The 2012 Kraft Celebration Tour

WHAT: The Kraft Celebration Tour

WHY: Because you could be one of 10 lucky Canadian communities this year to receive $25,000 from Kraft Canada to help renovate a recreation facility in your neighbourhood AND have TSN shine the national spotlight on your community with a live broadcast of SPORTSCENTRE right in your hometown. The Kraft Celebration Tour takes place this summer from August 17-26 and each of the 10 winners will be a stop on the cross-country tour.

HOW: To nominate your community, it takes 5 minutes and 3 easy steps –

1. Visit KraftCelebrationTour.ca
2. Submit an essay of 500 words or less demonstrating your community spirit and how you would use $25,000 to fix up a recreation facility – plus up to 5 photos of your community
3. Hit send and tell all your family and friends to do the same – the nomination period closes on Sunday, June 10, 2012

SOCIAL MEDIA: Since we’re all on Facebook and Twitter, visit and like the Kraft Celebration Tour Facebook Page (www.Facebook.com/KraftCelebrationTour) and follow all of TSN’s on-air personalities including Darren Dutchyshen, Jay Onrait, Dan O’Toole and Kate Beirness on Twitter.

Ken Thompson, 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Host Committee Chair, announces the Scotties Hole-In-One competition May 12 at the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club (Photo Jennifer McCandie)

Ken Thompson, Host Committee Chair announced details of a summer contest May 5 at the Garrison Golf and Curling Club, May 12 at the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club, and he’ll be bringing the news to the Landings Golf Course and Teaching Centre May 28 and 29.

Members of the ladies’ leagues at all three clubs will be eligible for the Scotties Hole-in-One competition with the opportunity to win two full event passes for every ace over the course of the season.   Prizes will be awarded at the conclusion of league play in September.

Along with a prime seat for all 22 draws throughout the week of the Scotties, the full event pass includes a host of added benefits.  It starts on Friday, February 15 with an invitation to the exclusive Fan Appreciation Night, where guests have the chance to meet face-to-face with the competitors.

The athletes will also be available to fans at daily Team Autograph sessions and Up Close and Personal interviews where they’ll field questions from the crowd.  Plus, every event pass includes complimentary access to the HeartStop – the heart of the party featuring a tasty selection of food and beverages and an impressive line-up of Canadian bands.

“You Gotta Be There” for the excitement of the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.  If you don’t swing your way to a full event pass, they’re on sale right now just by clicking here.

The job description includes, but is not limited to, the following: (additional duties may be assigned by the Board of Directors)

• Provide ice maintenance which includes scraping, cleaning, pebbling, nipping, etc. as well as the daily recording of ice and plant readings.
• Coordination of volunteers to assist in ice maintenance, general facility maintenance, and special events as required.
• Janitorial services of the entire building and ice shed. Includes purchase of supplies.
• Responding to all inquiries throughout the day including the booking of ice rentals, membership, club rentals, etc.
• Dealing with suppliers including heating oil, cleaning supplies, Jet Ice, etc.
• Ensuring that the Club is current pertaining to all regulations from the Fire Marshall’s office, Town of Truro, Club’s insurer, etc.
• Maintenance of Club facilities and equipment within level of expertise and to coordinate repairs and maintenance of facilities and equipment by contractors and suppliers when required.
• Minor administrative duties such as assisting the Curling Committee Chairperson regarding scheduling of Club play, rentals and booking of same, receiving membership applications and payment of dues, sale of curling supplies, etc.
• Provide bar services as required.

The Club Technician will be expected to familiarize themselves with all aspects of the physical structure, equipment, and contents of the Club. The Club Technician will be offered an opportunity to undertake professional ice making training.

The Club Technician will also be expected to interact with the membership on a daily basis. When on duty the Club Technician is the public contact for the Truro Curling Club. Any issues that arise that are not part of the day to day job description will be directed to the president.

Send Applications to:

Truro Curling Club
c/o Peter Neily, President Truro Curling Club
56 Young Street
Truro, Nova Scotia
B2N 3W5

or

e-mail: info@trurocurlingclub.com

Send all inquiries and questions via e-mail.

We thank all of those who are interested, but only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Deadline for applications is June 6th, 2012

Post expires at 3:59am on Thursday June 7th, 2012

We understand our customers’ need for excellent service and are committed to providing it with a smile. We presently have an exciting opportunity for an experienced, professional, energetic and effective team oriented individual as Club Manager.

SCOPE: The Marpole Curling Club is looking for an experienced, energetic, motivated individual to fill a key position of Club Manager for our club. Reporting to the Board of Directors, this individual must have strong leadership, marketing, sales and promotional skills coupled with previous managerial experience, preferably in a recreational environment. This position is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the club operations, including liquor and food services and rental activities. Experience in and/or knowledge of curling would be an asset but is not required. Specific requirements and duties include:

Key Requirements:
• Demonstrated organizational skills
• Successful sales and/or marketing track record.
• Proven ability to manage staff
• Basic cash handling, bookkeeping and budgeting skills and working knowledge of financial reports
• Good understanding of recreational facility operations

Key Responsibilities:
• Manage operation of a busy 6-sheet curling club in Vancouver, BC
• Management of curling facilities, working closely with the Head Ice Technician.
• Management of club restaurant and banquet facilities including restaurant staff.
• Management of lounge facilities including bar staff.
• Ensure that day to day operations are in concert with the Marpole Curling Club strategic goals.
• Present a professional and positive public image of the Marpole Curling Club.

Candidates interested in working in a positive team environment are invited to send their resume and salary expectations (salary will be commensurate with experience) with a cover letter detailing why they would make an excellent manager for the Marpole Curling Club to the MCC Recruiting Committee, The Marpole Curling Club, 8730 Heather Street, Vancouver, BC V6P 3S8 or preferably by fax to (604) 327-3403 or by email to manager@marpolecurling.com

Job posting closes May 31st, 2012

Post expires at 4:30pm on Thursday May 31st, 2012

National Team Coach Jim Waite watches the curlers in action (Photo WCF/Volkan Atar)

“This place is remote and very conservative,” Waite reported, early in the week. “You see every type of dress here from Burkas (lots of them) to head scarves on most women to tight jeans and normal clothes on kids. Their ways are slowly changing but there are still donkey carts on the streets, no driving rules (scary), and the honking of their horns is an ongoing noise.”

Adjusting to the altitude, the five-times-daily wail of the call to worship, the local customs – even the unfamiliar public washrooms (i.e. a simple hole in the floor, in some restaurants) – was part of the experience, and one the curlers embraced.

But the real action was on the ice, and despite not winning a medal, the Canadian contingent had much to be proud of. Looking back on a week of challenges – both on and off the ice – Waite  summed up the experience:

It was a very disappointing conclusion to a great week of Mixed Doubles play in Erzurum, Turkey, for Team Canada.

Chantelle Eberle and Dean Hicke played extremely well throughout the Round Robin segment finishing with an 8-0 winning record in their pool.

