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Saturday, September 8, 2012

The Curling World will miss Arleen Day

The curling world was saddened on Tuesday, September 4th to learn that 63-year old Arleen Day of Regina passed away as a result of complications from lung cancer. Day, a former Saskatchewan women’s champion and a long time curling umpire was first diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 2010.
Arleen Day was a long time member of the CCA officiating committee and was instrumental in the development of the umpiring system that is used today by the World Curling Federation (WCF) and the CCA.
 
“Arleen will be remembered for the outstanding contribution she made as an umpire in Saskatchewan, Canada and the world”, said Canadian Curling Association (CCA) CEO Greg Stremlaw. “She was the dedicated kind of volunteer that simply doesn’t come along everyday, everyone at the CCA will miss Arleen, especially staff members and volunteers who worked with her over the years”, he continued.

Day acquired Level I officiating certificate in 1983 and by 1985 she had managed to acquire Level III status while directing a number of officiating courses at both the provincial and national level. Arleen also became involved with the administrative side of the sport serving as President of the Saskatchewan Ladies Curling Association and she was part of the group that worked on amalgamation of the Canadian Ladies Curling Association and the Canadian Curling Association in 1990.

She was a long time member of the CCA officiating committee and was instrumental in the development of the umpiring system that is used today by the World Curling Federation (WCF) and the CCA.

Day served as the alternate and head umpire for numerous national and international championships including the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Tim Horton’s Brier, World Financial Group Continental Cup, Capital One Canada Cup, Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings and the Ford Worlds. She had recently been an umpire for the WCF at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

She was inducted into the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame as a builder in recognition of her accomplishments as an administrator and umpire. She was a Level 5 umpire, the highest level in Canada and the world.

Day’s last event as head umpire was the 2012 World Financial Group Continental Cup of Curling held in Langley, B.C. last January. She had been the head umpire of the Ryder Cup style world event since its inception in 2002 missing only the 2011 event because of illness.

She was presented with the CCA Award of Achievement in 1997 and was an honorary life member of the Saskatchewan Curling Association.

Got pennies????


Bring in your pennies

Citing low purchasing power and rising production costs, the government has decided to phase the penny out of existence starting this fall, when the Royal Canadian Mint will stop distributing the one-cent coin to financial institutions.

If you have a drawer filled with pennies like I do, or jars of the pesky pennies or if they are under your mattress giving you a frightful night’s sleep…bring them in to our curling game on Saturdays, we will put them to good use. Natasha has volunteered to roll them or if it is overwhelming we can have a rolling lunch with volunteers; we can all ask around to see if your friends or family will donate their pennies to our club. It’s one way of getting good use from the lowest coin denomination our country has to offer. Our penny drive will help to give us some fun. We will be bringing in some coin jars to the pennies.
One cent for all…and all for one….
 
More information found at: http://www.capitalwheelchaircurling.ca/

Wheelchairs welcome - Italy - October 12-14, 2012


Paralympic Torch, curler Aileen Neilson

12-08-29 Aileen Neilson Paralympic Torch - Crop





One of many bearers of the Paralympic Torch, curler Aileen Neilson smiles with pride as she makes her way through London with the trusty guards beside her.

 A special time for Aileen to be part of this hugely successful Paralympic Games that we are all enjoying.

As Aileen said, ” It was a once in a lifetime experience, one I will never forget, and it was great having family and friends and what seemed like the whole of Hackney cheering me on”

Friday, September 7, 2012

Armstrong & Team Canada updates




So we all know that Team Canada Skip (not x) has filed an appeal against his current suspension handed down by the WCF for a doping infraction. In speaking with Jim, he has experienced extensive delays regarding the outcome of the appeal which has been caused by the Olympic & Paralympic games.
 
What will the outcome be? Well, if we look at history including the Jeff Adams appeal on his suspension we can only hope that logic comes to the forefront and Team Canada can regain one of its most successful players.

So where does that leave the current Team Canada program. As we understand it now, we see between 8 and 11 of Canada's top hopefuls looking to make the team this year. Should Jim win his suspension than that in its self causes a whole new problem for the program as we know he would be placed back in the program leaving the newbie’s questioning how to crack the block.

It also has been suggested by readers that Team Canada should look at the whole picture when it comes to the program. Look at coach development and or mentorship, player exploration including more new players and even some of the old ones.

It has been suggested "that Canada's emphasis to be training rather than competing this season. Need to find a skip from carded squad Sonja, Ina, Darryl, Anne and Jack"

My question is why this suggestion would be limited to 5 suggested players? Why not look outside the box to the current pool or even beyond. Canada has a talent pool both current and past which can bring the program back to the top from its last 6th place performance at worlds. Combine this with coach development and Canada will just solidify its place in the World as the wheelchair curling and curling power house we are use to.

This all of course is larger based on the outcome of Jim's appeal!

Fingers crossed!

7th Open Czech Tournament set for November


The 7th Open Czech event is set to go for Novemeber information can be found @ http://minus.com/mMvmDsTqf ; the question that remains is however wheather Canada will invest in international travel this year or not

London, Ontario Coach speaks to Canadian coaching!



London Ontario coach and former Alberta Coach Ernie Comerford has published a paper expressing his opinion on "Wheelchair Curling"

Ernie who just celebrated a birthday on September 6, asks a few hard questions in his article.

Check it out @ http://minus.com/mYJdXhK9V/

Funding to help make curling more accessible





Curling centres can take advantage of a new fund to help them make their facilities more accessible.
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s “Enabling Accessibility Fund” supports community-based projects across Canada that improve accessibility, remove barriers and enable Canadians with disabilities to participate in and contribute to their communities.

The “Small Project” component of the fund is now accepting applications, and provides grants of up to $50,000 per project to construct, renovate or retrofit building.

The funding can also be used to modify vehicles for community use or enhance information and communication technologies to make them more accessible.

The application deadline is October 5, 2012 at 8:59 pm Pacific Standard Time.

Full details are available on the website and include the application form and program guidelines. Applicants are encouraged to read the guidelines before completing the application.

Visit http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/disability_issues/eaf/cfp/index.shtml for information or to apply.

If you have additional questions about the funding, please contact HRSDC by email at:
ac.cg.ccdhr-cdsrhnull@fae-apf or through their toll free numbers: 1-866-268-2502 or TTY: 1 800 926-9105.