Education Minister Joan Burke is shutting down schools in Newfoundland and Labrador this afternoon!Team Canada's curling team is going for Gold in Torino at one o'clock island time.Team Canada is made up of four from our province,Brad Gushue,Mark Nichols,Jamie Korab,Mike Adamand Coach Toby Mcdonald.Russ Howard from New Brunswick makes up the other member and im sure now is considered part of our province. It's been a bitter sweet battle for our curlers since they got selected to travel to Torino to represent our country.A story in The Toronto Sun,Dec.14/2005 caused quite a stir and was considered by many Newfoundlanders and Labradorians as hate literature against us. Its opening line says it all,"It's the biggest thing to happen in The Land Cod Forgot since the inventionof the pogey cheque -- Newfoundland's native son Brad Gushue will represent Canada in curling at the 2006Olympics in Turin."Hopefully after tommorow the editor of that piece of hate literature will apologise publically to the whole province. Good luck Brad,Mark,Russ,Jamie,Mike and Toby.
todays story on VOCM NEWS:
Brad Gushue Rink Playing for GoldFebruary 24, 2006
It is already being described as a defining moment in the province's history. Brad Gushue and Team Canada go for the Olympic Gold in curling today at 1 p.m. Newfoundland time, and everyone wants a part of it. Schools, including the College of the North Atlantic, will close at lunchtime so students can witness the event. Education Minister Joan Burke declared the half holiday, saying she wants students to remember exactly where they were when Brad and his team played for the gold. Not everyone is happy with government's decision. Callers to VOCM Niteline with Linda Swain agreed to a one that they back Brad, but some lashed out a the holiday idea. Teachers president Kevin Foley fully supports the decision and feels students will get a lot out of it. He feels it will increase students' pride in the province and their interest in sports.
Brad's high school alma mater is O'Donel in Mount Pearl. The game will be showed on a big screen in the gym and principal Mike Sutton says it will be a great afternoon. Student Council President Kathy Balsom says Brad is a big inspiration.
The St. John's Curling Club will be the backdrop of one of many big parties for Team Gushue today. Manager Peter Russell told VOCM Niteline he is confident the team will make us proud. Fans in the metro area can view a live feed of Gushue's gold medal game today at Mile One Stadium but, due to the World Curling Tour, organizers advise there will be no sound available. Masters of Curling chairman Gary Stamp says the top curlers here for that event, are pleased they'll be able to show Brad their support too. The Memorial University Alumni Association and The Works have also arranged for the game to be shown on a big screen at the Field House. The event is free and open for students, alumni and the university community. Several members of the Gushue team are MUN alumni. Harbour Grace mayor Don Coombs says all are welcome to their town for a big celebration during the game. Coombs says many residents will gather together and enjoy fish and brews while watching the game and he says anyone is invited to share in the excitement.
Labrador City Mayor Graham Letto says residents in Labrador City and Wabush are invited to the local curling club to watch the game on a big screen.
Sport Newfoundland and Labrador president Tom Godden says win or lose, the Gushue rink has made the province proud. Godden says the fact that amateur sport can bring the entire province together in such a manner, is true testament to the impact sports have in our lives.
3 comments:
I had the privelege to curl against Brad, Mark, & Mike the year they won the world juniors. They were a great bunch of guys and a fine curling team. I wish them the best of luck so then I can say I curled against an olympic champ.
GO BOYS GO
Wayne, we will talk about that concert at the kinsmen more when the snow is all gone. I mentioned it to a few people and they would love to do something like that.
Come on Wayne you guys are not considering the piece this guy wrote in the Toronto sun as hate literature are you??.....I read it and thought it was funny........especially this one.
1. The local sport of baby-seal whacking is no longer coming across on TV as a great spectator sport. Most Canadians don't mind the rough play, noting it's part of the game, but it's a hard-sell on American networks.
you have to quit being so senstitive....Now if I was a Newfoundlander I would be more upset over this Carolyn Parish and what she said about the General....you know General Hillier.
it's over and the newfoundlanders have shown what they ae made of.i suspect bill lankfof feels a bit low right now.it would of been more convenient if you lost.
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