Their one loss came at the hands of Sweden in the quarter-finals but that loss put them out of the running for a medal.

In defense of their performance in that game (10-1 Sweden), the ice was much straighter. Sweden adjusted and we did not. Nothing worked in that game, and although frustrated at their play and their inability to create offense, the team handled the loss with typical Canadian class and were nothing but complimentary to the Swedish team for their excellent play.

Sweden went on to win a silver medal after losing their final game to Switzerland.

Canada is still in the infancy stage of learning the dynamics of this curling discipline. It will be interesting next year, when Canada hosts the World championships in Fredericton, to see if there is a ground swell of support for the playing of the game in our country. There is a good chance that this version of curling could be in the 2018 Olympic games as a medal sport.

Jim Waite
National Team Coach

Jim Waite (left) with Mixed Doubles curlers Chantelle Eberle and Dean Hicke (Photo WCF/Volkan Atar)

• Installation and maintenance of six sheets of curling ice
• Supervision, management, and hiring of the ice maintenance team
• Facility and grounds upkeep and maintenance year round

The successful candidate will have a passion for creating top quality ice and;

• Minimum Level II Ice Technician certification with 5 years or more experience
• Experience in Management, Development and Leadership of an ice maintenance team
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills to create trust with your team, the membership, and a volunteer board of directors

Please send Resume, salary expectations, and references by May 25, 2012 to:

Susan Thornton, Manager
North Hill Curling Club
1201- 2 Street N.W.
Calgary Alberta T2M 2V7
(403) 277-3158; fax (403) 277-0052
curl@nhcc.ca
www.nhcc.ca

Thank you for your interest; only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Post expires at 3:59am on Saturday May 26th, 2012

Braving the cold on Winnipeg's Assiniboine River to "give back" at the annual Ironman Outdoor Curling Bonspiel (Photo courtesy Ironman Outdoor Curling Bonspiel committee)

Suddenly the vague idea took on new meaning: why not hold an outdoor bonspiel that would provide a fun event for curlers and, at the same time, raise money for the Heart & Stroke Foundation, as a tribute to Dawson’s father-in-law?

Since 2002, when twelve teams took to the river ice, the Annual Ironman Outdoor Curling Bonspiel has raised $37,000. This past February, 48 teams competed in the event, raising over $5,000. And what’s remarkable is that the Ironman is a completely volunteer-driven event. It’s all about curling, having fun, doing something different – and giving back.

The Ironman isn’t unique in Canada. From coast to coast to coast, curlers of every level embrace events that not only provide opportunities for competition and socializing – the mainstays of the sport, after all – but also raise awareness and money for worthy causes.

Bottom line: curlers love to give back. But why? And is the curling community unique?

“I don’t know that the curling community is any more active charity-wise than other groups or communities,” says Chad McMullan, a curler, former Executive Director of the World Curling Tour, and owner of RockSolid Productions. “But generally speaking, the demographics show the curling community is of above average income so the ability to do so is certainly there. Combine that with a community feel and inclusiveness that pervades the sport and I think it is a natural that these events would take place.”

A quick search through the online curling world reveals thousands of community events that promise a fun day of curling at the local club and an opportunity to raise money and support for charity organizations. At the grassroots level, curling for a cause is clearly thriving.

But curling philanthropy is a growing presence at higher levels of the sport as well, and that’s a good thing for curlers, fans and the causes they support.

Take McMullan’s Rock Solid Productions Inc., for example. The business side of the enterprise is all about bringing curling to school kids who might otherwise not be exposed to it through their family or community – we’ve all seen the ads, right?

But using curling as a vehicle for good works is also part of Rock Solid’s philosophy.

“It’s pretty much automatic that when doing an event, we look to see if adding a charity component is feasible,” says McMullan.

McMullan and curling buddy Brian Chick started their “Curl for Something” as a response to requests from non-curling friends who wanted to give the sport a try.

“The earthquake in Haiti took place at the time that we were planning the inaugural event so it was just a natural [decision] to charge a simple entry fee and donate it to the cause,” explains McMullan.

After a successful first year and so much positive feedback from participants, McMullan and Chick decided to do it again, this time with Variety Village as the recipient. “Curl for Something” has become an annual event – and everyone wins.

Sherry Middaugh: "We are able to give back, raising funds for worthwhile causes doing something we love to do. " (Photo Michael Burns)

Charity fundraising and curling connect just as strongly when The Dominion, one of the country’s largest property and casualty insurers and a supporter of curling at many levels, gets involved.

The Dominion Curling Club Championship gives club curlers who aren’t destined for Scotties Tournament of Hearts or Tim Hortons Brier a chance to represent their province at a national level, but there’s a philanthropic expectation as well: teams compete off the ice by raising money for the Canadian Paraplegic Association. In Charlottetown in 2010, for example, participating teams raised over $30,000, which surpassed the $10,000 raised at 2009’s inaugural event.  It’s grassroots curling and charity fundraising on a national scale.

In February of this year, The Dominion’s annual CPA Ontario Curling Classic bonspiel raised over $130,000. This event attracts curlers of all levels, including some big guns such as Team Glenn Howard and Team Sherry Middaugh, who took time out from a busy competitive season to participate.

For Middaugh, taking part in charity events is something she enjoys for a number of reasons, including the obvious.

“We are able to give back,” she says simply “raising funds for worthwhile causes doing something we love to do.”

But for elite curlers like Middaugh, who devotes so much time and energy to high-pressure competition, it’s also a chance to kick back and have some fun. “It is a great way to round out a grueling competitive season,” she says. “Having fun, curling with others who are as passionate about the game as I am.”

Cheryl Bernard: "Curlers are especially generous." (Photo Michael Burns)

“This is always an easy one for me,” says Cheryl Bernard, Olympic silver medalist, when asked about her motivation for donating her time and efforts to charity events.   After the death of her father from a brain tumour, Bernard created the annual “Curl for a Cure” in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. “Even before we won our Olympic medals, I have always felt athletes have a responsibility to give back and to use their platform to help raise awareness. Curlers are especially generous. We ran our event for five years and raised 1.3 million for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation all because curlers across Canada were so willing to donate yet more of their time. It was an incredible run and five amazing years that I hope I never forget.”

As well as being the spokesperson for The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and donating her time to a variety of charitable causes, Bernard has also joined the Board of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, perhaps one of the most familiar curling and charity partnerships, thanks to the annual telethon held on the first Saturday of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

The Foundation’s presence at the Scotties is no surprise: Schmirler is remembered as not only one of the best curlers this country has ever produced, but also as a friend and mother who cherished family. The Foundation’s mission – to honour Sandra’s legacy and to raise funds for hospitals that care for premature and critically ill babies – reflects that commitment.

