In this Edition:

1) Staff and Board updates
2) Congratulations curlers!
3) Club dates to remember
4) Championship Day
5) Buzz from the hack 

1) Staff and Board updates

A season end note from the GM

As I look back at my first season as General Manager of the club I cannot believe it is already over. I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the incredible journey we’ve embarked upon together this season. From the early days last June of planning and preparation to the end of the curling season, it has been an honour and a privilege to be a part of this Club. Even as a member for a number of years, it really could not prepare me for what was to come in this role.

Our success this season is a testament to the dedication, hard work, and unwavering commitment of each and every member. I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. We got a Trillium Grant from Provincial Government to help fund our siding, more on and off ice partners than ever before, a coffee/tea sponsor plus a new promotion of Fore in the Fourth, a robust and evolving rental program, a better relationship with our local councilor McAlpine / MPP Pang / MP Chiang, a successful Learn to Curl program and another spectacular auction. As a club we had members represent their country in world competitions, in National championships, in Provincial championships and in local TCA events. There are so many things we should be proud about as a club.

The season did not go without its hitches. It started with the off season with truss repairs and replacements to a leaking pipe that caused the curling season to start late. Then during the season having two fridges break down, a compressor motor fail, a condenser fan failure, a leak in the dining room and kitchen roof, a clogged washroom pipe, replacing the fire suppression tank in the kitchen, and the replacement of condenser rink control system. With all these large unplanned costs, I was beginning to think it was me. I learned real quickly that it costs a lot of money to run a curling club.

First and foremost, I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every member of our club. I appreciate all your words of encouragement from the day I began in the summer and straight throughout the season. Your kindness, energy and passion for curling helped me get through the season.

To all our volunteers at UCC, thank you for your time and effort supporting our club. Thank you to the Board for your leadership volunteering your time to make tough decisions to do what is best for the Club so we last another 100+ years. Thank you for your guidance and unwavering support for me personally. To all of our coaches and ambassadors who have helped with Learn to Curl, Unionville Sweep, Little Rocks, Junior/Bantams, rentals and clinics, thank you for your time on the ice and in the lounge representing and selling the club to others. Thank you to all the League chairs and committees for taking personal time out of your day, week and season to ensure you give the best experience to our members in all our leagues. To the staff of bartenders and ice crew, thank you for helping me through the season and making it so seamless. UCC has a long history of being a member owned club that cannot operate without the help of volunteers. We are all members and I encourage everyone to help where you can with your experience and area of expertise.

Thank you to the volunteers behind the scenes who tirelessly help keep the club running with little fanfare.  In addition to the people I mentioned at the beginning of the season, who continue to thanklessly support our club, there are a few other people I wish to mention. To Jim Dibblee who has run our website, computer and IT services for UCC for years and been invaluable with the registration process and UCC’s emails. Thank you to Kelly Tooley for running another successful Learn to Curl program and managing UCC’s social media platforms. To Sean Gates for updating the television behind the bar on a weekly basis for the club. Thank you to Kent Tomasik for being the club’s drawmaster, leading the summer clean-up crew and taking my daily calls with questions. And a thank you to Patty for everything you do for me and the club.  By supporting me with patience, the hours you spend here and hours you spend with me picking up product and running errands for the club; but mostly for helping me stay grounded and helping me see the big picture.

Finally I want to extend a special thank you to Jim. I will miss Jim for his guidance, wisdom and all he does for the club behind the scenes; from knowing how to fix just about everything in the building, to the history of the building and members, from the 3 am calls from the alarm company he answers, to knowing there is something wrong with the ice just by walking in to the building. However what I will miss most are the conversations and his unique ability to be diplomatic without ever needing to say a word. Jim, thank you for everything.  I want to wish you all the best in your retirement travels and your next chapter. Emerson, I’m looking forward to working with you and I cannot wait until next season for you to make the best ice in the province!

Preparations for next season are already in motion with a focus on evolving our club while building on this season and the history of our Club to create an atmosphere that is the envy of the GTA. With the improving weather, construction will resume shortly to finish the siding and starting of the flat roof. The Board and I have already started conversations on the budget and next year’s schedule. 

