Curling Day 2025
Dear Canadian Curlers:
As I sit in my classroom on Valentine’s Day I ponder the state of our game. I am a teacher in Ottawa and I feel that our game is in good hands.
Ottawa Carleton High School Athletics are governed by NCSSA. This year we had twenty five teams playing in our regional High School leagues playing over three nights a week. Our season is a major commitment as it goes from November till March, the longest season of any High School sport.
Furthermore in the Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) we had our annual Bonspiel for intermediate students (grades 7 and 8). Politics and sport seldom mesh, but in Ottawa Carleton we are fortunate that we are able to use city of Ottawa facilities for free. The Nepean Sportsplex has a ten sheeter that we are able to use free of charge which affords us great opportunities to introduce the great game of Curling. Friday February 7, 2025 we had 162 curlers, mostly raw recruits, curl for the day. What was the most incredible feature of this day was geometric progression of skill and the consistent sportsmanship of all involved.
Curling is simply a metaphor for being Canadian. We adapt to the environment, we are very competitive and thrive when facing challenges. Canadians accept the outcome and compliment effort and skill when merited. We harbour no ill will in defeat but only consider a learning opportunity and chance to expand our social circles.
How should we feel about the state of the game? If the NCSSA curlers and the Intermediate curlers have taught us anything…we should feel pretty darn good.
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