It’s a completely collaborative event: high-profile curlers such as Schmirler’s former teammates Joan McCusker, Jan Betker and Marcia Gudereit are among the familiar faces on phone duty with non-curling volunteers; TSN’s curling announcer Vic Rauter makes the on-air pitch for donations; and during the final weekend of the Scotties and Tim Hortons Brier, curling fans in the stands reach into their wallets for cash to deposit in the “crowd sweep” conducted by competitors who aren’t in action on the ice.

E.J. Harnden: "When we curlers have a chance to give back, whether it be through helping out with a charity event or helping out at our local curling rink, we jump at the opportunity without hesitation because it is our chance to support those who allow us to play the sport we love." (Photo Michael Burns)

“Our team has participated in the crowd sweep during all four of our Tim Horton’s Brier experiences,” says E.J. Harnden of Northern Ontario’s Team Brad Jacobs. “It is a special moment because it is one of the only times throughout the competition where all the players are working together to achieve a common goal, which is to help raise as much money as possible for an amazing cause as well as another way to continue the legacy of one of the greatest curlers of all time.”

This season’s telethon and “crowd sweeps” raised well over $250,000 – the second highest amount in the Foundation’s history.

“I think it is enjoyed equally by both the players and fans because not only is this another way for us to interact with one another,” says Harnden, “but we are all helping to contribute to a greater cause.”

Lots of professional athletes align themselves with charity work; that’s nothing new. So what makes curlers unique?

“To me the thing that makes curlers different from many other athletes, is that we do not view ourselves as any different from the people who come out to watch us play,” says Harnden. “We have a very good understanding of how much the fans, volunteers as well as sponsors mean to our sport or to any other sport for that matter.  Therefore, when we curlers have a chance to give back, whether it be through helping out with a charity event or helping out at our local curling rink, we jump at the opportunity without hesitation because it is our chance to support those who allow us to play the sport we love and also to use what some would call our ‘celebrity status’ in a positive manner to help others.”

Of course, curling philanthropy isn’t always conducted on such a large scale. In Fergus, Ontario, Chris Taylor runs a one-day club event that was founded by her husband, Bill, a long-time member of the club. After Bill passed away in 1983 from emphysema, Chris took over the organization of a final bonspiel that allows Fergus Curling Club members to celebrate the end of another successful season.

Somewhere along the way, the bonspiel winners started donating their prize money back, so Chris turned it over to the Lung Association in Bill’s memory – and a tradition began. The Bill Taylor Memorial has been the annual season-ending event in Fergus ever since.

At curling clubs and events throughout the season, this scene is played over and over.  Whether it’s high profile or grassroots, curling culture in Canada is clearly committed to using the sport for the forces of good: to give back, generously.

The Sandra Schmirler Foundation Telethon underway at the 2012 Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Red Deer, Alberta (Photo Andrew Klaver)

Eighty teams from fifty different schools from as far away as Ottawa, Cochrane, Seaforth and Gananoque all vied for the title of Ontario Champions over the four day event.  On Saturday April 14, Rocks & Rings set up an information area to help spread the word about the program to everyone and the interest was overwhelming.

Capital One Rocks & Rings

Parents, teachers and children were all interested in how they could get Capital One Rocks & Rings into their schools and help increase the exposure of the game they all love.  Many parents and teachers came by the booth and mentioned how they have been looking for something like this to spark more interest in the sport within the schools.  Kids of all ages loved the Kurling set too as games played on in the upper hall at the Bobby Orr Community center while the competition progressed on the ice below.

After four days of competition, the team from the McLeod Public School of Sudbury, which was the first school this year in Sudbury to receive Rocks & Rings, finally won out as provincial champions but each and every team there enjoyed the competition and really experienced the love of the game.  Capital One Rocks & Rings was proud to be part of it all.

Sean Turriff

Chantelle Eberle and Dean Hicke talk strategy (Photo WCF/Volkan Atar)

For Canada, an eight-game undefeated streak came to an end in quarterfinal action Sunday morning when Chantelle Eberle and Dean Hicke found themselves on the short side of a 10-1 score against Sweden.

In the quarterfinal, Sweden’s Per Noreen and Camilla Johansson controlled the game from the start and were up 5-0 by the fourth-end break. Canada just missed scoring a deuce in five when an attempted hit and stick rolled out. The Swedes made virtually every shot and by the end of the seventh end, held a 10-1 lead.

“They just made everything and we just missed everything,” summed up Eberle after the game.

“The ice was a bit straighter on us,” said Hicke. “We just had an awful time following them in behind the centre guard. It just seemed to be end after end and perfect shots by them and not so good shots by us and that makes for a big score. I sum up the game by me making a half rock, 15-foot, in-off and picking our own rock off the back of the button in the seventh end! That pretty much sums it up.”

Switzerland's Martin Rios and Nadine Lehmann (Photo WCF/Volkan Atar)

In the Bronze Medal game, Austria’s Christian Toth and Claudia Roth defeated the USA’s Brady and Cristin Clark 12-7 after a score of 4 in the seventh end put the game out of reach.

Switzerland’s Rios and Lehmann, who went undefeated throughout the entire competition, trailed Sweden 5-2 after five ends. In a dramatic turnaround, Switzerland scored three points in the sixth and stole another in the seventh to take a 7-5 lead into eight. Sweden attempted a difficult last-rock double to score 3, but just missed, giving Switzerland the 7-6 victory.

For Switzerland, this is the fourth championship title in the five-year history of the event.

Complete standings at the end of the event are available on the event website: http://www.wmdcc2012.curlingevents.com

All results are mirrored on the WCF Historical Results Database: http://results.worldcurling.org/

View news, line scores, image galleries, video highlights and full games on the event website: http://www.wmdcc2012.curlingevents.com

All video is also available on the WCF YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/WorldCurlingTV

Chantelle Eberle calls the line at the 2012 World Mixed Doubles Championships in Erzurum, Turkey (Photo WCF/Volkan Atar)

Chantelle Eberle and Dean Hicke, of Regina, Saskatchewan, continued to dominate play in the Red division. Canada and Switzerland (7-0 in the Blue division) are the only undefeated teams in the round-robin competition.

After a close game on Thursday against China, Eberle and Hicke were able to take control of the match against Norway right from the start, forcing a single from their opponents in the first end, then proceeding to score 3 with hammer, and steal 2 in the third. With the score 5-2 at the break, Canada came back to score a pair of deuces, leading to another solid win – and a ticket to the quarterfinals.

The playoff picture will become clearer only when round-robin play for all 27 teams ends Saturday morning. Currently, Canada (7-0) and China (6-1) lead the Red division; Switzerland (8-0) and USA (6-1) lead the Blue division; and Scotland (5-2) and Sweden (5-2) lead the Yellow group, with Italy (5-3) in the mix as well.

Follow the 2012 Mixed Doubles Curling Championship

Curling fans around the world can follow live coverage of the event via the World Curling Federation’s YouTube Channel which is embedded onto the homepage of the event website www.wmdcc2012.curlingevents.com.

