At the Women in Curling Summits, Connection Is as Powerful as Competition
By: Jolene Latimer
Linda Bolton waited at the arrival gate in Kelowna International Airport, scanning each new face stepping through the sliding doors. Her curling colleague nudged her gently and whispered:
“You have to breathe.”
Bolton laughed, realizing how eager she looked. She had been anticipating this moment for months—the arrival of reigning world curling champion Rachel Homan. The athlete came to the Okanagan to attend the British Columbia Women in Curling Summit, an event hosted in Kamloops this September.
“When I picked up Rachel from the airport and saw her walking toward us, that was the moment I knew the effort was worth it,” Bolton said. “I kept thinking: We’re actually having Rachel Homan at our club. What an incredible experience for everyone.”
During their two-hour drive back to Kamloops, conversation flowed easily about family life, training routines, and how to balance the two.
“She talked a lot about her family and how devoted they are to supporting her,” Bolton said. “It was really great to hear.”
Bolton had spent months organizing the Women in Curling Summit in Kamloops — a key part of Curling Canada’s national initiative to promote women’s leadership and participation within the sport.
Author’s Summary
The Women in Curling Summit in Kamloops united leaders and champions, showing that the strength of community and connection is just as vital as competition itself.