The Editor
Re. “Curlers displaced due to poor rec planning by city” (Letters, The Tri-City News, March 21).
I am a teacher in Coquitlam and every year for several years now, I have been taking my students curling at the Poirier Sports and Leisure Complex.
Recently, I found out that this would be the last time. The curling rink is being converted to another ice skating rink and the curlers are being moved to Port Moody.
This was a unique and reasonably priced field trip, which included lessons, to which we could walk from our school. In order to continue curling, we would have to arrange transportation either on public transport (approximately 45 minutes and two buses) or with parent drivers, to Port Moody.
I noticed that when the students were curling, they were all on an even playing field, all learning something new. The excitement they showed if they got the rock into the house was contagious. When we went skating, there were always students clinging apprehensively to the boards while the students that had taken skating lessons or played hockey skated circles around them.
I think it is sad to have lost the opportunity to introduce the students to this Olympic sport in our community, not to mention all the curlers that now need to integrate themselves into a new club.
Helen Boulanger, Coquitlam
