Return to curling a challenge

Ice sheets will replace beds at the end of the month, as the Vernon Curling Club, employed as a homeless shelter since April, will resume curling operations on October 13.

As part of the province’s response to COVID-19, municipalities were asked to identify public spaces that could potentially be used in response to the public health emergency, if necessary.

Recognizing the potential need for such facilities, Turning Points Collaborative Society (TPCS), B.C. Housing, Interior Health and the City of Vernon entered into discussions to identify possible sites that would be suitable to combine the Our Place and Gateway Shelter sites under one roof.

Through these discussions, the curling rink was identified as a potential site due to its size, available amenities and proximity to essential services. A 70-bed shelter with social distancing measures was set-up, with the other shelters being used for storage.