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Saturday, February 28, 2015

The Curling News March 2015 Digital Edition Volume 58, Issue 5

The Curling News now offers subscribers a digital edition as well as print. The digital edition has extra pages and in addition, every page is digitally enhanced, launching videos, webpages, photo galleries and more. It's amazing.


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We hope you enjoy this all-digital March 2015 edition of The Curling News!
 
Yours in curling,

George Karrys, Publisher





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Friday, February 27, 2015

CCA is no more; Welcome CURLING CANADA

For Immediate Release
Feb. 27, 2015

Curling Canada unveils new name, new logo, new brand

Note to editors: To download more information
on our new name and emblem, click here.

 
A new name, a new logo and new branding will take Canada’s governing body for the sport of curling into the future, it was announced today.

Curling Canada is the new title for the world’s largest domestic curling association, replacing th
e title of Canadian Curling Association, which had been in place since 1990.

As well, a new, simple and elegant emblem has been unveiled that requires no explanation about its origin — the emblem features a curling rock placed on top of a Red Maple Leaf inside a shield.

Go to brand.curling.ca to see more information about our new look and branding.

“We couldn’t be more thrilled to launch a new era and a new look for the sport of curling in Canada,” said Curling Canada Chief Executive Officer Greg Stremlaw. “The logo instantly identifies the sport and its role in Canada, and has an iconic, bold feel to it that at once looks modern and yet respectful of the game’s rich history and roots in Canada.”

The new Curling Canada emblem is inspired by the shield iconography that is unique to curling in Canada, appearing over the years on provincial badges, club patches, trophies and banners, and was the centrepiece of this organization’s emblem for more than half a century.

“I love the way the new emblem speaks to the history of our great sport but also takes us to the future,” said 2014 Olympic gold-medallist Jennifer Jones. “It’s always wonderful to wear the Maple Leaf and represent your country, and the new Curling Canada brand will be instantly identifiable and talked about for all of the right reasons.”

The Curling Canada brand redesign, which was undertaken with collaboration and significant support from the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC), was conducted by the firm of Hulse & Durrell, which has put together numerous brand launches over the years, most notably that of the COC as well as the branding for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

“Our goal was to create a brand that draws from the past, is rooted in the present, and reimagines the future of this sport — a brand that stands the test of time,” said Ben Hulse, partner with Hulse & Durrell. “We searched for timeless values and aesthetics in Curling Canada’s extraordinary history and brought these qualities to every aspect of the new brand.”

Over the coming months, the comprehensive rebranding will show up in all that Curling Canada does, both on and off the ice. A new-look website (curling.ca) that features the new identity will launch on Saturday, and the new logos and colours will be part of the in-ice markings on display for the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier, presented by SecurTek Monitoring Solutions, which begins on Saturday at the Scotiabank Saddledome.

“The process to get us to this point where we can unveil our new branding and emblem was a long one, but the end result shows that it was worth it,” said Marilyn Neily, Chair of the Curling Canada Board of Governors. “The work put in by Hulse & Durrell should be commended as they created the ideal blend of tradition and modern impact that will keep moving our sport forward.”

The new logos and Curling Canada style will be a significant part of the Team Canada uniform going forward for future World Championships as well as the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Additionally, through a new partnership with TSN and Mustang Products, clothing featuring the new Curling Canada logos, as well as retro-style items, will be on sale as of Saturday through TSN Shop (tsnshop.ca).

Curling Canada’s social media channels also will take on the new brand: twitter.com/curlingcanada, Facebook.com/curlingcanada, youtube.com/curlingcanada and instagram.com/curlingcanada.

The Dominion Curling Association was the first name of Canada’s curling governing body. Formed in 1935, it was renamed the Canadian Curling Association in 1967, with the development program Curl Canada formed in 1974. Meanwhile, the Canadian Ladies Curling Association came into existence in 1961, and upon merging with the CCA and Curl Canada in 1990, the Canadian Curling Association left as the lone brand for the sport’s governance in Canada.