Visit 2012 Mixed Doubles Live Coverage Schedule to see what games are being covered.

Dean Hicke in action at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship (Photo WCF/Volkan Atar)

Bally Haly happy curler (Photo courtesy M. Cooper)

The first lesson learned is organization. Organization is the foundation on which everything else is based. You will remember Elinor Udell from the Bally Haly Golf and Country Club in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Elinor knows organization for she prepared a 27-page organizational document that referenced clearly areas of marketing, registration, recruitment of instructors, on-ice training and instruction, information management and communication, evaluating and reporting, budgets, program accountability, equipment, health and safety, motivation, scheduling, social events and archives. “I wrote it specifically for new coaches coming into the program and the management at our curling club.”

Speaking from my own experiences for a moment, being organized helps with program communications with members, volunteer recruitment, program operations and ultimately membership recruitment. When you set a good example of being organized, others will more readily come on board to assist you. If you are disorganized, others will avoid you like the plague, for they do not want anything to do with what looks like a sinking ship.

The Canadian Curling Association has available the Tim Hortons Little Rock Resource Guide, which is a terrific reference for ideas and examples on how to do anything when it comes to Little Rock curling.

Sam Stouffer and Jennifer Jones (Photo courtesy M. Cooper)

Another lesson learned is that the program has to be fun. Remember Samantha Stouffer from the Paris Curling Club in Ontario who created a learn-to-curl program called Field Trip Friday. This program invites school groups to the club to experience curling. “The two-and-a-half-hour field trip involves showing the students how to slide and throw a rock plus sweeping. A series of drills and activities involving sweeping, scoring, measuring and the short game, make the learning fun.”

“I don’t remember ever having a day where I didn’t want to go back for another day of curling’, noted Danielle Inglis from Nobleton Ontario, one of our sport’s rising stars. Danielle recalls throwing Cornish Hens down the ice at Christmas time for a fun seasonal activity.

Erin Carmody, another rising curling star from Summerside, Prince Edward Island, who recently moved to Calgary, remembers the fun during her Little Rock days. “At the end of the season, crazy games were played. Corner to corner was one of the games, involving throwing the rock from the hack on sheet one to the house at the other end on sheet six, diagonally across the whole ice surface. Winners of the crazy games received cute little trophies.”

Little Danielle Inglis (Photo courtesy M. Cooper)

Fun in Little Rocks can be created in several ways, such as drill stations, short games, half-way hacks, skill awards, bonspiels and social events like themed parties at Halloween, Christmas, Easter and even during the Brier and Scotties. Food, is always fun at any party, so be sure to include feeding the kids and providing sweet treats… the kids remember the fun around food. End of season awards are also fun. I do not know any kid, who will not remember the fun of receiving a medallion, or certificate, or badge or goodie bag at the end of season awards presentation.

Amy Miller from the Coldwater Curling Club in Ontario says kids get bored very easily. “You have to keep them active and moving. Doing the same thing all the time is monotonous.” The last lesson is to keep the activity moving and the program interesting. The young curlers stay tuned-in if they are attentive and have new experiences each week. Mixing up the activity each week and even over the course of the curling day keeps the kids challenged. A variety of drill stations changed every ten minutes works very well. Then every other week, change the routine from drill stations to actual games, to short games, to skill competitions, to a surprise party. Keep the kids dialed-in and they will stay interested in curling and tell their friends.

I hope you have enjoyed the season of Pebbles to Boulders. It has been interesting to explore some very good club programs and to hear the stories of our young curlers, the pebbles who have become boulders, major players in our sport.

Chantelle Eberle has won every pre-game Last Rock Draw at the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships (Photo WCF/ Volkan Atar)

Thursday’s 8-5 victory over China was the meeting of two undefeated teams and could have an impact on the final standings if they both continue their winning ways and tie for first place in the Red group.

“It was a wild game,” reports National Team Coach Jim Waite from Turkey.  “Canada had a chance for 4 in the first end but gave up 1. China had a chance for 4 in three but gave up a steal of 1. Although there were some misses, there were some great shots and it was good for us to win a close game like that over a good team. We could see them again before the week is over.”

Waite reports that one of the challenges of playing mixed doubles format is the sweeping of take-outs, especially the quieter finesse shots.

“It is difficult to throw and then get up and start sweeping much before half-way. Big weight hits seem easier as this is typical arena ice where hits will stay fairly straight.”

The other challenge is the altitude, which can make breathing difficult.

“We are at 10,000 feet in altitude and you even notice it is difficult to catch your breath when walking up stairs,” says Waite, adding that the Australian team, used to being only 30 feet above sea level, has asked to change hotels because they are finding it so difficult to be high in the mountains.

In Thursday’s game against China, says Waite, “Dean swept his heart out, and if anyone thinks fitness is not a factor, they should have been watching that game. He was outstanding. It was not our best game as a team, but it was one that we gutted out for the win.”

On Wednesday, the team got off to a slow start against Slovakia – giving up a steal in the first end on a missed double take-out that would have scored 4. Canada took control in the third end, taking 3 points, and stealing 3 more in the fourth. They led 6-2 at the break and never looked back, finishing with a 9-3 victory.

Later, Eberle and Hicke scored an impressive 8-3 win over Turkey on what Waite calls “a perfect sheet of ice” at the Erzurum Curling Arena. “The ice is swingy and fast,” says Waite, “perfect for our sweeping and rotations and releases.”

Canada scored 3 in the first end and maintained control the rest of the way, picking up a steal of 3 in the fourth end to lock up the win.

“Chantelle has been terrific with her LSD (last stone draw) which decides last rock,” says Waite. “She has won every draw (with a couple on the button) giving Canada last rock advantage in the first end of every game.”

Round-robin play continues with Canada facing Norway (1-5) on Friday, and Latvia (3-3) on Saturday. Tie-breakers will be played Saturday as necessary, and the playoffs – including quarter-finals, semi-finals and final medal games –take place on Sunday.

Follow the 2012 Mixed Doubles Curling Championship

Curling fans around the world can follow live coverage of the event via the World Curling Federation’s YouTube Channel which is embedded onto the homepage of the event website www.wmdcc2012.curlingevents.com

Visit 2012 Mixed Doubles Live Coverage Schedule to see what games are being covered

Outstanding sweeping by Dean Hicke at the 2012 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship (Photo WCF/Volkan Atar)

Chantelle Eberle and Dean Hicke in action at the 2012 Mixed Doubles Curling Championship (Photo WCF/Volkan Atar)

In opening day action on Monday, Hicke and Eberle established an early lead against the Finnish pair, Jussi Uusipaavalniemi and Jaana Hämäläinen, and were 7-0 up by the fourth-end break. Finland scored 3 points in the fifth end and a further 2 in the seventh, but were eventually run out of stones in the eighth end for a 9-5 Canadian win.

“They had a tough start picking up on the draw weight early,” said Hicke. “We had our draw weight right in the first end and we had them in trouble in the first three ends.”

