Fourth tournament in a row.
Kitchener, home to several universities, is a handsome Canadian town about an hour's drive from Toronto. The local curling club, with six lanes and a generously sized space divided into a club area, several meeting rooms, a restaurant and large locker rooms, is one of the most pleasant I've ever visited in Canada. My impression is perhaps enhanced by the large photograph of Team Kubeskova pasted on the glass at the entrance and the Czech jersey with Kolchevskaia's name on it, which is displayed in a VIP display case that all visitors to the hall pass by. Jim is the general manager of the Kitchener Granite Curling Club and the operation is clearly running well, mainly due to his passion and dedication. We had two double sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday and didn't want to leave the hall after practice. Nice seating area, lots of curling pictures, photos and artifacts around, plus curlers coming in to smile, say hello and go change into warm clothes and curling shoes. Along with us, Japanese, Korean and Japanese women also spend a lot of time there. Yesterday, the Scots were added. The actual tournament starts on Thursday night with the first round, which we will be actively involved in. Walking around the city, we were impressed by the modern construction, the public transport system, a number of well-rated restaurants, large shops with a wide range of offerings, and a diverse multicultural society that functions without difficulty. We like it here. photo: Kitchener Hall