Thank you, once again, for an unforgettable season. Stay safe and please look after yourselves and each other over the summer so we can come back together and curl in the fall of 2024. I can’t wait.

With gratitude and appreciation,
Martin Mui
General Manager

Jim Kinzinger retirement party

Thank you to all the members who stopped by to celebrate Jim Kinzinger, our Head Ice Technician’s retirement on Saturday, March 16^th.  It was wonderful to see such a large gathering of UCC members, old and new, to celebrate Jim’s contributions to UCC over the past 36 years.

Jim was presented with a thank you card and gift of $4,250 raised by the membership from ticket sales and donations to the event. Surrounded by friends and family, Jim was honoured by the Club with the Exemplary Contribution Award, awarded to an individual who embodies all of the attributes of an exemplary individual.  In receiving this award, the Club and its members place Jim, this special person, in a position of esteem amongst them in perpetuity.

Jim will be at the club until the end of the season, as he offers his last bits of wisdom to Emerson, as our new head ice technician.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to say thank you or wish Jim well in his retirement, he will be at the Club until Championship Day.

2) Congratulations Curlers 

We are pleased to inform you that two UCC members, Alan Luk (far left) and Peter Wong (far right), are representing the 2024 Team Hong Kong Senior Men at the World Senior Curling Championships in Oestersund, Sweden from April 20-27. 

Alan currently plays in our Day Men Tag league and will be representing Hong Kong for the third time and will be playing as the team’s 2^nd. Peter participates in our Mixed Draw curling and can be seen most Sundays at Early Birds. This will be his 4^th time skipping the team and he mentioned to me that he is the oldest skip in the field!

They have been placed in Group D and will be playing (all Sweden local time):
April 20 – 20:00 vs. Czechia
April 21 – 20:00 vs. Japan
April 22 – 12:00 vs. Australia
April 23 – 02:00 vs. Hungary
April 24 – 16:00 vs. Sweden

We wish you good luck and good curling!

Team Koppes took on Team Sewell in our Junior Finals down at Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto on Friday, April 12 after the Princess Auto Players’ Championship. Thank you to everyone who used the code to afford UCC this fantastic opportunity for our Junior curlers!

Team Koppes
Mason Koppes
Abdullah Chaudry
Eric Wan
Alex Ding 

Team Sewell
Gabriel Sewell 
Kelly Chen
Maren Moore 
Amelia Woodward 

3) Upcoming Club dates to remember 

Monday, April 22^nd:                                Locker clean out and Lost and Found deadline
Saturday, June 1^st :                                Unionville Festival – road closure from 8am – 9:30 pm
Sunday, June 2^nd :                                 Unionville Festival – road closure from 8am – 7:30 pm

4) Championship Day

What a spectacular Championship Day we had last weekend!  Great to see so many people come out and celebrate the 2023/24 season. Congratulations to all participants and all the winners. We are working to get a list of all winners on the website shortly.

Pictures from Championship Day can be found from a link right off our website from our Member homepage:
https://unionvillecurlingclub.com/index.php/member-s-home

Perry Curiston from TROC drew two names from all the qualifying teams of the Fore in the Fourth promotion. Congratulations to Stephanie Thompson and Matt Lowe who won our inaugural Fore in the Fourth draw.
The team of Margaret McLeod, Jackie Lawton, Lori Porter and Joanne Hodge won a group of four at the Timber Creek Mini Putt Golf for a round of Mini Golf.
Thank you all for entering and taking part in this new promotion.  We look forward to introducing new opportunities next season.

Our 50/50 draw ticket winner was Ticket #769056. I am delighted to announce the winners, who came forward with the matching ticket, are Shulie Chang and Amy Yu who are now $805.00 richer!

Thank you to the Board, the events committee and volunteers for planning and executing a successful Championship Day!

5) Buzz from the hack

a) Locker clear-out
For those that have rented lockers for the curling season, they must be cleared out of personal belongings and locks removed by April 22^nd, 2024. We want to ensure that no insect infestations occur or mold develops from clothes, shoes or food left in lockers over the off season. After Monday April 22^nd, all locks will be removed.

b) Lost and Found
Please come by the desk outside the office to see if you may have left something at the Club over the past season. There are water bottles, sweaters, gloves and even shoes left here.  If items remained unclaimed after the 22^nd, they will be thrown away or donated.

