At the Women in Curling Summits, Connection Is as Powerful as Competition
Linda Bolton waited anxiously at the arrival gate of Kelowna International Airport, scanning every face that came through the sliding doors. Her friend and curling colleague leaned in and whispered, “You have to breathe.” Bolton laughed, realizing how eager she must have looked.
Her excitement was justified. World curling champion Rachel Homan had just arrived in the Okanagan to attend an event Bolton had spent months organizing — the British Columbia Women in Curling Summit, held in Kamloops this September.
“When I picked up Rachel from the airport and I saw her walking toward us, that was the time when I knew the hard work was going to be worth it,” Bolton said. “I was thinking: We’re actually having Rachel Homan at our club. What a treat that will be for all the people.”
The two-hour drive back to Kamloops became an easy conversation about family life, competition, and the challenge of maintaining both. Bolton recalled,
“She talked a lot about her family and how devoted they are to backing her. It was really cool.”
Months of work had led up to this moment — the Women in Curling Summit, a key part of Curling Canada’s national effort to strengthen women’s leadership and participation in the sport.
Author’s Summary
Linda Bolton’s efforts to organize the Women in Curling Summit in Kamloops capture the spirit of connection, mentorship, and support that drives women’s involvement in curling.