Now, Curling Canada will become the brand of record for curling in this country, covering all aspects of the sport with comprehensive guidelines that align the brand with Curling Canada’s extensive network of partners, sponsors, broadcasters and curling stakeholders. The new name and look also will apply to a myriad of other branded assets that include but are not limited to Curling Canada’s Hall of Fame, Curling Canada’s philanthropic program For The Love of Curling and the Season of Champions series of events. A complete over-arching brand architecture has been created through Curling Canada’s first systematic brand overhaul in all facets of its business operations.

In addition to being a shorter title, Curling Canada has the added benefit that it’s the same title in French and English.

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For More Information:

Greg Stremlaw
Chief Executive Officer
Curling Canada
Office: 613-834-2076 x117
Cell: 613-799-9993
gstremlaw@curling.ca

Al Cameron
Director, Communication & Media Relations
Curling Canada
Tel: 403-463-5500
acameron@curling.ca



Pour diffusion immédiate
Le 27 février, 2015

Curling Canada dévoile un nouveau nom,
un noveau logotype, une nouvelle marque

L’organisme national de régie du sport de curling au Canada fait peau neuve avec un nouveau nom, un nouveau logotype et une nouvelle stratégie de marque, il a été annoncé aujourd’hui.

Curling Canada est le nouveau titre de la plus grande association nationale de curling au monde. Ce nom vient remplacer l’Association canadienne de curling, titre qui existe depuis 1990.

L’organisme a également dévoilé son nouvel emblème simple et élégant qui exprime parfaitement ses origines et son identité : le logotype inclut une pierre de curling sur une feuille d’érable rouge, encadrées par un enseigne.

Visitez le brand.curling.ca/index-fr.html pour en apprendre plus sur notre nouveau look et notre nouvelle marque.

«Nous sommes ravis d’amorcer une nouvelle ère et un nouveau look pour le sport de curling au Canada,» a indiqué Greg Stremlaw, chef de la direction chez Curling Canada. «Ce logotype définit instantanément le sport et son rôle au Canada, et son apparence est à la fois distinctive et puissante : il adopte un style moderne tout en témoignant un grand respect pour la riche histoire du sport, et les racines qu’il a au Canada.»

Le nouveau logotype Curling Canada tire son inspiration de l’iconographie d’enseigne qui est le propre du curling au Canada, incorporée au fil des années dans les insignes provinciaux, les écussons de club, les trophées et les bannières. Cette enseigne a servi d’élément central de l’emblème de l’organisme pendant plus d’un demi-siècle.

«J’apprécie beaucoup le fait que ce nouveau logotype met en valeur l’histoire distinguée de notre sport, tout en nous orientant vers l’avenir,» a dit Jennifer Jones, médaillée d’or aux Jeux Olympiques d’hiver 2014. «C’est toujours un honneur d’enfiler la feuille d’érable et représenter notre pays. La nouvelle marque Curling Canada sera aisément reconnaissable, et se fera remarquer pour toutes les bonnes raisons.»

La refonte de la marque Curling Canada, entreprise avec la coopération et un appui significatif du Comité olympique canadien (COC), a été confiée à la firme Hulse & Durrell, responsable de bon nombre de lancements de marque au fil des années, notamment celui du COC ainsi que la stratégie de marque des Jeux Olympiques d’hiver 2010 à Vancouver.

«Notre mission était de créer une marque qui rend hommage au passé, qui s’inscrit dans le présent et qui regarde vers un avenir prometteur pour ce sport — une marque qui résiste à l’épreuve du temps,» a déclaré Ben Hulse, associé chez Hulse & Durrell. «Nous avons cerné des valeurs et une esthétique immuables dans l’histoire remarquable de Curling Canada et nous avons intégré ces qualités dans tous les aspects de la nouvelle marque.»

Au fil des prochains mois, la modernisation de la marque sera évidente dans toutes les activités de Curling Canada, sur la glace comme hors glace. Un site web relooké (curling.ca) incorporant la nouvelle identité sera dévoilé samedi, et les nouveaux logotypes et nouvelles couleurs seront incorporés dans le marquage de la glace au Brier Tim Hortons 2015, présenté par SecurTek Monitoring Solutions, qui commence samedi dans l’aréna Scotiabank Saddledome.

