Team Canada gets Local Support

Helen Burk and Linda Schrader didn’t think any local kid should go off to Switzerland to represent Canada without a showing of support from Haliburton County. Within four days they had collected 540 signatures on a Canadian flag to send to Jake Walker in Europe. Jake and his rink are representing our nation in the World Junior Curling Championship (20 yrs and under) which is being held in Flims, Switzerland March 6th to 14th. Along with the Canadian flag, Schrader presented Jake’s parents, Corey and Nancy Walker, with $660.00 cash, $100 from the Minden Legion #636, and the remainder from local well-wishers in an effort to help Jake offset the expenses of the trip. In Switzerland where breakfast can cost in excess of $20.00, the thoughts, and the generosity of local boosters, will surely be appreciated. About 14 supporters, mostly family, will be in attendance to cheer on the Canadian team in Switzerland. Jake’s family, like those of other team members,
decided it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and boarded an Air Canada flight
for Zurich last Saturday evening knowing that Jake and his rink had already beaten
Finland 6-2 during their first round robin match-up. Local travel agent Penny Obee
donated time to arrange flights for Canada’s contingent. Jake, along with the rest of Team Canada, traveled to Europe on Tuesday March 2nd in preparation for the bonspiel. With Switzerland, Norway, the USA, Scotland, Russia, Denmark, China and Sweden still to play before final rounds, the support of family and community can only be a further inspiration. As of late Tuesday night, Walker’s Team Canada shared first place with Scotland and Norway, with five wins in six games. They’ve defeated Finland, USA, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, and dropped a game to China.