Six teams from Scotland played against six foursomes at the Langley Curling Centre. (Special to Langley Advance Times)
Six teams from Scotland took to the ice at the Langley curling centre on Thursday, Nov. 6, for game six of the Canada-Scotland Women's Curling Friendship tour.
A tour that brings together curlers from Scotland and Canada in the spirit of friendship and competition, the visits have been going on for 70 years, with the Royal Caledonian curling club organizing visits to different regions of Canada in a given year, while Canadians visiting Scotland in other years.
It's been 30 years since the tour visited B.C.
It was, as far as anyone could recall, the first time the tour has ever been to Langley, said Gaby Olson, a member of the Langley Curling Centre board of directors
"It was amazing," Olson commented. "It was fantastic and it was a lot of fun. The ladies had a great time."
Who won and who lost wasn't the most important thing, Olson indicated.
"It's more of a friendship tour and having fun."
Langley players who applied to participate were selected based on their volunteer work, Olson explained.
"You put your application in and if you're successful, then they put you on teams."
After a visit to historic Fort Langley the Scottish players were greeted with the Surrey Fire pipe and drum band and walked through a arch of curling brooms held by the Langley players.
The ceremonial first rock was thrown by Helen Hamade, a 50 year member of the Langley club, who has has helped coach new curlers, participated in numerous leagues, and volunteered on countless bonspiel committees.
The stated aim of the tour is to share a passion for the sport of curling and "extend friendship to our guests and of course to show off one's home country."
Visiting players pick up their own tab for accommodation, transportation, fun activities and some meals. Host curling clubs provide post-game drinks, a meal, a small gift for the visitors, and sometimes entertainment.
At the end of the tour, the Muriel Fage Trophy will be awarded to the team, Scottish or Canadian, who accumulates the highest number of points.
Fage, who died in 2008, was a member of the Canadian Tour to Scotland in 2000 and was the tour coordinator on the 2005 Scottish Tour to Canada.
Nineteen clubs hosted the tour, including Langley, Vancouver, Marpole, Royal City, Richmond, Tunnel Town, Cloverdale, Chilliwack, Golden Ears, Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Kelowna, Vernon, Squamish (Howe Sound), and, on Vancouver Island, Comox, Parksville, Qualicum, Nanaimo, and Victoria.