Have a great week everyone and enjoy a restful summer!

Martin Mui
General Manager

905-477-2711
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Dear Members,

What a spectacular Championship Day this past weekend!  Great to see so many people come out and celebrate the 2023/24 season. Congratulations to all participants and all the winners.

Perry Curiston from TROC drew two names from all the qualifying teams of the Fore in the Fourth promotion. Congratulations to Stephanie Thompson and Matt Lowe who won our inaugural Fore in the Fourth draw. The team of Margaret McLeod, Jackie Lawton, Lori Parker and Joanne Hodge won a group of four at the Timber Creek Mini Putt Golf for a round of Mini Golf. Thank you all for entering and taking part in this new promotion.  We look forward to introducing new opportunities next season.

Our 50/50 draw ticket winner was Ticket #769056. I am delighted to announce the winners, who came forward with the matching ticket today, are Shulie Chang and Amy Yu who are now $805.00 richer!

Thank you to the Board, the events committee and volunteers for planning and executing a successful Championship Day!

Martin Mui
General Manager 

Hello UCC Members,

We are rapidly approaching the end of the fiscal year for the UCC which is April 30. With that in mind, on behalf of your Board of Directors, I would like to provide you with an update on the current financial position of the club.

Your Board is happy to report that we are continuing to run a fiscally responsible Balanced Budget and our Capital Fund is healthy.

Let’s start with the Capital projects and then move to the Operating status of the club.

CAPITAL

Without doubt It has been a very busy year for Capital projects at the UCC many of which were unplanned. Below is a summary of all of this work divided into two groups: Planned and Unplanned.

Planned Capital Projects

At the beginning of the fiscal year we planned for the seven (7) capital projects that are listed below. All of these planned projects have been completed with the exception of the largest one: Siding and Insulation. The final pieces of this work will be completed very soon as the weather cooperates.. These projects and their cost are as follows:

• Structural Engineering Review ($4.5K)
• Repairs to the roof support trusses ($29.3K)
• Back Shed Upgrades ($26.6K)
• Upgraded Lighting/Wiring throughout the club ($7K)
• Upgrades to the Main Entrance Flat Roof Upgrades ($9K)
• A new Ice Scraper ($7.6K)
• Siding & Insulation ($102K so far - $10K remaining)

Total Cost of Planned Projects:   $196K (our original budget was $191K)

Unplanned Capital Projects

Despite all of our planning, we were faced with several unexpected capital projects this year. Who could forget the issues that forced us to delay the club opening in October 2023. This resulted in two emergency capital projects, i.e. replacement of piping and repairing our compressor.

In January 2024 our Ice Control system (known as The Icemakers Mistress – seriously!) failed and required replacement and then in February 2024, we were forced to plan for the replacement of the flat roof over the dining room to fix water leakage on that ceiling. To top it all off, our draft beer system stopped working in March 2024 requiring a new beer fridge. These projects and their costs are as follows:

• Replace defective Piping ($18.8K)
• Fixing the Compressor ($6.9K)
• New Ice Control system ($15.6K)
• Flat Roof Replacement ($8.3K)
• New Keg Beer Dispenser ($6.3K)

Total Cost of Unplanned Projects:        $56K

Despite the unexpected capital expenses, we are projecting that our Capital Fund will have a balance of $70K at the end of the season which is higher than our planned Capital Fund balance of $67K as presented at last year’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).  Of course we would not be in such a positive Capital Fund position without the following:

• We received $90K via the Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant with another $10K to come once the Siding & Insulation project is completed
• Our Annual auction provided over $18K in net proceeds (special thanks to Susan Hum-Lindley, Aric Henry and many more who made this event so successful once again)

While it is unfortunate that we had to absorb all these unexpected Capital expenses this year, this is exactly the reason why we keep a healthy balance in our Capital Fund, i.e. to pay for expenses like this, as they arise. On the positive side, all of these expenses provide us with equipment and fixtures that will last us for many years.

OPERATING

The UCC is a Not-for-Profit organization so our goal each year is not to make money but to cover all our expenses and hopefully ending up with a small surplus. At the beginning of the year, we were projecting an operating surplus of $4,792 for the year and I am happy to report that, based on the numbers up to the end of March 2024, we remain on-track with a current projected surplus that is slightly more at  $9,000. 