The ice was fast and swingy, reports National Team Coach Jim Waite from Erzurum. “Both of the team members were outstanding. Chantelle had great draw weight. We were up 7-0 before Finland got started.”

In their 8-4 victory over Austria on Tuesday morning, the Canadians found the ice extremely fast and very swingy, with six feet of curl at the beginning of the game, then changing dramatically as the game went on.

“It was tight, and we were up 3-2 after five ends,” says Waite. “We were a bit frustrated with the ice, but Dean made an outstanding triple in the sixth end, setting up a steal of 4.”

After another steal of 1 in the seventh, the Austrians shook on an 8-2 Canadian win.

Against France’s Tony Angiboust and Delphine Charlet on Tuesday evening, Canada used hammer to score multiple points and take a 6-2 lead after five. The game ended 8-3 after seven ends.

On Wednesday, Hicke and Eberle face Slovakia and the host team, Turkey.

Follow the 2012 Mixed Doubles Curling Championship

Curling fans around the world can follow live coverage of the event via the World Curling Federation’s YouTube Channel which is embedded onto the homepage of the event website www.wmdcc2012.curlingevents.com

Visit 2012 Mixed Doubles Live Coverage Schedule to see what games are being covered. The game between Canada and China will be broadcast on Thursday, April 26 at 7:30 a.m. ET.

News, live scores, galleries and video highlights are available on the World Curling Federation Mixed Doubles Championship website.

Marie-France Larouche (Photo Andrew Klaver)

The six-time Quebec women’s champion has made the final four at the Scotties in every trip to the Canadian women’s curling championship except one, and has charmed thousands of fans across the country along the way with her unceasing smile and good nature.

Larouche started building her collection of Quebec jackets as a teen, winning five provincial junior titles, and capturing a bronze medal in her first visit to the nationals as a 14-year-old in 1995 in Regina; she would also claim a gold medal that same year at the Canada Winter Games in Grande Prairie

Larouche went on to capture the next four Quebec junior championships, finishing second at the 1997 national championship in Selkirk, Man., losing to Nova Scotia’s Meredith Doyle in the final, before winning the Canadian title two years later in Kelowna, B.C., getting some revenge with a victory over Doyle.

Larouche would go on to capture the bronze medal at the 1999 world juniors in Sweden.

Since then, she’s been a regular at the Scotties; her first appearance was in 2000 as the fifth player for Janique Berthelot’s Quebec team, and a year later, she would skip her own team in Sudbury, Ont., and also make her first playoff appearance, finishing fourth, and also qualifying for the Canadian Curling Trials in Regina.

Larouche’s breakthrough, though, would take place in 2004 at Red Deer, where she skipped Quebec into the Scotties final before losing to Colleen Jones.

Larouche captured a bronze medal at the 2009 Scotties in Victoria, and in her most recent appearance, earlier this year in Red Deer, she lost the bronze-medal game to Manitoba’s Jennifer Jones.

Larouche has helped Quebec’s young athletes over the years; in 2003, she was the Team Leader for the Quebec squad at the Canada Winter Games in New Brunswick, and three years later, she coached a junior men’s team at the provincial championship.

Birthplace: Lévis, Que.
Hometown: Lévis, Qué.
Curling Club: Etchemin Curling Club, St-Romuald
Current Team: Marie-France Larouche
Position: Skip
Delivery: Right
Nickname: Marie

Quick Hits with Marie-France Larouche

Do you have any superstitions?
“When I lose with a shirt, I don’t really feel like wearing it again.”

Three people, living or not, whom you would invite to a dinner party.
“Michael Jordan, Russ Howard and Céline Dion.”

If you could be a star any other sport, what would it be, and why?
“Beach volleyball because it’s played in the sand, it’s warm outside and the athletes are tanned.”

If you could change any rule in curling, which one would it be, and why?
“I would like the thinking time to be adopted instead of the current system. Our team has an aggressive style of play and thinking time would give us a chance to play more draws as it takes more time compared to takeouts and a defensive game.”

What music, if any, do you like to listen to before a game?
“Pop and rock music.”

Favourite:
— Website? “teamlarouche.com”
— Order from Tim Hortons? “Café mocha.”
— Vacation destination? “Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.”
— Junk food? “Poutine, for sure!!!”

Do you have any pet peeves?
“When somebody plays with loose change in their pocket.”

Person who had the most influence on your curling career. And why?
“Camil Larouche, my father. He has been coaching me for 20 years. And if I can, I would like to add another influence, I would also say André Ferland because he brought new ideas to the sport and he helped me believe that I could compete with all the teams in Canada.”

First thing on your Bucket List?
“Have a great dinner with good wine and good friends and family.”

Favourite pastime between draws at cashspiels?
“Napping, watching TV and watching the other games.”

Mixed doubles in the Olympics — thumbs up?  Thumbs down? And why?
“Thumbs up; it’s another opportunity to send more athletes of our sport and it brings the possibility to win more medals.”

One thing most people don’t know about you?
“I studied in filmmaking.”

Your ideal shot to win an Olympic gold medal:
“Draw the button, if there was no doubt that I would make it! But honestly, I would like the shot to be the easiest as possible and hearing the simple word ‘clean.’ ”

Quebec's Marie-France Larouche at the 2012 Scotties Tournament of Hearts (Photo Andrew Klaver)

Tous les trois championnats auront lieu au nouveau Centre Grant-Harvey du 13 au 20 avril 2013. Environ 30 équipes devraient se disputer les honneurs du double mixte alors que près de 40 équipes vont chercher à capturer les titres mondiaux de curling senior, hommes et femmes.

Le Centre Grant-Harvey de 29,5 millions de dollars dont l’ouverture est prévue en juin, a deux surfaces de glace qui seront utilisées durant la semaine, une aux dimensions olympiques (500 places) et l’autre aux dimensions de la ligne nationale de hockey (1 500 places). Le directeur du Comité hôte est le finaliste du Brier de 2000, Wayne Tallon avec le Club de Curling de Fredericton et le Capital Winter Club, agira à titre de coprésident des clubs hôtes.

La Présidente de la Fédération mondiale de curling Kate Caithness, a déclaré: “Nous sommes ravis d’être de retour au Nouveau-Brunswick pour deux événements qui seront présentés côte à côte en 2013, le championnat mondial de double mixte et les championnats du monde de curling senior.

“Suite à la réussite du championnat mondial Ford de curling masculin de 2009 à Moncton, la Fédération mondiale de curling se réjouit d’être en mesure de faire connaître la discipline du double mixte de curling au Canada et, en même temps, d’offrir un championnat de curling senior de classe mondiale pour le plus grand plaisir des fans du curling.”

C’est la première fois que le Canada accueillera le Mondial de double mixte qui a débuté en 2008 à Vierumäki, Finlande. Cependant, le Canada a déjà organisé le Mondial senior en 2003 à Winnipeg et en 2007 à Edmonton; le championnat a été inauguré officiellement en 2002 à Bismarck, Dakota du Nord.

