Mayflower Curling Club Opens Doors As Accessible Facility

The Mayflower Curling Club opened its doors as an accessible facility, today, Dec. 8.

As part of the Halifax 2011 Canada Games capital improvement plan, Mayflower received a wheelchair ramp and a wheelchair lift to the ice surface.

"Improvements such as these open the facility up to a broader community, showcasing the real legacies of the Games," said Chris Morrissey, CEO of the Halifax 2011 Canada Games.

Maureen MacDonald, Minister of Health Promotion and Protection, said government is proud to support the accessibility upgrades to the Mayflower Curling Club, a key venue for the Halifax 2011 Canada Games.

"Providing physical activity opportunities to all Nova Scotians is an important part of our work to make Nova Scotia a healthier province," said Ms. MacDonald.

"These upgrades allow the Mayflower Curling Club to foster growth in the sport community at large but, more specifically, athlete development in the growing sport of wheelchair curling," Paul MacDonald, venue team leader, Mayflower Curling Club.

Laughlin Rutt, a member of Mike Fitzgerald's team, three-time provincial wheelchair curling champions, threw the first rock before facing off against representatives from the Mayflower Curling Club, including Helen Radford, Canada Games alumna.

In addition to the $44-million Canada Games Centre, $15 million in capital upgrades have been made to sporting facilities hosting Games events. The investments will help ensure the Games' legacy of promoting sport for generations to come.

The 2011 Canada Winter Games will be the largest multi-sport event held in Nova Scotia and Halifax's first Canada Winter Games. Held every two years, alternating between summer and winter, the Canada Games are a key event in the development of Canada's young athletes, producing the next generation of national, international and Olympic champions.