Heritage Classic Curling
When mixed doubles curling made its debut at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, then Sports Hall of Fame Treasurer, Marlene Wright, thought it would be a perfect opportunity to combine an educational opportunity with a fundraising event. She invited Hall of Fame members Heather Houston and Rick Lang to get involved and serve as Honouary Chairs of our Heritage Classic Doubles Funspiel.
Our inaugural event was held on February 13th and 14th, 2016 and welcomed 20 teams and kicked off with a doubles curling clinic and the introduction of a number of Hall of Famers who came out to support the event. In November of 2019, at our 5th Heritage Classic, Marlene, who was fighting cancer at the time, came to cheer on the curlers, unfortunately losing her battle one month later.
On March 2nd, 2024 we welcomed back our Heritage Classic Doubles Funspiel marking the 6th year that curlers took to the ice in support of sports heritage. Thanks to our participants and to our sponsor Robert’s Plumbing & Heating and donors Janet Sillman and the Birthday Club Girls (in memory of event founder Marlene Wright) the 2024 event raised over $2,000 for the Sports Hall of Fame. Special thanks to our event coordinators Tricia Sampson and Heather Houston and Justin Lewtas and the Fort William Curling Club.
Steve Wright, Heather Houston, Marlene Wright