The Liverpool curling club is hoping a prestigious championship can go ahead next year.

The Provincial Mixed Doubles event was to have been held at the club the weekend of Dec.16-19 but was cancelled along with all competitive sports events in Nova Scotia as the province fights to contain the latest COVID-19 outbreak.

Liverpool Curling Club president Gordie Sampson says they will be speaking with Curling Nova Scotia about when the event will be held but is concerned the competition may not be the same.

“Where they’re postponed until the new year, that might be an issue too,” said Sampson. “Because some of the team members that were coming to curl in the mixed doubles are also playing in the Tournament of Hearts.”

Sampson says the situation is fluid and hopes it will become clearer in the coming weeks.

The championship would have capped off a significant year for the club which undertook $400,000 in renovations to the facility.

Sampson says the club received some help from the Region of Queens but most of the funding for the renovations came from private donations.

Contributions are still rolling in as a new $12,000 ice scraper is arriving this week from a donor who doesn’t wish to be recognized.

Sampson says exterior walls have been insulated, more energy efficient LED lighting has been installed and refrigeration has been upgraded to provide a better ice surface and a more comfortable playing environment.

“We know from experience that if you don’t give that good product on the ice then very soon you won’t have a curling club at all,” said Sampson.

The upgrades built an enthusiasm for curling in the community which, Sampson says, has translated into new members for their junior and adult programs.

Now that the ice surface is up to snuff, Sampson says the club is turning their attention to the function rooms.

He says the club will be renovating to meet 2030 accessibility standards.

They’re working now to raise the estimated $600,000-700,000 for renovations which will also include a new kitchen, bar area and gender-neutral bathrooms.

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