“Nous sommes heureux d’être en mesure de travailler en partenariat avec la Fédération mondiale de curling et la Ville de Fredericton pour la présentation de ces grands championnats mondiaux de curling », a expliqué Greg Stremlaw, chef de la direction de l’Association canadienne de Curling.

“Le Canada a été l’hôte de nombreux événements majeurs de curling, et ce sera une merveilleuse occasion d’exposer davantage ces propriétés mondiales uniques, en plus du championnat mondial Ford de curling masculin (à Victoria), tous organisés au Canada en 2013.

“Le Mondial du double mixte apporte une singulière particularité. Nous espérons que cette présentation à Fredericton constituera une vitrine exceptionnelle pour le Comité international olympique pour cette discipline étant une grande addition possible au programme olympique dans l’avenir.”

“Je suis heureux que Fredericton soit la Ville hôte de ces championnats du monde de curling en 2013. Nous ne pouvons attendre de mettre en valeur le Centre nouvellement construit de Grant-Harvey, qui accueillera les jeux,” a déclaré le maire Brad Woodside. “Notre communauté souhaite des événements comme celui-ci, et je suis sûr que les athlètes de l’Association canadienne de curling et de la Fédération mondiale de curling jouiront de l’hospitalité légendaire que nos hôtels, nos restaurants, nos attractions et nos résidents ont à offrir.”

Fredericton a accueilli un certain nombre de championnats de curling au fil des ans – le Brier (1975), le Tournoi des Coeurs Scotties (1988), les Juniors canadiens, hommes (1965), les Juniors canadiens, femmes (1985),  les Juniors canadiens, hommes et femmes (2005) et le championnat canadien de curling senior féminin (1980).

Les championnats mondiaux de curling senior ont pris fin à Kastrup (Danemark) durant la fin de semaine. Le Canada était représenté par Heidi Hanlon du Nouveau-Brunswick et Kelly Robertson du Manitoba. Hanlon a remporté une médaille d’or en battant l’Écosse dans le match final terminant invaincue tandis que Robertson a gagné une médaille d’argent ayant perdu en prolongation face à l’Irlande.

Le Canada a connu un énorme succès aux championnats mondiaux de curling senior remportant sept titres masculins et huit titres féminins (y compris les cinq derniers) depuis 2002. Les représentants du Canada aux Mondiaux de curling senior ont été les champions canadiens seniors de l’année précédente.

Pour le Mondial de curling senior de 2013, les couleurs du Canada seront portées par Cathy King d’Edmonton de l’Alberta et Rob Armitage de Red Deer, récents gagnants des Seniors canadiens à Abbotsford, en Colombie-Britannique.

Le championnat mondial de double mixte de 2012 a débuté aujourd’hui à Erzurum en Turquie. Le Canada est représenté par Dean Hicke et Chantelle Eberle de la Saskatchewan.

Depuis l’inauguration du Mondial de double mixte en 2008, le meilleur résultat du Canada aa été une médaille de bronze par Sean Grassie et Alli Nimik du Manitoba à Cortina d’Ampezzo en 2009. Les représentants du Canada pour le double mixte du monde ont été deux membres de l’équipe gagnante du championnat canadien de curling mixte. Cependant, il n’a pas encore été décidé comment les représentants du Canada pour le double mixte monde de 2013 seront sélectionnés. La Suisse a remporté trois des quatre championnats du monde de double mixte, avec la victoire de la Russie en 2010.

Le Mondial de curling senior et le double mixte se déroulent sur huit manches au lieu de 10. Alors que la compétition mondiale de curling senior suit les règles d’une équipe de curling ordinaire, la formule du double mixte exige un homme et une femme comme participants. Les équipes lancent seulement six pierres (au lieu de huit) et une de ces pierres, de chaque équipe, est pré positionnée sur la ligne du centre avant chaque manche. Le premier joueur lance la première et la dernière pierre et le deuxième joueur lance les deuxième, troisième et quatrième pierres. S’ils choisissent de le faire, les deux joueurs peuvent changer de poste d’une manche à l’autre. Les deux membres de l’équipe sont également autorisés à balayer.

All three world championships will take place at the new Grant-Harvey Centre, April 13-20, 2013.  Approximately 30 teams are expected to compete for global honours in Mixed Doubles while almost 40 teams will seek to capture Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s world titles.

The $29.5 million Grant-Harvey Centre, scheduled to open in June, has two ice surfaces which will be utilized during the week…one Olympic-size (500 seats) and one National Hockey League-size (1,500 seats).  The host committee executive director is 2000 Brier runner-up Wayne Tallon, with both the Fredericton Curling Club and Capital Winter Club acting as co-chairs and host clubs.

World Curling Federation President Kate Caithness said, “We are delighted to be returning to New Brunswick for two events which will run side by side in 2013 – the World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship and the World Senior Curling Championships.

“Following on from the success of the 2009 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship in Moncton, the World Curling Federation is looking forward to being able to showcase the discipline of Mixed Doubles Curling in Canada and, at the same time, offer a world class Senior Curling Championship event for curling fans to enjoy.”

It marks the first time that Canada will host the World Mixed Doubles, which began in 2008 in Vierumäki, Finland.   However, Canada has previously staged the World Seniors in 2003 in Winnipeg and 2007 in Edmonton, since the championships officially began in 2002 in Bismarck, North Dakota.

“We are pleased to be able to partner with the World Curling Federation and the City of Fredericton on hosting these major world curling championships,” explained Greg Stremlaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Curling Association.

Team Canada at the 2012 WSCC

“Canada has played host to many major curling events, and it will be a wonderful opportunity to further expose these unique world properties, in addition to the Ford World Men’s Curling Championship (in Victoria), all being staged in Canada in 2013.

“Of particular note is the World Mixed Doubles, which we hope this hosting in Fredericton will serve as an exceptional showcase to the International Olympic Committee for this discipline being a potential great addition to the Olympic platform in the future.”

“I am pleased that Fredericton will be the host city for these world curling championships in 2013.  We can’t wait to showcase the newly built Grant-Harvey Centre, which will be the venue for the games,” said Mayor Brad Woodside. “Our community embraces events like this, and I am sure that the athletes, the Canadian Curling Association and the World Curling Federation will be treated to some of the finest hospitality our hotels, restaurants, attractions, and residents have to offer.”

Fredericton has hosted a number of curling championships over the years – the 1975 Brier, 1988 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, 1965 Canadian junior men’s, 1985 Canadian Junior women’s, 2005 Canadian Juniors (men and women) and the 1980 Canadian senior women’s.

This year’s renewal of the World Seniors concluded in Kastrup, Denmark on the weekend.   Canada was represented by New Brunswick’s Heidi Hanlon and Manitoba’s Kelly Robertson.  Hanlon won a gold medal, defeating Scotland in the final to finish undefeated, while Robertson earned a silver medal, losing in an extra end to Ireland.

