Team Canada Wheelchair Curling - World Championship 2019

Staff Profile Sari Shatil - Team Physiotherapist Preferred Name: Sari Hometown: London, ON Prior Team Canada Experience: Team Canada Physiotherapist since 2014 Favourite Movie: Sound of Music Favourite Food: Honey Garlic Chicken Wings and Salted Dark Chocolate "If you could invite 3 people out for dinner, who would they be and why?" 1. "My husband Alon because he believes in me and fills me with positive energy so I can be my best." 2. "The Team Canada Wheelchair Curlers - because they give me perspective and inspire me to bring my best regardless of the state I am in. " 3. "His holiness the 14 Dalai Lama because he exemplifies respect for the world and for all people and he lives this truth." "Lucky for me I live 2/3 of this wish regularly!"

Whatever the sport, wherever the event, almost without fail, if there is a team wearing the 'Maple Leaf' and representing Canada, there will be a group of supporters cheering and waving Canadian flags.   The first day of the World Wheelchair Curling Championship was no different.  While there certainly was a large contingent of family and friends to support the athletes, there were also other Canadians who happened to be in Scotland and came out to support the red and white.  This included a group of RCMP curlers who are traveling on their own goodwill curling tour. As for the game itself, the outcome was determined by the last rock of the last end with Latvia picking up 2 points to beat Canada by a score of 7 - 6. It's the first game - and the tournament isn't won on day 1.  Lots and lots of games to go.  So, as my daughter wrote on her Kids Blog , "wish Canada luck", as they continue on their marathon journey through round robin play. ...

It's our 2nd day in Scotland.  We went to Stirling Castle and saw a lot of interesting things. Outside the front of the castle gate The main hall My favourite things were the King and Queen's Chambers! The Queen's Bed Queen's outer chamber Queen's inner chamber The only creepy thing was the kitchen where they had mannequins (So creepy!) We went to the first game for Team Canada.  Canada lost but was it was just the first game -- wish them luck! Go Canada Go! This is the world's oldest curling stone Bye for now (B.F.N.)!

The team got on the ice surface - introducing "rocks to ice", and "ice to rocks" for the first time - as Kyle Paquette said, "curling's version of Tinder". Official team photo being taken   The team was eager to get to what they have traveled across the Atlantic to do -- curl!  It felt good, with the athletes getting a feel for how each of the 4 sheets play.  Little differences between each surface can play into strategy and shot selection early in the tournament. As for Sari and I, we scoped out the venue and tried to find an appropriate location for both of us.  We met some of the volunteers including a couple from Pickering, Ontario (Small world!).  Also met support teams from the other nations.  Nice to see like-minded professionals from around the world support these elite athletes and speak of promotion of accessible and adaptive sport in their own countries. As for the rest of the day -- did I mention the RAIN!  It started c...

First Day in Scotland! It's our first full day in Scotland.  It's been great! We met a minion We went to the mall and saw a dungeon.  It had money down the hole where prisoners were kept.  It wasn't all that "fun" but we got to learn something. We met this guy too Thieves Pot In the dungeon/guards room We explored the town.  We also met all the Curling team at dinner last night.  1 funny thing - My mom and brother locked me and my Dad out of the hotel room by accident! Johnathon's picture - Text: "A spear.  A statue.  A statue with a sword and a shield" Well that's all that I have done - B.F.N.!

Athlete Profile Mark Ideson Preferred Name: Mark Hometown: Parry Sound, ON originally, Now from London, ON Prior Team Canada Experience: 4 world championships; 2 paralympics Favourite Movie: Princess Bride Favourite Food: Pizza "If you could invite 3 people out for dinner, who would they be and why?" 1. "Jon Montgomery - because he inspired my paralympic pursuit" 2. "Gord Downie - incredible Canadian, whose music I grew up on" 3. "Robin Williams - for belly laughing conversation"

Today was a day of appreciation -- of all the Wonder that Scotland has to offer and for reuniting with family. First off, the team wanted to explore an area that they hadn't seen yet, so Kyle helped the team schedule a train ride into Glasgow (30-45min away).  From what I heard the city was BUSY!  Tons of people all around.  And beautiful -- impressive architecture around every corner. They stopped off for a nice lunch and took their time getting to know Scotland's largest city. For me, it was a special day as my family was arriving from Canada.  They had an overnight flight from Toronto to London, UK, then a short flight to Edinburgh.  I decided in the morning to take the train and tram into Edinburgh Airport (about an hour) to meet them at the arrival gate.  Hugs and kisses awaited for all (and a look of relief on my wife's face) -- they were surprised!  Once back in Stirling, my family and I went for a walk to the competition ve...

Athlete Profile Ina Forrest Preferred Name: Ina Hometown: Spallumcheen, BC Prior Team Canada Experience: 13 years on Team Canada, including 10 World Championships and 3 Paralympics Favourite Movie: Lord of The Rings Favourite Food: Thai Chicken Cashew Nut in Bangkok "If you could invite 3 people out for dinner, who would they be and why?" My three children, 1. Evany 2. Marlon 3. Connor "Because they are all away at univeristy and I miss all the good times when they were still at home."

I'm here!  I just got here (aka Scotland)!!!!!!!!!   

Today was a day of exploration -- and we found a lot we liked in Stirling -- just don't ask us about the elevator! The Team Exploring Stirling The Elevator - Don't Ask After a breakfast at the hotel we headed into town to see what we could find.  Very nice mall -- The Thistles Shopping Centre -- with Marie on a hunt for a SIM card, and Mark finding something else (see pic below). Taking over the Mall "Scottish Mark" Grabbed a nice lunch at the Filling Station and continued our sightseeing.  Beautiful and charming city centre with lots of little shops. We had to stop off to pick up some souvenirs and then a quick pint at Nicky Tams (Good pick Ina!) Back to the hotel for a rest, before meeting up with Sari and Alon who had made it over-the-pond after several changes to their flight plans due to the "fun" weather back in Ontario.  Dinner at Nando's with more time to relax while signing 'ALOT' of commemorativ...