Approximately 50 people of all ages, who are both new to Canada and new to one of Canada’s most popular winter sports, took to the ice at the Cornwall Curling Club this evening for an introduction to “the roaring game”. The event, organized by the Club and the PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada, (PEIANC) continues for the next two Sunday evenings.
Craig Mackie photo: Cornwall Curling Club Board of Directors member Paula Ling helps a young “newcomer” deliver a rock
Both PEIANC Executive Director (and Cornwall club member) Craig Mackie and Joe Byrne, their Community Connections Supervisor, along with Cornwall Curling Club President Frank Martin, helped out with the event, all saying that said they were very pleased with both the turnout and the event. The smiles on the curlers’ faces, and the enthusiasm they showed for the sport all indicated that the introduction to curling was a success.
Thanks to everyone at the Club who helped with on-ice instruction, including Club President Frank Martin, Past President Paul Neima, Board Members Carlene Peters, Paula Ling, and Joe MacKinnon, volunteer instructors Bryan Sutherland, Paul Field, Vernon Chowan, and Mark MacDonald, along with Debby Sigsworth for serving the hot chocolate and cookies, and Jeff Taylor for cleaning the ice.
If other newcomers would like to attend on either January 18 (7-9 PM), or the 25th (6-8 PM), they are asked to get in touch with Joe Byrne at 902-628-6009 x224 or email joeb@peianc.com.
For more info on the PEI Association of Newcomers for Canada, visit PEIAnc.com.
Funding assistance for this initiative is being provided under the Sport Partnership and Engagement Program, a project of the Sport Participation Bilateral which is jointly funded by the Province of PEI (Department of Health and Wellness) and the Federal Government (Canadian Heritage – Sport Canada).