«Pour en arriver ici, prêts à dévoiler notre nouvelle marque et notre nouveau logotype, le processus a été long, mais le résultat final en a valu la peine,» a dit Marilyn Neily, présidente du conseil des gouverneurs de Curling Canada. «Il faut féliciter Hulse & Durrell pour son travail en créant un excellent mariage d’hommage à la tradition et de puissante modernité qui reflètent parfaitement le dynamisme et l’élan de notre sport.»

Les nouveaux logotypes et style de Curling Canada seront un élément majeur de l’uniforme Équipe Canada aux futures Championnats du Monde et aux Jeux Olympiques et Paralympiques d’hiver.

En plus, par le truchement d’un nouveau partenariat avec TSN et Mustang Products, des vêtements incorporant les nouveaux logotypes Curling Canada ainsi que des articles de style rétro seront mis en vente à compter de samedi dans la boutique en ligne TSN Shop (tsnshop.ca).

Les réseaux sociaux de Curling Canada vont également adopter la nouvelle marque : twitter.com/curlingcanada, Facebook.com/curlingcanada, youtube.com/curlingcanada and instagram.com/curlingcanada.

The Dominion Curling Association a été le nom original de l’organisme de régie du sport de curling au Canada. Établie en 1935, l’organisation s’est rebaptisée l’Association canadienne de curling en 1967, et le programme de développement Curl Canada a vu le jour en 1974. Entre temps, la Canadian Ladies Curling Association a été établie en 1961 et, quand cette dernière s’est fusionnée avec l’ACC et Curl Canada en 1990, l’Association canadienne de curling est devenue la seule et unique marque de gouvernance du sport de curling au Canada.

Maintenant, Curling Canada deviendra la marque officiellement associée au sport de curling dans ce pays, recouvrant tous les aspects du sport avec des lignes directrices complètes pour associer la marque avec le réseau extensif de partenaires, commanditaires, radiodiffuseurs et autres parties prenantes de Curling Canada. Le nouveau nom et nouveau logo s’appliqueront également à divers autres volets de l’actif qui représentent la marque, incluant mais sans en être limité à : le Temple de la renommée de Curling Canada, le programme philanthropique de Curling Canada, Pour l’amour du curling, ainsi que les événements de la Saison des champions. Cette modernisation systématique de l’identité visuelle de l’organisme met en place une architecture de marque qui va chapeauter tous les aspects des opérations de Curling Canada.

En plus d’être plus court, le titre Curling Canada revêt l’avantage additionnel d’être identique en anglais et en français.

-30-

Pour en savoir plus :

Greg Stremlaw
Chef de la direction
Curling Canada
Bureau : 613-834-2076 poste 117
Mobile : 613-799-9993
gstremlaw@curling.ca

Al Cameron
Directeur, Communication et relations avec les médias
Curling Canada
Tél : 403-463-5500
acameron@curling.ca
 

Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Curling Hall of Famer

Curling Hall of Famer

CANSTAR FILE PHOTOEnlarge Image
Wheelchair curler and 2014 Paralympic Winter Games gold medal winner Dennis Thiessen, of Sanford, is one of the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame’s 2015 inductees, as announced by Curl Manitoba on Feb. 10
Thiessen was vice-skip on Team Canada at the 2014 Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia and on the Canadian team that took gold in the 2014 World Wheelchair Curling Championships.
Thiessen’s formal induction will take place May 3 at Canad Inns Polo Park at the 28th annual Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner.

Ficek sweeps Sonego in Northern Ontario Provincial Wheelchair Curling Championships

By Brandon Logan, Kenora Daily Miner and News
Kenora Curling Club skip Wayne Ficek throws a stone during his team's series win in the Northern Ontario Provincial Wheelchair Curling Championships on Saturday.
BRANDON LOGAN/Daily Miner and News
Kenora Curling Club skip Wayne Ficek throws a stone during his team's series win in the Northern Ontario Provincial Wheelchair Curling Championships on Saturday. BRANDON LOGAN/Daily Miner and News

