The North Bay Granite Club had to re-install the pebbled ice in the heat of July thanks to the club hosting a high-performance curling camp for the first time ever here in the Gateway City.
The high profile Amethyst Curling Camp chose North Bay as the host destination after it was hosted in Sudbury for seven years and 14 in Thunder Bay.
“North Bay offers us an absolutely great venue and an opportunity to change up the camp a bit,” said camp director Leslie Kerr, Camp Director.
Bobby Ray, General Manager at the North Bay Granite Club, believes the World Women’s Curling Championships helped spotlight the sport of curling to the rest of Northern Ontario and beyond.
“We have got 60 kid here from all over Northern Ontario at the camp - even some from outside the province and even the United States,” said Ray.
“They are here for a high-performance learning experience. We have some of the top coaches in curling here in North Bay this week including 12 staff.”
Ray says it’s a unique summer curling camp has drawn in 59 curling from outside the city and that is another example of the impact of sports tourism in the city.
“They are staying the city, they are experiencing the city they are going shopping and they are swimming,” said Ray.
“They have got Phys Ed periods that are happening outside the club and they are spending time on the ice learning the game.”
The week-long camp wraps up on Friday.
