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Welcome, Scots!
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CHAIRMAN’S GREETING |
On behalf of the organizing committee for the 2013 Strathcona Cup, I would like to welcome our 61 Scottish guests to Canada led by their non playing Captain and President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, Bill Duncan. While Canada is cold in January, the reception will be warm as we look to provide the wonderful hospitality that we Canadian tourists have received in Scotland.
The competition is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year although the Strathcona Cup itself is only 104, having been donated by Sir Donald Smith on Canada’s first visit to Scotland in 1909. This year is setting a record in a number of areas. For the first time, the tours have been split into three – East, Central and West. This will make travel less onerous and enable more Clubs than ever before to act as hosts. More than 1700 Canadians will participate in 437 games in 105 different Clubs spanning January 10th to 31st.
Canada is a vast land – the second largest country in the world featuring six time zones. We are composed of ten provinces and three territories. We will see curling in each province as, for the first time, we welcome Newfoundland as a host. Like Scotland, Canada has a much more populous neighbour to the south. With a population of 33 million, we are a tenth of the United States.
A great deal of organizational effort has gone into the Strathcona Cup on both sides of the Atlantic. I would particularly like to thank Bill Duncan, Phil Barton and David Paterson of the Scottish team for their assistance. I would like to thank my organizing committee for the countless hours they have spent working out the logistics to make this event happen. To all the club representatives who work out all the details to provide a great experience for the Scots, I offer a huge Thank you. To those who are sponsoring in your local Clubs, I thank you for your financial assistance. To the prior Canadian teams, particularly from 2009 I offer my humble appreciation.
I would like to thank the Canadian Curling Association, the Provincial, and local curling associations who have provided their support. Nationally, I would like to recognize the phenomenal support of Keith Robertson and his staff at Robertson Litho in putting the booklet together. Also to Jeff Church of Levelwear for the golf shirts, to Goldline Curling Supplies, and to Jane Dalgas of Dalgas Enterprises, a warm Thank you. I am indebted to Bob Rondeau, who has built the Canadian website for both the 2009 and 2013 Strathcona Cups. I have been fortunate to have the guidance of Denny Charlebois, the Past Chairman. I also thank Wayne Gratton of Gratz Curling Supplies, and our host Club at Burlington Golf for his contributions as well as my brothers, Doug and Graeme for their support. And last, but not least, to my wife Joan who has had to put up with me, I should return to normal (I think) in February.
In conclusion, please note that you can follow the results daily on the two websites. You can also read many other interesting facts including much more detail about the participating Clubs, and the cities where they are located:
Good curling to all. May you be on “the right side of the inch”.
Hugh McCarrel, CPA,CA
Chairman |
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