Curling since 1807 in Montreal
Text: Émilie Côté Photos: Marco Campanozzi
Montreal's downtown core is home to what is believed to be the oldest athletic club still in operation in North America.
Founded in 1807, the Royal Montreal Curling Club and its three sheets of ice are tucked away behind the doors of 1850 De Maisonneuve Boulevard, near the Guy-Concordia metro station. ‘We have a club with a lot of history,’ says President of the club, Johanne Dubé.
A history buff and daughter of a mother with Irish roots, Marie J. Béland is the guardian of the club's past. She is particularly keen to recount how certain women carved out a place for themselves in a sport that, like so many others, was reserved for men. ‘If only you knew how many archives we have here,’ she says.
As soon as you walk through the club's door, you embark on a journey through time with the many documents, photos and paintings hanging on the walls. The club's founder, Thomas Blackwood (of Scottish origin), was the first president of the Committee of Trade (which became the Montreal Board of Trade, which merged with its French-speaking counterpart, the Chamber of Commerce).
Initially, the club's 20 founding members played on the frozen St. Lawrence River and used cast iron ‘stones’ while waiting for granite ones to be shipped from Scotland.
The Montreal Curling Club has been located on De Maisonneuve since 1892. In 1924, King George V signed a decree allowing the club to add the word ‘Royal’ to its name. This monarchical connection has endured, as evidenced by the numerous photos of governors general who have visited the club over the past century.
Ms. Béland worked as a paediatric cardiologist and it was her former colleague and mentor, Patricia Forbes, who introduced her to curling. Ms. Forbes was the first female president of the Royal Montreal Curling Club.
Marie J. Béland draws our attention to another notable female figure, Ella May Whitehead (née Sicotte), whose grandfather was a patriot and who founded the first women's curling club in Montreal, (and in the world), the Ladies Montreal Curling Club, in 1894. ‘At the time, competitive sport was reserved for men. It was like a revolution,’ says Ms. Béland.
It was not until 1997 that women were allowed to become members of the Royal Montreal, which merged with the women's branch – the one founded by Ms. Whitehead – in 2015. Today, the mixed club has about 75 women out of some 200 members, and it no longer has a reputation for being exclusive. In addition to numerous leagues, it offers introductory courses and even team-building activities. “Calling all interested parties: we want to attract young people to ensure the next generation of players.”
Like golf, curling is a technical sport, but also a social one.
On Friday evenings, there's a great ambiance. We host trivia nights and this autumn, we watched baseball. Johanne Dubé, President of the Royal Montreal Curling Club
It must be said that the Royal Montreal has a magnificent clubhouse with a reception room upstairs. Last year, we held a reception there as part of the World Curling Congress.
‘Playing chess on ice’
During our first visit to the club, we were able to throw a few stones under the expert guidance of coach Claude F. Proulx. He has only been playing for seven years. When he lost his dog, a member suggested curling as a way to take his mind off things. He was quickly convinced, despite his initial reluctance. ‘I took some introductory lessons and got hooked.’
For Marie J. Béland, curling is good for physical fitness, but it's also ‘like playing chess on ice.’
It's intellectual. You have to plan your moves to get into a good position near the centre. Marie J. Béland, keeper of the Royal Montreal Curling Club's history
During our second visit, it was competition day between six teams from one of the Ladies Curling Association districts, made up of players aged 55 and over. When we arrived, the Royal Montreal was facing off against the Lacolle Curling Club. The score was very close, and remained so until the end with a 7-7 tie. They even had to use the measuring tool to measure the distance between the stones. ‘What a game, right down to the last stone!’ exclaimed Marie J. Béland.
‘When the Olympics approach, there is always a lot of interest in curling,’ she notes. And the club has a lot to be proud of: the Royal Montreal junior team has qualified for the upcoming Quebec Winter Games in Blainville.
(Translated by Carrie MacPherson from the French article : https://www.lapresse.ca/societe/2025-12-28/la-vie-la-ville/du-curling-depuis-1807-a-montreal.php)