Here are a few key points regarding our current projected Operating Profit and Loss Statement.

• Net Bar Income is up by $30K due to significant revenue from the summer Ball League that uses the club and due to the required price increases (if you drank more this year; thank you!)
• Advertising/Sponsor revenue is up by $14K due to the great efforts of our Club Manager Martin
• The great success of our Learn to Curl program not only provides our club with an infusion of enthusiastic, well-trained curlers but it is also generates a net revenue of $11K – win/win
• The club Utilities costs so far are 9% less than budgeted thanks to the mild winter
• Our Building Maintenance fees are coming in over $20K more than budgeted due to several emergency expenses such as  plumbing flush ($2.5K), new condenser fan ($3.3K) and fire safety upgrades ($2.1K)

As you can see from the points above, some of our Operating projections are a higher than expected and others are lower (which is not unexpected) but overall we are tracking to a bottom line that is as per our Budget, i.e. within 2%.

Special thanks to Martin for his daily efforts to keep us up-to-date with the entry of our accounting and banking entries. Thanks also go out to Dwayne Vincent who has performed quarterly internal audits throughout the year allowing us to be more up-to-date and accurate than ever. Our next task is to close our books over the next few weeks and then work with our external Accounting firm to get the final Financial Statements ready for the AGM.

As the Chair of the Finance Directorate on the board, please feel free to contact me If you have questions at all regarding any of the above.

Regards,  
Michael Heap
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Dear Members,

Two of our very own members, Alan Luk and Peter Wong, are competing next week at the 2024 World Senior Championships in Östersund, Sweden from April 20-27 for Team Hong Kong!

Alan currently plays in our Day Men Tag league and will be representing Hong Kong for the third time and will be playing as the team’s 2^nd. Peter participates in our Mixed Draw curling and can be seen most Sundays at Early Birds. This will be his fourth time skipping the team and he mentioned to me that he is the oldest skip in the field!

They have been placed in Group D and will be playing (all Sweden local time):
April 20 – 20:00 vs. Czechia
April 21 – 20:00 vs. Japan
April 22 – 12:00 vs. Australia
April 23 – 02:00 vs. Hungary
April 24 – 16:00 vs. Sweden

They will be leaving for Sweden the Monday after Championship Day.
Wishing Alan, Peter and Team Hong Kong all the best. We will all be cheering you on from Unionville!

Martin Mui
Club Manager 

Dear Members,

Only 4 days left of this Curling season!   Championship Day is this Saturday April 13^th 2024.   Come and cheer on the teams!!!! 

Get here before the draw to support the teams as they are piped onto the ice.

Draw #1 – 11:30 am
Open Tag (new)           Sheet #1
Mixed Doubles             Sheet #2
Bantams                       Sheet #3
Senior Mixed                Sheet #4

Draw #2 - 3:30 pm
Day Men Tag                 Sheet #1
Open Team Entry          Sheet #2
T-50                               Sheet #3
Day Women Draw         Sheet #4

Draw #3 - 7:30 pm
Women’s Team Entry   Sheet #1
Evening Women           Sheet #2
Men’s Team Entry         Sheet #3
Mixed                            Sheet #4

Fore in The Fourth Elimination Draw – Taking Place during Draw #3

50-50 Draw – Taking Place After Draw #3
Buy your tickets online (credit card fees apply) or complete a cash purchase order form located at the bar.
You will receive an email confirmation with your assigned ticket number and the physical tickets associated with that number will be placed in the drum at the bar.
Good luck! To purchase tickets online: Click Here!

Remember, if you are sick, we encourage you to stay home.  UCC always encourages the use of masks in the club.

Neil Salinas
UCC President

Dear Members,

Four weeks ago the Toronto Curling Association issued a challenge within member clubs in the GTA. The challenge was to see who could sell the highest average amount of single draw tickets per member basis for the 2024 Princess Auto Players’ Championship.

