There are annual club events open to members and non-members with no experience required.
The Swing & Sweep
This early October event is a great way for people to wean themselves off golf and back to curling. The sweep is usually first followed by a round of golf. The small fee includes curling, golf, golf cart and a meal. Watch News and go to the Calendar for dates.
The Currier Cup
This November event is probably the longest annual sports trophy competition in North America. The annual Ottawa CC versus the Buckingham CC competition began in 1861 when Joseph Currier donated the cup. He was the man who had built and lived in 24 Sussex Drive. See History.
Any club member who wishes can play in this event which alternates each year between venues. The host club supplies a meal and refreshments.Watch News and go to the Calendar for dates.
The Ottawa-Rideau Challenge
This rivalry has been going on since 1909. The Rideau is the other downtown Ottawa curling facility that began when some disgruntled Ottawa members left this club to form their own curling group. The issue was this club's temperance policy.
That isn't the case anymore as the annual event takes place between Christmas and New Year's Day, adding to the spirited competition. Relatives and friends visiting club members are welcome to participate. The venue alternates annually between clubs and the host club provides a meal at no charge to visiting club. Watch News and go to the Calendar for dates.
The Roy Blair Bonspiel
Curl with a celebrity skip and enjoy the chance of participating in a Calcutta in mid-April. In the Roy Blair participants declare what position they would like to play. Then a draft night is held where players are called up by positions (leads go first) and choose which skip they wish to play for. A few days after the draft night each team plays in a number of truncated games in a "points" bonspiel format. The winning rink is the one that accumulates the most points after the Blair is done.
Roy Blair represented the spirit of the Ottawa in that he was a great curler but also wanted everyone, no matter what their skill level, to participate. His life ended early in a tragic drowning accident in 1977. Watch News and go to the Calendar for dates.
The Gordie Perry Bonspiel
2011 marks the Perry's 50th anniversary! Watch for more details.
Well this late April bonspiel, where no rules apply, is meant to be a fun outing to end the curling season. The seven-day event sees players of all skill levels compete in any combination of 4 players. Novice curlers to "professional" curlers are all on the ice at the same time.
The emphasis is on fun and rubbing shoulders with the famous and not so famous. The important thing is to rub shoulders. Special event nights occur during the last few days of the spiel, live entertainment is supplied as well as a great closing night banquet.
Gordie Perry was an exceptional Ottawa Curling Club member who began this spiel in 1961. He was the last skip to win an "irons" play championship in 1950. An excellent athlete he played in the 1931 Grey Cup for Montreal when they won the national championship. He is also in Canada's Sports Hall of Fame, the Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame, the New Brunswick Sports Hall of Fame, the Quebec Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
His spiel is still goes strong just like Gordie did – he lived to be 100 years young. Watch News and go to the Calendar for dates.
The Club Championship
This is the final curling event of the year. It follows the Gordie Perry Bonspiel at the end of April. There is an Open division and a Ladies division to determine who are the best curlers in the club.
Our men's and women's champions will represent the Ottawa CC in the Dominion Curling Club Championship.
Watch News and go to the Calendar for dates.
The Bonnie Matheson Memorial Golf Tournament
Held in early June this shotgun style golf tournament sees any profit go the Breast Cancer research. Held on a Friday the tournament features lunch at the golf course, golf cart, golf fees and a curling club dinner all for one fee.
Bonnie Matheson was not only an avid golfer but she was a tireless volunteer and curler here at the club. She and her "charm school" girls as they were called added lots of life to the club both on and off the ice. Watch News and go to the Calendar for dates.