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The Dawson Creek Tornados (pictured) will take on the Fort St. John Lightning at the Dawson Creek Mile Zero Cash Spiel this weekend (Photo: Peace Curling Tour)
Peace Curling Tour

Special Olympic competition added to Peace Curling Tour

Nov 19, 2019 | 8:10 AM

The Peace Curling Tour will be bringing in a new level of competition at its next event.

The Tour announced that beginning at the Dawson Creek Mile Zero Cash Spiel this weekend, they will be adding a Special Olympics Division to the tour for the rest of the season. Special Olympic teams will also compete at the Fort St. John Cash Spiel in December, and the Tour Championship in Sexsmith in January.

“Our Pomeroy Inn & Suites Peace Curling Tour is renowned for being inclusive and open to curlers and fans of all ages, genders and skill levels,” said Tour President Colin Griffith. “We are extremely pleased to add to our inclusiveness by unveiling the Special Olympic division of the Tour.”

Special Olympic teams from Dawson Creek and Fort St. John will be squaring off against one other at these events, which is an exciting opportunity for both teams.

“This gives our Special Olympic athletes a chance to not only play against their peers, but to be part of the sport of curling in general,” said Spokesman for Dawson Creek Special Olympics, Mark Heartt. “They will joining the best curlers in the Peace Country and we are very excited they will have this wonderful opportunity.”

The move continues the expansion and growth of the regional tour, as teams from China made their debuts at the last event in Slave Lake over the Remembrance Day long weekend. Three Chinese teams will also take part in the Dawson Creek event, which runs November 22-24.

The Jeff Ginter rink out of Dawson Creek comes in atop the Tour standings in the Competitive Division, following two straight second place finishes in Peace River and Slave Lake. Peace River’s Scott Webb sits in second, while Ryan Norman’s Slave Lake rink comes in at third place.