With the sport only gaining more popularity in Ontario and throughout Canada, partly due to its place in the winter Olympics and its growing accessibility, curling is fast becoming a must-try activity.
Mississauga’s Dixie Curling Centre, located at Applewood Heights Park, is known for being a fun hangout spot for people of all ages and skill levels, including those who have never curled before, in a spacious six-sheet facility.
During each curling season the centre runs programs 14 hours a day, seven days a week, and there’s something for everyone here: Curling lessons for beginners, novice leagues, junior leagues, and advanced options including men’s, women’s and mixed leagues.
With a long-standing tradition of being friendly and inclusive to all, Dixie Curling Centre is one of Ontario’s best places to try curling in a variety of different programs.
Here’s a closer look at everything they offer:
Curling lessons for kids and adults
No matter what age or skill level, Dixie Curling Club is ready to teach you everything you’ll need to know about this beloved sport. Their adult Learn-to-Curl program is a five-week crash course led by friendly instructors, and all necessary equipment (slip-on grippers, step-on sliders, brooms, delivery sticks) is provided.
By the end of this program, curlers have a good sense of delivery, sweeping, basic strategy, gameplay, etiquette, and proper curling form, giving them all the confidence they need to step out on the ice and ready to play a game.
For little curlers as young as 7, the centre’s Little Rocks program offers a fun, affordable, and skill-building curling experience. Geared towards youth aged 7 to 20, this program features two hours of on-ice instruction and gameplay, tasty snacks, and opportunities to join bonspiels and competitive teams at the centre. The program is also budget-friendly, offering weekly two-hour sessions for 20 weeks for under $300.
Novice and junior leagues for all-ages fun
Once you’ve got the basics of curling down, you’re ready to start showing your stuff in the centre’s novice league. This short-format league offers weekly games with fellow novice curlers over six weeks, with guidance from experienced coaches to help you grow your confidence and technique while sharpening your skills.
The novice league lets players experience every role on the ice with weekly team shake-ups and position rotations, perfect for learning and growing in every aspect of the game. A dedicated coach is present each week and will hop on the ice with players to guide them through strategy, rock delivery, sweeping techniques, and game flow.
The junior leagues, geared towards players aged 13 to 20, will group players together by skill level and their progress through the program over time. A typical Sunday includes 45 minutes of instruction and drills and a four-end game, with occasional special events such as the Junior Olympics.
A sense of community and accessible, affordable fun
Curling is already a very accessible sport – it’s not too physically demanding, so it’s perfect for younger and older players alike – and Dixie Curling Centre makes it even more accessible. The centre provides the equipment you need, so you just need to show up in clean indoor shoes and something warm you can move around in.
In addition to affordable league fees, friends of existing members get to try one session completely free, so there’s no commitment involved with simply trying it out.
Not to mention the strong sense of community that the club’s members share: members regularly play and socialize with each other, and the centre is always interested in welcoming new members as well.
Operating at their current location since 1956, the centre is not just a fun hangout spot, it’s also one of the most historic places in the city.
For fun games and social experiences that everyone in the family can enjoy, stop by Dixie Curling Centre at 3071 Palstan Rd and experience the fun of curling for yourself.