Hockey

Age Groups and Registration Prices:

Curling

Schedule during Curling Season:

• Tuesdays - Ladies' Curling
• Wednesdays - Men's Curling
• Thursdays - Mixed Curling
• Fridays - Open House

It is believed that the sport of curling was first played in Kaslo in 1893. The rocks that were used had been brought from Scotland by private citizens, who then donated two sets of stones to the Village of Kaslo. A request was dispatched to the Smith Arm Co. of Winnipeg, in 1895, for sixteen pairs of curling stones.

1895 was an important year for the curling club, for they applied for affiliation with the Royal Caledonian Curling Club,(RCCC). Towns all about the Kootenays followed Kaslo's example, forming clubs of their own. Golden, Sandon, Nelson, Rossland, Greenwood, Trout Lake, and Cranbrook joined the association in the years between 1895 and 1906.

In 1904 the first curling rink in the Kootenays was built. Kaslo had always been the starter of winter sports in the Kootenays, so it was right that they should be the first to build an arena. The arena consisted of a skating surface with two curling rinks on either side. The arena lasted for about 40 years, and served its purpose well, but in the late 1930s, the roof collapsed due to snow. Curlers were once again forced to play outside.
In 1967, the Kaslo Centennial Committee decided to build a skating arena, to be followed by a curling rink. Contruction began, and in 1975, it was complete. The curling club now boasts two sheets of ice and a lounge that can situate 110 spectators.

Kaslo Riding Club

The Kaslo Riding Society got started on May 22, 1969, with the goals of promoting horseback riding in all its forms, maintaining a facility for the use of its members, and educating horse owners in the care and management of their mounts. Ed Davidson was a founding member, and Fay and Herb Thompson and Joyce Davidson joined in 1971. The club held its first May Days gymkhanas just south of the Vimy Park baseball field.

The club obtained land in 1977, on Arena Avenue.
The club built an arena and judging stand there, with the help of a government grant and donations from the citizens of Kaslo. Men and women from Kaslo donated both time and money toward the operation.

In 1989, the arena was upgraded again, this time with steel fencing and holding pens, with a small grant, and volunteer labor.

The club holds clinics several times a year, both Western and English, and Joyce Davidson has become a certified Level One Western Coach. The club also engages Len Cook, a Level Two Western Coach from Oliver, B.C. to start riders on the C.E.F. Western Rider Preparation Program.

The Kaslo Riding Club Drill Team was active for five years, impressing the crowds with precision maneuvers and bold, red-and-white colors. Riding Club members still wear the bright colors during the May Days parade.

Kaslo Tennis Club

Kaslo has 2 tennis courts, which are located on Village of Kaslo property opposite the hockey/curling complex on Arena Road. Turn west from Highway 31 at the top of the hill just south of Kaslo (near the Aquila building) and take the lower fork in the road.

These courts are administered and maintained by the Kaslo Tennis Club, a private club which has a lease arrangement with the Village. The gates are kept locked. However, public access is easily gained through the Kaslo Motel, which has kindly agreed to act as liason for the Tennis Club.

Hourly Use
Visitors and locals wishing to use the courts on a more casual basis can drop in at the Kaslo Motel and request the key. There is a $10 refundable deposit, and the court fee is $6.00/court for 2 hours. For further information stop by the Kaslo Motel, phone: (250)353-2431, or call the Club President, Carl at (250)353-2906.

Membership in the Kaslo Tennis Club
Membership fees for 1 year are as follows:
Student = $20.00
Single = $30.00
Couple = $50.00
Family = $60.00

Upon payment of fees at the Kaslo Motel (near the bridge), members will be given a key and a tag. The tag is to be attached to the shoelaces so that Tennis Club members in good standing may be easily identified. The key has to be exchanged each year for a different one, as the lock is changed at the beginning of each tennis season.
Note Club President, Carl Gfroerer, offers 2 hours of free instruction to all new members.

Kaslo Tennis History

The original courts were located on the west side of Kane St. on property owned by Jack Strachan. In the late 1920s he decided to use the land to grow vegetables, so the courts were moved. They were replaced with new courts in Vimy Park near the gazebo and the Maypole, both used so traditionally during Kaslo's May Day Celebrations to this day.

By the 1950s, use of the tennis courts had severely declined, and the town fathers decided to tear the courts down. It wasn't until 1976 that tennis became the focus of attention again. In 1976, the Kaslo Recreation Commission allowed the Tennis Club to use the concrete floored arena as courts during the summer.

In 1983, the Kinsmen Club decided to pitch in and build a facility that would last. Just south of the arena, they found a suitable location, and built a pair of tennis courts. Donations of money and work kept costs down, but when it was all through, there was a total debt of $17,500 remaining.

The club was successful in paying the debt off, through more donations, membership fees, grants, and fundraising events. Some community-minded citizens even bought charter memberships with the club, without ever playing a game on the courts. The club even managed to raise $8000 to put a layer of acrylic coating on the courts.

Kaslo Tennis Club members are proud of the efforts that have gone into providing this fine facility for the use of members, guests and visitors. We hope that all who use it will follow the rules to keep the courts in good shape for many years to come.