Summer Bonspiel Calendar

Go figure the list above....in British Columbia, where it is hard to field a team during the season, offers alll those summer spiels. So if you are vsiting the left coast this summer try one out.

Go here to see Ontario's newest summer spiel - in North Bay where the Rock Star theme is going to be carried ion off ice.

Then there is the always popular arena summer tournament at the New Liskeard arena. OR WAS. It got cancelled after the town decided not to put ice in the arena this year. The North Bay spiel is taking its place.

Those are the only Ontario events I could find.

Now in Alberta the Village of Irma offers a whole week of curling from men's to mixed to stick and everything else. It runs July 30 to August 6. Irma's web site is here. Irma is south east of Edmonton near the border with Saskatchewan.

If you know of any more summer bonspiels let me know.

John Morris was inducted into the Walll of Distinction at Lakeland College in Alberta on May 4. He attended the college for  a summer to further his fire fighting work. In the article below (courtesy of the Lloydminster Meridian Booster) the curler is quoted as saying " to presenting the difference between real and fake breasts in front of a substitute teacher" Breasts? We want to hear that story John Boy.

A few years ago in a telephone interview with John, I asked him about a problem some teams had with his team with regards to etiquette in the hack. To the question of distractions he said "A women could be in the stands shaking her naked boobs and it wouldn't bother me when I am throwing." I guess thats tit for tat.

Congratulations John. Now to keep abreast of things read on.

Canadians know him for capturing the gold medal in men’s curling at the 2010 Winter Olympics, but around Lakeland College he’s known as the latest inductee of the college’s Wall of Distinction.

On May 4 the Lakeland College board of directors – along with members of the Emergency Training Centre – inducted John Morris to the prestigious club of only six.

Phil Allen, vice-president of advancement at Lakeland College, said the selection committee had Morris nominated even before his gold–medal victory at the Vancouver Olympics.

After graduating from Lakeland College, Morris, who now resides in Chestermere, Alta., has been a volunteer firefighter since 2004.

After years as a volunteer and through his education at Lakeland College, Morris is now fulltime with the Rockyview Fire Services, where his celebrity status from curling means he volunteers a lot of his time speaking to youth about fire prevention and attending charitable events as a guest speaker. All this has made him a perfect candidate for the Wall of Distinction, according to Allen.

“If you’re one of those six you have to be doing something right,” said Allen.

From suffering acute narcolepsy while sitting through lectures, to presenting the difference between real and fake breasts in front of a substitute teacher, Morris shared a few memories of his summer at Lakeland, adding how the education aspect is what stands out the most.

“What really made the difference for me at Lakeland College is that at least half the courses were practical and that helped me gain confidence in myself as a firefighter,” said Morris. ”I remember going back as a volunteer firefighter, it helped my confidence.”

Morris also shared a couple of memories from the Vancouver Olympics, where he described the Athlete’s Village as a serious atmosphere only until Canada defeated the United States in the gold medal hockey game.

“There was a buzz and that night we brought in $1,000 of booze for everyone in the village,” said Morris. “It was about 2 a.m. and we came back to our lodge and we spotted Sidney Crosby outside in the lobby and we told him to come along and continue the party, which lasted until 6 a .m.,” said Morris, adding each member of his curling team walked away that night with a signed Crosby hockey stick.

Raised in Ontario, Morris moved out west and attended Lakeland College after his teammate; Ben Hebert recommended the school for firefighting.

“Firefighting is the best job in the world and it works well with curling because it’s shift work,” said Morris, a two-time Canadian Brier Champion, a 2008 World Champion and three-time Alberta Provincial Champion.

Since joining the Chestermere department, his group has started a Big Brother Big Sister foundation and attends a dozen charity and speaking events each year.

Allen, said it’s Morris’ charity that stood out for the selection committee.

“We’re honoured to induct John into our Lakeland College Wall of Alumni Distinction,” said Allen at the induction presentation. “No pressure, but an Olympic gold medal from Russia would look pretty good too.”

The curling world is competing in  Erzurum, Turkey for the World Mixed Doubles.

The following nations are playing: : Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, New Zealand, Norway, Romania, Scotland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and USA.

You can see the results here.

Since the inception of the event in 2008 Canada - the most powerful curling country on the planet - has only managed to score 1 bronze medal in 2009. In fact in one year we never even showed up because of that nasty Icelandic volcano.

The Mixed Doubles has always been an afterthought for this country. The winner of the Mixed national would decide which of the 4 players would go.

However other countries take the event seriously. Switzerland has won gold 3 of 4 years. Many countries who can't scrape together 4 players for traditional curling can find at least 2 players who practice for the mixed doubles.

With rumours abounding that mixed doubles might become a medal sport in the near future, the Canadian Curling Association is bring forward at its June annual meeting that a true national championship takes place early in the curling season.

Might the Mixed national be sacrificed for this new event? The 2014 Mixed will be in Ottawa in November of 2013 at the Rideau. Montreal hosts it next November.

Think of the sponsorshiip opportunties for Mixed Doubles - BP, ironically 3M, 7-11. A&W, H&M, HP, LG.

It just might be the time to eliminate the Mixed national.

ART OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AUCTION

Team Martin, 2010 Olympic Gold Medalists

Painting Title: The Language of Curling

Artist: Collaboration Team Martin

& Jane Roos

Measurement: 30” x 30”

Medium: Acrylic

Signature: Team Martin

Team Martin – Skip Kevin Martin, Third John Morris, Second Marc Kennedy & Lead Ben Hebert

On February 27, 2010, Team Martin won Olympic Gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games in Men's Curling, defeating Norway in the finals 6-3 and becoming the only team ever to go undefeated in Men's Curling at an Olympic Games. Their Gold Medal performance earned Canada its 13^th Gold medal of the Games. Canada would win a total of 14 Gold medals in Vancouver, a record for the most Gold medals won by a nation in a Winter Olympics.

For the Art of Accomplishment Auction in support of our Canadian athletes training for London each member of Team Martin wrote their curling calls on the canvas including “Draw, Freeze, Hurry, Whoa, Hack, Broom, Feathered It, Wayyy Outside, Carroted, Curl, Pinched, Hard” etc. Team Martin has signed their signatures at the bottom right hand corner.

Unique Item: The winning bid will also receive a Marc Kennedy jersey signed by all members of Team Martin from the 2011 Canada Cup in Cranbrook, BC, where they won Gold. This marked Team Martin's record fourth Canada Cup title.

Pre Bid: Opening Bid $1000

ART OF ACCOMPLISHMENT AUCTION: On May 2nd, 2012 it will be exactly 86 Days to the Games in London.  On this evening CAN Fund will be presenting our Art of Accomplishment Auction at The Ritz Carlton.  This is our final push fundraiser to support the athletes training for London in a night celebrating Canadian Accomplishment. Each painting is a collaboration with artist Jane Roos who painted the background of the canvas and Famous Canadians wrote their words, recipes, mantra's, poems and thoughts all celebrating Canadian accomplishment.  There will be 2 Lots (10 paintings in each Lot) that will be Auctioned off by Ritchies.  

Contact CAN Fund: 416-487-4442 or 1-866-937-2012

www.MyCANFund.com