After falling behind 6-3 in the fifth end of Game 2, Ficek blanked the sixth end and took one in the seventh end to bring the team within two points going into the final end. From there, magic happened and the Kenora rink pulled off an unlikely comeback to win 7-6.
“Coming home, we just decided to play it and get as many rocks in play as we can,” Ficek recalled. “We put up a centre guard and it was close to the house and they weren’t able to hit it, then we were able to put up another guard and then we came in around one.”
From there, Team Sonego missed a few shots and Ficek’s rink continued to pile the stones in play. With Sonego holding the last rock and a chance to extend the series, things fell into place for the home side.
“His last shot we were lying three and it was a wide open hit to take the second shot rock and that would have only gave us one (point) and they would have won,” Ficek explained. “If they hit and rolled out, we would have got two and tied and went to an extra end. Instead, he ended up getting up a little inside and hit our red rock in the 12 foot and moved it a few inches into the house, so we still ended up lying three and ended up winning.”
Ficek, who skips team, has been shooting third and credited Chester Draper’s play at fourth for a big reason the team won. He also noted great shots by Denise Miault at the lead position and Lorin Gan at second helped the comeback as well.
“I have to credit the front end during the last end, because the played perfectly,” Ficek noted. “They put their rocks in perfect spots.
Up next for the team is a two-month break before the nationals in Boucherville, Que., in April.
“It’s thrilling,” coach Randy Ronnebeck said. “Part of Wayne’s team have been there a few times quite a few years ago, but it’s the first time for me since I started working with them.”
It’s the team’s first trip to nationals since 2011 and Ficek has high expectations for the team.
“It’s going to be nice to be back after a three year miss, and I think we learned a lot in the first three years (2009-11) we went there and hopefully we can come into it with a pretty good perspective on making a run,” he said. “We’ll always have the expectation to at least try to make the playoffs. That’s the goal. Go to the round robin and get into a situation where you’re playing in one of the top four spots.”
As for now, the team is just going to savour their provincial win before the hard work really gets started.
Brandon.Logan@sunmedia.ca
twitter@BrandonWLogan

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

A Question for viewers....



For some five years, we have worked hard to provide a forum for individuals who love the sport of wheelchair curling to have a home. The Wcblog2 was created to fill a void and not only provide a one stop shop for information on the sport but to provide a reasonable safe area for any comments or more over concerns to be shared.

 The cost for a production like Nationals even through Live Stream is expensive. You have not only the cost of the equipment but also the cost of travel, hotels, and even food. We started a Go fund me fundraiser so we could continue not only coverage of nationals but also the blog itself. Often the hours needed to gather the information and place it on the site equal a full time job. 

We have received a number of donations through our fundraising efforts and we thank all those who have made contributions. Dan, Goose, Kerry, Mike, Connie, George, Ryan, Carl, Dale and Ernie have all believed in what we are doing and the funds raised to date will ensure continuation of the blog 2 but we are not reaching the levels we need to be at.

As we look to the future, the cost of transporting equipment, the cost of travel, etc. will be prohibitive.  We have been blessed to be able to drive to the locations of Nationals over the years and provide this coverage but as we move (we are going back to BC) and as Nationals moves (no idea where next year’s may be) the cost is projected to be too much.

Unless we find a way for private sponsorship for Nationals coverage there is a real possibility that this coverage will be lost. and being able to view the games from home will also be lost. Rest assured that every dollar raised is going back to the sport of WC Curling and the providing the blog for your everyday information.

I ask you to honestly consider making a contribution to our efforts to cover our sport so the world can see it. 

209, 000 viewers  last year in a week is not bad and this year we expected better than quarter of a million. If you can’t make a contribution then maybe you know someone who can or a company that may sponsor the event.

And if not, leave a comment about what you think about Nationals being LIVE casted.

Should it be?

Will you be watching?

Do you think it make an impact?

Now is the time for your voice to be heard, do you really want this type of coverage to fade away?


Thank you in advance for the consideration and time to read this piece.



Sunday, February 22, 2015

Team Lessard Win Quebec playdowns again!


In another playdown this weekend, Team Lessard played off in a 2 team playdowns winning 3 games against a team from Québec city  at the Victoria curling club.

A NEW player for Lessard see's  Christine Lavalle  (Lead for Ontario team Last year) replaces Sebastien Boisvert.