Canada has enjoyed tremendous success at the World Seniors, winning seven men’s and eight women’s (including the last five) titles since 2002.   Canada’s representatives at the World Seniors have been the Canadian Senior champions from the previous year.

For the 2013 World Seniors, Canada’s colours will be worn by Alberta’s Cathy King of Edmonton and Rob Armitage of Red Deer, winners of the Canadian Seniors in Abbotsford, British Columbia in March.

The 2012 World Mixed Doubles got underway today in Erzurum, Turkey.  Canada is being represented by Saskatchewan’s Dean Hicke and Chantelle Eberle.

Since the World Mixed Doubles began in 2008, Canada’s best finish has been a bronze medal by Manitoba’s Sean Grassie and Alli Nimik in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 2009.  Canada’s representatives for the World Mixed Doubles have been two members of the winning team from the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship.   However, it has not yet been decided how Canada’s representatives for the 2013 World Mixed Doubles will be selected.    Switzerland has won three of the four World Mixed Doubles Championships, with Russia winning in 2010.

Both the World Seniors and Mixed Doubles are played over eight ends instead of 10 ends.   While the World Seniors competition follow the rules of traditional team curling, the Mixed Doubles format brings together one male and one female curler.  Teams have only six stones each (instead of eight) and one of those stones, from each team, is prepositioned on the centre line before each end of play.    Player one delivers the first and last stones and player two plays the second, third and fourth stones. If they choose to, the two players may swap positions from one end to the next.   Both team members are also allowed to sweep.

Hicke and Eberle, who won a playoff against their Saskatchewan teammates, Jason and Colleen Ackerman, for the Mixed Doubles berth, join 26 other Mixed Doubles teams from around the world.

National Team Coach Jim Waite and Team Canada Mixed Doubles team Chantelle Eberle and Dean Hicke (Photo courtesy WCF)

This is the fifth edition of the event since its inauguration in Vierumäki, Finland in 2008 and the first time that Turkey, which joined the World Curling Federation in 2009, has hosted a WCF World Curling Championship.

The 2012 event is taking place in the Milli Piyango Curling Arena in Erzurum, Eastern Turkey which hosted the curling competition at the 2011 Winter University Games (Universiade).

Team Canada arrived in Turkey on Thursday – without their luggage, reports National Team Coach Jim Waite – but they  were able to retrieve everything the next day, including their broom bag.

Since arrival, curlers and coach have been exploring the surrounding area and getting acclimatized. On Sunday, the teams had a chance to get in some practice on the ice before the start of the competition Monday.

Waite says the Milli Piyango Curling Arena is one of the most beautiful he has ever seen. The 1100-seat facility has a soaring 50-foot ceiling and five sheets of dedicated curling ice.

In Monday’s opening game against Finland, Hicke and Eberle scored a deuce in the first end, then stole the next three ends, finishing after seven ends with a 9-5 victory.

Curling fans around the world are able to follow live coverage of the event via the World Curling Federation’s YouTube Channel www.youtube.com/WorldCurlingTV which is embedded onto the homepage of the event website www.wmdcc2012.curlingevents.com. In a new venture for this season, World Curling Federation Championship action has been live streamed globally through YouTube.

News, live scores, image galleries and video highlights are available on the event website: www.wmdcc2012.curlingevents.com

Team Canada celebrates after winning gold at the World Seniors Curling Championships (Photo WCF/Richie Laurie)

Hanlon and her team of Kathy Floyd, Judy Blanchard and Jane Arseneau dominated Scotland in the final, shaking hands on a 12-2 victory after seven ends.

“We made it. Amazing, awesome, it’s unbelievable. We waited a long time for this moment,” said Hanlon after the win. “We have curled so many years together, off and on, and this is what we’ve dreamed of, I’ve been saying that all day. This is what we’ve been curling for all these years, just to be in this game, so let’s just play.”

Scottish skip Barbara Watt was gracious in defeat. “We’re sorry we didn’t make a better game of it but they didn’t let us,” she said. “They played absolutely beautifully. If you had told us at the start of the week we would be getting the silver medal we would be absolutely thrilled and we are – absolutely thrilled. We weren’t in that game, they were just too good, that’s all.”

Team Canada skip Kelly Robertson (Photo WCF/Richie Laurie)

On the men’s side, Team Canada’s Kelly Robertson and his team of Doug Armour, Peter Prokopowich and Bob Scales came out on the short side of a 6-5 final against and an ecstatic Irish team skipped by John Jo Kerry, who made history by winning his country’s first-ever world curling championship title.

The main turning point in the game came in the fourth end when Ireland hit a double take-out to score four points. Canada battled back and the teams were tied 5-5 going into an extra end, Canada with last stone advantage. However they could not make it count as Robertson was deep with his last draw.

“It’s like the wind has been sucked right out of me,” said Robertson afterwards. “They played a good game – we gave up a four ender which was a little hard to take, but we came back. Actually, he made a great shot with his first one in the extra end. I had the chance to win it with a draw, I’ve had draw weight all week, but it’s the way it goes I guess.

In the bronze medal games, Sweden won both the women’s and men’s side, defeating New Zealand 10-3 in women’s play, and Norway 8-4 in men’s.

More news and photo galleries can be found on the World Seniors Curling Championship website.

In Men’s Group A, Canada’s Kelly Robertson finished with a 6-0 record and faces Scotland (who had to qualify through tie-breakers) on Friday evening.

Team Canada third Doug Armour calls the line for sweepers Peter Prokopowich and Bob Scales (Photo WCF/Richie Laurie)

After finishing on top of Women’s Group A with a 6-0 record, Canada’s Heidi Hanlon qualified for the semi-finals and will face second-place New Zealand (5-1) on Saturday morning.

“We’re thrilled,” said Team Canada third Kathy Floyd after a 6-2 victory over Scotland.  That was our goal, to get to the play-offs and we’ll see where we go from there. For the most part we’ve played pretty well throughout the championship so far. We had two or three ends against Russia where we really struggled but hopefully we’re back on track. New Zealand are a great team by making the play-offs so we’ll need to start afresh and be ready for them.”

According to Team Canada Team Leader Bill Tschirhart, the competition has stepped up now that playoffs have started. “With former world champions like [Norway’s] Eigel Ramsfjell in the mix, you know the quality is high.”

The Scottish men, skipped by Keith Prentice, were clearly happy to face Canada again in the semi-finals. “The Scots know they have under-achieved,” said Tschirhart, reporting from Denmark. “The incentive to have another crack at Canada is paramount for them.”

On the women’s side, the competition is just as tough, especially in the upcoming semi-final against New Zealand.

