Six brand new curlers were on the pads at the Cornwall Curling Centre on Tuesday, February 15th, 2005, learning about the game and learning how to negotiate the rocks. The difference is these new curlers were in wheelchairs and taking part in a sport that is growing by leaps and bounds.

Frank Cannarella, a member of the Ontario Champion Wheelchair Curling team playing out of the Toronto Cricket, Curling and Skating club, was on hand to show local curlers that the game, like the Curling Centre, is accessible to those in wheelchairs.

“We play the same game as those not in wheelchairs. We use the full length of the ice and propel the rock from one end to the other with the use of a stick-like handle. Our shots have to be much more precise because we do not use sweepers in our competitions,” said Cannarella.

He said he received great reaction from the eight or so special curlers that came out to take part in the introductory class. “Everyone is having a great time,” he said. Besides Cannarella, Tom Ward of Curl Ontario was also on hand to show how it’s done.

One of the local organizers, George Dolejsi said: “If this initial experience catches the interest of our local wheelchair participants, efforts will be made to develop a house league for the fall.”