corporate team-building, and social events.
• Banquet Facility Rental Event venue rental featuring two rooms accommodating 10 to 100 people year-round, with food and beverage service, air conditioning, and 240-amp electrical service for live music events.
• Summer Parking Rental Monthly parking space rentals available June through August for members and non-members during the curling off-season, drawn from a 29-space parking lot at the club.
• Special Bonspiel Events Annual curling competitions including the Currier Cup (oldest annual sports trophy competition in North America, Ottawa CC vs. Buckingham CC), Ottawa-Rideau Challenge, Roy Blair Bonspiel (with team auction and banquet), Gordie Perry Bonspiel (with live entertainment and closing banquet), and Quebec Challenge Cup (oldest competitive trophy in North America).
• Bar and Kitchen Service On-site professional kitchen and bar serving members, league participants, rental groups, banquet attendees, and bonspiel competitors. All servers and bartenders are employed by the club. No credit card fee applies to bar and kitchen tabs.
• Teacher's League (Ottawa Teachers and Friends Curling League) A long-standing rental league at the Ottawa Curling Club, open to teachers and non-teaching friends, curling on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings. Competes for 3 trophies (Sol Max, Clarence Sparling, Bob Berry/Norm Sliter). Has produced provincial champions in Ontario and B.C.
• Rainbow Rockers Curling League An LGBTQ2S+ friendly curling league operating as a rental league at the Ottawa Curling Club, one of Canada's largest of its kind and the club's largest rental league.
• Special Olympics Curling Program A weekly curling program hosted at the Ottawa Curling Club, serving Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities.
• National Blind and Vision Impaired Curling Championships Hosting Annual hosting of the National Blind and Vision Impaired Curling Championships at the Ottawa Curling Club's 5-sheet facility.

Quantifiable outcome

• Team Homan achieved a 67-7 record in the 2023-24 season, including seven wins in ten events and a 24-1 combined record at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Worlds, culminating in Canada's first world curling title since 2018.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• Anatomy Physiotherapy ClinicminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSheet 1 sponsor of the Ottawa Curling Club. Provides physiotherapy, massage therapy, and exercise rehabilitation services. Listed as a club sponsor on the Club Sponsors page.
• Moosehead BreweriesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSheet 2 sponsor of the Ottawa Curling Club. A major Canadian brewery supplying Moosehead Lager, Cracked Canoe, and Hop City Brewing Co. products to the club's bar operations.
• Flora Hall BrewingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSheet 3 sponsor of the Ottawa Curling Club. A neighbourhood gathering place and brewery offering beer and food. Listed as a club sponsor on the Club Sponsors page.
• Eric SangsterminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSheet 4 sponsor of the Ottawa Curling Club. Eric Sangster is a mortgage broker offering expert mortgage advice. Listed as a club sponsor on the Club Sponsors page.
• Dominion City Brewing Co.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSheet 5 sponsor of the Ottawa Curling Club. Supplies Bonspiel Brown Lager, Sunsplit IPA, and Town & Country Blonde Ale. Listed as a club sponsor on the Club Sponsors page.
• Curling CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ottawa Curling Club is affiliated with Curling Canada, the national governing body for curling. Members pay Curling Canada association fees. The club subscribes to Curling Canada's Rules of Curling for General Play and follows Curling Canada-sanctioned competition rules (Free Guard Zone, Five Rock Rule). The club participates in Canadian Curling Club Championship playdowns. CEO Nolan Thiessen attended the Team Homan celebration event.
• Curling Ontario (CurlON)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ottawa Curling Club is affiliated with Curling Ontario (CurlON). Members pay CurlON association fees. CurlON presented Team Homan with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The club participates in CurlON-organized playdowns for provincial championships. Chair Rick Thurston attended the Team Homan celebration.
• Ottawa Valley Curling Association (OVCA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Ottawa Curling Club is affiliated with the OVCA. OVCA is the regional governing body for curling clubs in the Ottawa Valley area. The club participates in OVCA-sanctioned competitions including the Quebec Challenge Cup. OVCA Chair Paul Hennessey attended the Team Homan celebration event.
• Team HomanflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeam Homan (Rachel Homan, Emma Miskew, Tracy Fleury, Sarah Wilkes) represents the Ottawa Curling Club as home team. Olympic bronze medalists (2026), 3x World Champions, 5x Canadian Champions, 20x Grand Slam winners, and #1 in the World. The club is the official Home of Team Homan and hosts their championship celebrations. Team Homan was awarded Lifetime Membership to the club. The club hosts Team Homan Olympic Journey Celebration 2026.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Granite Curling Club (Winnipeg): Premier Manitoba curling club with multiple sheets, competitive league programming, and a long competitive history. Comparable in scale, member-driven operations, and hosting of provincial/national bonspiels.
• Calgary Curling Club: Member-owned multi-sheet curling club in Calgary operating league play, learn-to-curl programs, ice rentals, and banquet/event space — operating model directly comparable to the Ottawa Curling Club across all revenue streams.
• Hamilton Victoria Park Curling Club: Long-standing member-owned curling club in Hamilton, Ontario operating multiple sheets, league play, instruction, and rentals — a structurally similar Ontario curling-club operator to the Ottawa Curling Club.
• Mayflower Curling Club: Long-established member-owned curling club in Toronto with multiple sheets, league programming, learn-to-curl, and rental operations. Closely comparable in operating model (member-owned, league-driven, multi-revenue) to the Ottawa Curling Club.
• Toronto Cricket Skating and Curling Club: Historic Toronto multi-sport private club with a curling section operating multiple sheets, banquet facilities, and a member-owned governance structure broadly comparable to the Ottawa Curling Club's hybrid sports/social model.
• Rideau Curling Club: The other major curling club in Ottawa, formed in 1888 by curlers who split from the Ottawa Curling Club over its temperance policy. Operates a multi-sheet facility directly competing for Ottawa-area league members, learn-to-curl participants, and corporate ice rentals.
• RCMP Curling Club: Ottawa-based curling club historically tied to RCMP members and the public; previously hosted the Teachers and Friends league before it moved to the Ottawa Curling Club. Direct competitor for league members and rental demand in the same Ottawa market.

Broad incumbents

• Granite Club (Toronto): Large premium multi-sport private club in Toronto offering curling among many other sports (tennis, squash, swimming, fitness). A broader incumbent whose curling programming overlaps with OCC's, but operates at substantially greater scale and scope.

Regional players

• Kelowna Curling Club: Member-owned curling club in the BC interior operating multi-sheet league play, rentals, and instruction. Comparable operating model but operates in a different geographic market from the Ottawa Curling Club.
• Banff Curling Club: Historic member curling club in Banff, Alberta with multiple sheets, league play, and rental operations. Comparable in heritage and operating model but serves a tourist/mountain market distinct from Ottawa's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ottcurlingclub
• Facebookfacebook.com/OttawaCurlingClub
• Instagraminstagram.com/ottawacurlingclub/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Ottawa Curling Club