“The [Canadian] women will play a very dangerous team from New Zealand in their semi-final game. They are in the playoffs for the first time and as a result are ‘playing with house money’. We shall not take them lightly!” says Tschirhart. “Team Scotland women won a tie breaker this morning with Team USA. Scotland will now play Sweden in the other women’s semi-final tomorrow morning. Should the Swedes and Canadians prevail in their respective semi-final, it will be a reprise of last year’s gold medal game won by Canada, so if that matchup occurs, the Swedes will have some unfinished business on their minds.”

With solid records behind them, and great ice at the Taarnby Curling Club, the teams know “it will take their best effort and game to win the gold medal – but they feel good about their chances.”

News, scores and standings can be found on the World Seniors Curling Championship website.

Watching the action on the ice from the comfort of the club room seating (Photo courtesy P. Lafrance)

Yes, the end of the curling season has its traditions and rituals, established over the years, celebrated annually, and anticipated by members as the winter edges into spring.

In Maniwaki, Quebec, this spring marks the end of the first season of curling at the new Club de Curling Valleé de la Gatineau/Gatineau Valley Curling Club, and traditions are yet to be created. Earlier this season, Around the House told the story of this committed community of curlers who worked together for twelve long years to make their local club a reality. Let’s revisit our starting point: let’s see what happened after curling came to Maniwaki – starting with the end, of course.

Paul and Noreen Lafrance showing off their Christmas spirit on in the ice (Photo courtesy P. Lafrance)

“We have been busy ‘decompressing’ from the season,” said club members Terry Tims and Paul Lafrance, during the first week of April. “We had a closing in-house bonspiel two weeks ago – a lot of fun since it was really the first opportunity for members who played in different leagues and times to socialize together.”

The new facility itself has lived up to expectations, say Tims and Lafrance, especially in terms of the ice.

“We were very fortunate to have good ice,” they say, referring to the truth universally acknowledged by curlers that good ice is the key to, well, everything.  “We were very lucky that one of our long time members, Nelson Millar, volunteered to be the iceman.  He formed a small team that created and maintained great ice.”

Millar, a former teacher, studied the art of making good ice and contacted other clubs’ icemakers to learn the craft.

Reginald Bouchard holds the trophy for Men's Open play at the end of the club's first season. Bouchard was the driving force behind building a dedicated curling facility for curlers in Maniwaki. (Photo courtesy Paul Lafrance)

“He was at the centre early and often, and not afraid to experiment with both the ice and rocks,” says Tims, pointing out the one resulting flaw: “The problem for many members now, is that they can’t blame the ice as often when they miss their shot!”

On the ice, Seniors, Ladies, Men’s and Mixed leagues filled the schedule both during the day and on weekday evenings. Off the ice, the expected socializing was a bonus too.

“The bar, manned by volunteers, has done very well,” say Tims and Lafrance.  “We also did a better than expected rental business, mainly from people who heard the ‘buzz’ around town that curling was fun and the club was very inviting.  We will try to get as many as possible to join as full members next year.”

Growing the membership was always at the top of the To-Do list, of course. But that’s not easy to do in a community where curling is a fairly new activity. So what did they do? They called in some help.

Earle Morris (left) meets with members of the fledgling Club de Curling Valleé de la Gatineau to offer advice on running a curling facility. Terry Tims is seated on Morris's left. (Photo courtesy P. Lafrance)

“The founding members in Maniwaki are an extremely special group,” says Earle Morris, Club Professional at the Ottawa Curling Club. “I was blown away by how passionate they were about curling even though they were arena curlers in the past who did not have a dedicated facility.  And I was really impressed with how hard they were prepared to work to ensure the success of their new club.  For example, five or six of them drove down to Ottawa last summer to pick my brain on what I thought that they needed to do to “get it right”.  I know that they also did this with others in Ottawa and other locations.”

One of Morris’s suggestions was to focus on the instruction of “newbies” so that the new curlers would see improvement and fit into leagues more comfortably.

“The training of new, inexperienced [curlers] for the first couple of months paid off for those who participated,” say Tims and Lafrance.  “Earle Morris had advised us to try and make the training fun, and we believe we succeeded from the smiles we have seen.”

Les Fleurs (Queen and her Duchesses) from the local Maniwaki winter festival known as Pawkuan made a special appearance at the curling club. (Photo courtesy P. Lafrance)

Getting the word out to the community was a high priority, and the club took advantage of every opportunity to attract locals through the doors and onto the ice, welcoming school groups, adult students and groups with physical and mental handicaps.  The club even took part in Maniwaki’s local Winter Festival, Pakwaun, for the first time.

“Although curling was not on the ‘official’ program, the event organizers were agreeable when we approached them to promote the new club by having the Festival Queen and Duchesses (les Fleurs) visit the club for a photo opportunity. We agreed to keep club members available for the two days for anyone who wanted to try curling, essentially an open house,” says Tims.

For a community new to the sport of curling, showcasing the club with photos in the local papers and lots of word-of-mouth support provided an excellent public relations opportunity and attracted a large variety of people – young families, seniors, and even some visiting curlers from clubs in Ottawa.

“Overall, considering the lack of experience in managing a curling facility we have come through with flying colours,” say Tims and Lafrance, justifiably proud.

The first season of the Club de Curling Valleé de la Gatineau/Gatineau Valley Curling Club is done, but its 143 members have a lot to celebrate – and a lot to look forward to in the seasons to come.

Action on the ice at the club's Mixed Bonspiel. The mural overlooking the ice was created especially for the club by Quebec artist Brigitte Toutant. Paul Lafrance explains: "All the little wood rings are placed at a different height on pins giving you the impression that we have a 3D picture representing a day in our area, the forest - being the theme which is the main industry for our region - and our beautiful seasons." (Photo courtesy P. Lafrance)

Fans at the 2011 Ford World Men's Curling Championship (Photo Michael Burns)

In the CSTA International Sport Event of the Year (presented by Tourism Winnipeg) category, the 2011 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship held in Regina, Saskatchewan, was chosen over the 2011 World Baseball Challenge (Prince George, BC) and the ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating Finals 2011 (Quebec City, Quebec).

The 2011 Tim Hortons Brier, held in London, Ontario, was selected as the CSTA Canadian Sport Event of the Year (presented by Tourism Montreal). Other events in this category included the 2011 Canadian Sprint CanoeKayak Championships – Nationals (Welland, Ontario)
and the 2011 Legion National Youth Track & Field Championships (Ottawa, Ontario).

Greg Stremlaw, CEO of the Canadian Curling Association, accepted the awards today at the presentation luncheon held during the CSTA’s annual Sport Events Congress in Richmond. Also in attendance was Peter Inch, Chair of the 2011 Tim Hortons Brier organizing committee from London, Ontario.

The Canadian Sport Tourism Alliance is a tourism industry-led organization that promotes sport tourism as an economic driver at the community level. The CSTA services over 300 members across Canada, including 125 municipalities, 150 national and provincial sport, multi-sport and major games organizations and variety of other national and provincial sport and tourism industry partners.

2011 Tim Hortons Brier (Photo Michael Burns)