At the Women in Curling Summits, Connection Matches Competition
Linda Bolton stood at the arrival gate of Kelowna International Airport, eagerly watching every new face that appeared through the sliding doors. Her friend and curling colleague nudged her, whispering,
“You have to breathe.”Bolton laughed, aware she was craning her neck like an excited fan but couldn’t help it.
Reigning world curling champion Rachel Homan had just arrived in the Okanagan to attend the British Columbia Women in Curling Summit in Kamloops, an event Bolton had worked hard to organize for months.
“When I picked up Rachel from the airport and I saw her walking toward us, that was the time when I knew the hard work was going to be worth it,”Bolton said.
“I was thinking: We’re actually having Rachel Homan at our club. What a treat that will be for all the people.”
The two-hour drive back to Kamloops was filled with conversation about family, curling preparation, and how to balance both.
“She talked a lot about her family and how devoted they are to backing her,”Bolton noted.
“It was really cool.”
Bolton spent months preparing the Women in Curling Summit, which is part of Curling Canada’s national initiative to promote women’s leadership and participation in curling.
Author's summary: The Women in Curling Summit is a powerful event that fosters meaningful connections alongside competition, highlighting support and leadership in the sport.