Photo (L-R):  Russ Howard, Shirley Lank

Olympic and two-time World curling champion Russ Howard was the guest speaker at the banquet of the Curl Atlantic Curling Symposium, which took place this weekend at Mount Allison University in Sackville New Brunswick.   His speech included recollections on his Olympics competition in Torino in 2006 and of the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver where he worked as a  TSN commentator.  He challenged Atlantic Canada curlers to set up a curling excellence centre like the one in Edmonton, and to work at improving ice conditions in the region, which would improve the playing experience for both competitive and recreational curlers.  He also noted that the lack of experience on arena ice has a negative effect on Atlantic curling teams, who  need the first few games at national competitions to adjust to the unfamiliar ice conditions.

Howard  presented this year’s  Investors Group Sport Volunteer Administrator Award to PEI Curling Association President Shirley Lank, who was honoured by Curl Atlantic for her dedication and service to the sport, both in PEI and across the Atlantic region.