Philip Downey - June 28, 2025

09 July 2025

We are saddened to learn that Honourary Member Philip Downey passed away on June 28th, 2025. Phil was a member of the original organizing team that started the HCC, one of a few committed people who invested the time and money needed to begin the construction of the building. Phil served as President during a stressful time when our membership lagged, using his leadership and influence in the community to encourage and engage other local Carp community members and leaders to support the club. Under his stewardship the club grew with expansion to the club we have today.

Phil's energetic personality, his willingness to get involved and his leadership were a major factor in the early development and success of the club. Phil enjoyed both the competitive and social side of the game, a friend to many, a true ambassador for HCC.

He will be missed by his many friends and family.

Derick MacKenzie - May 6, 2025

08 May 2025

Derick "DMack" MacKenzie was a force. Whether on the ice or off the ice socializing and just playing cards, everyone around him knew he was there. As a curler, he was fiercely competitive and fully engaged in his role, supporting his team and preferring a win. Timely wit was a DNA sport for DMack and he was good at it. Even in the most dire situations or no situation at all, with a wry ear-to-ear grin and gregarious look, Derick took every advantage to poke around and make everyone around him laugh. Always fun to be around, Derick had a youthful passion for live music, especially new and modern genres. He was an avid participant of concerts and shows of artists that most of us have never heard of, even if it was Screamo. If he could crowd surf, he would.

Aside from Derick's curious bluster and presence, he was gentle, kind, giving of his time and a devoted family man. Derick was a relentless volunteer at the curling club and served on the Board as Building Director for many years. He was always on call to help the ice team install or remove ice and was often first on the scene to answer building alarms and do whatever was required at the time. He fixed, he cleaned, he painted, he constructed, he even cooked. Some of his favourite volunteering activities would have been setting up and working the BBQ tent during Carp Fair. For many years he was a big part of the 24-hr marathon cooking of the "dishwasher" beef and serving the participants of the Madhatter bonspiel.

All in all, Derick just wanted everyone to feel welcome, content and at home and his reward was to see us all smile and laugh. As a curling club, we were very lucky to have Derick as a member and as a friend, we couldn't ask for any better. He will be sorely missed. Derick passed away on May 6, 2025.

Stu Hitchcock - May 5, 2025

08 May 2025

It’s with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of long-time and Honourary member Stewart Hitchcock. Stewart was involved with HCC from the beginning, actively supporting efforts to bring curling to Carp, volunteering on committees to promote the idea and get people interested and committed to the development of the club. An engineer by training, he worked closely with those managing the construction of the club and with the ice team, providing advice and many technical products that facilitated ice making and maintenance. When he joined the Board, he took on Kitchen Director duties where he developed the hip-of-beef washing machine that became a favorite dinner at many HCC events. Stewart curled for many years in the men’s league. He was a good friend to us all, he really enjoyed the social comraderies of the game, and we all enjoyed his stories and good humour. Rest in peace old friend, we will miss you!

Ken Peskett

15 February 2025

Ken Peskett, a Founding and Honourary Member passed away recently, after a long illness. Ken was a key player at the outset, organizing the work crews required to build the Huntley Curling Club in 1980, helping lay the concrete foundation for the club. He curled in the mixed and men’s leagues, locally and provincially. Sadly, a broken leg in 2004 and again in 2008 brought his curling days to an end. At the club, Ken was known for wearing a Stetson hat to every game. Ken and Jackie (who passed in 2015) were heavily involved in the Scottish tours. In 1988 and 1992, they hosted Scotland’s Lord Elgin teams and in 1990 and 1998, represented our Club in Scotland. He spent many hours teaching the game he loved to beginners. He was always there to help out at club events. Ken enjoyed the social side too, he was an excellent dancer and was a good friend to all.