It is with great pleasure I announce that UCC was one of the top 4 clubs with the highest ticket sale average!  With that, UCC has been given the opportunity to play one of their club finals on Grand Slam arena ice at Mattamy Athletic Centre in downtown Toronto. This will take place following the 7:30 pm draw on Friday, April 12 of the Princess Auto Players’ Championship.

After careful consultation with the Board, given the time of the game and the short notice it has been decided that the Junior Championships will be played on the same ice the pros do on Friday evening! What a fantastic way for our youth to experience representing our club while raising UCC’s youth curling brand. The two teams playing this upcoming Friday will be decided tomorrow afternoon at the club as the Juniors complete their playoffs.

Anyone with tickets to the Grand Slam of Curling event for the 7:30 pm timeslot on Friday, April 12^th is encouraged to stick around to cheer on the teams.  Tickets are still available and you can still use the TCAUnionville code to get 20% off. For more information please visit: https://thegrandslamofcurling.com/contests/grand-slam-of-curlings-tca-challenge-presented-by-princess-auto/

Thank you to everyone who used the code to afford UCC this fantastic opportunity for our Junior curlers!

Good Curling,

Martin Mui
General Manager

Dear UCC Members,

As another successful curling season comes to an end, I would like to remind you of some end of season items before you all leave for the summer.

Lockers
For those that have rented lockers for the curling season, they must be cleared out of personal belongings and locks removed by April 22^nd, 2024. We want to ensure that no insect infestations occur or mold develops from clothes, shoes or food left in lockers over the off season. The club will be open from Monday, April 15^th to Friday, April 19^th from 9:30 am to 5:00 pm if you wish to come clear our your locker after Championship Day. After Monday April 22^nd, all locks will be removed.

Drink Vouchers
As noted at the beginning of the season, ALL outstanding drink vouchers will expire at the end of Championship Day on Saturday, April 13^th, 2024. So dig up all your drink vouchers from the past you may have and exchange them for a drink with our bartenders.

Lost and Found
Please come by the desk outside the office to see if you may have left something at the Club over the past season. There are water bottles, sweaters, gloves and even shoes left here.  If items remained unclaimed after the 22^nd, they will be thrown away or donated.

If I do not see you at the club over the next two weeks, have a safe and restful summer and I look forward to seeing you all back next season!

Good curling,

Martin Mui
General Manager

Dear Members,

Playoff Season is here! Championship Day is set for Saturday April 13^th 2024!

The Schedule is as follows:

Draw #1 – 11:30 am                             
Juniors                       Sheet #1                                  
Mixed Doubles           Sheet #2                                  
Bantams                     Sheet #3                         
Senior Mixed              Sheet #4                                  

Draw #2 – 3:30 pm
Day Men Tag              Sheet #1
Open Team Entry       Sheet #2
T-50                            Sheet #3
Day Women Draw      Sheet #4

Draw #3 – 7:30 pm
Women’s Team Entry   Sheet #1
Evening Women           Sheet #2
Men’s Team Entry         Sheet #3
Mixed                            Sheet #4

Don’t miss the pre-match ceremonies!  Participate as our curlers are piped onto the ice to start their matches!  The piper will be playing, the bar will be open; food and snacks will be provided for all members and participants.

And We Have More Fun for those in Attendance:

Fore in The Fourth Elimination Draw – Taking Place in Draw #3
Congratulations to everyone who scored an entry this season with the club’s newest promotion.  Thank you to our sponsor T-Roc and member Perry Curiston.  Perry will be doing a fun, modified Elimination Draw on Championship Day for prizes as well as the lucky winners of the Grand Prize - a round of golf with Perry!

50-50 Draw – Taking Place After Draw #3
Our final 50-50 draw for this season will take place on Championship Day after the last draw.
Buy your tickets online (credit card fees apply) or complete a cash purchase order form located at the bar.

You will receive an email confirmation with your assigned ticket number and the physical tickets associated with that number will be placed in the drum at the bar.

Good luck!
To purchase tickets online: Click Here!

Social Media
If you cannot attend, please follow Unionville's Instagram & Facebook accounts for updates. Our Communication/Social Media team is planning fun posts to keep everyone updated through the day.

Spectators
Spectators are welcome.  However; if you are sick, we encourage you to stay home.  UCC always encourages the use of masks in the club.

Neil Salinas
UCC President