WHAT IS THE FRIENDSHIP TOUR?
The Canada-Scotland Women’s Curling Friendship tour is celebrating 70 years of
tradition. The first tour in 1955 had 2 teams from Canada and 2 teams for the USA
invited to visit Scotland. Now the Canadian Tours and US Tours are separate. Visits are
exchanged every 5 years.
When the Royal Caledonian Curling Club of Scotland hosts the event, twenty-four
Canadian women spend three weeks in Scotland visiting clubs in various parts of the
country. Five years later when it is Canada’s turn to host, because of the size of our
country, the ladies visit one of four regions of Canada. The last time that the tour visited
British Columbia was in 1995, 30 years ago.
The aim of the tour is to share our passion for the sport of curling, extend friendship to
our guests and of course to show off one’s home country! Visiting “tourists” pick up their
own tab for accommodation, transportation, “fun” activities and some meals. Curling
clubs that host the visitors provide post-game drinks, a meal, a small gift for the visitors,
sometimes entertainment and always comradery! Locals and visitors alike thrill to being
piped onto the ice and local curlers are honoured to throw the first rock.
On the five -year rotation, the Canadian women would have gone to Scotland in 2020
but were delayed by covid until 2024. It is exciting for the 5 BC curlers who went to
Scotland in
This year, the Scottish Women’s Tour to Canada will be in British Columbia November
1-22. They will be curling in 19 clubs from Greater Vancouver/Fraser Valley (Vancouver,
Marpole, Royal City, Richmond, Tunnel Town, Langley, Cloverdale, Chilliwack, Golden
Ears) to the North Okanagan (Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Kelowna, Vernon), to
Squamish (Howe Sound), and on Vancouver Island (Comox, Parksville, Qualicum,
Nanaimo, Victoria).
In addition to curling, the Scottish visitors will visit the Museum of Anthropology, be
introduced to our First Nation’s History, see Granville Island from the water (aboard the
False Creek Ferry), visit historic Fort Langley, attend a Hockey Game (Chilliwack Chiefs
vs Coquitlam Express), participate in a Remembrance Day service in Vernon, soak in
the soothing hot pools at Harrison Hot Springs, thrill to the mountain scape of Whistler,
enjoy a beading workshop in Comox, take in the murals of Chemainus and tour the BC
Legislature Building.
This trip will be a “once in a lifetime” experience for the Scottish visitors. At BC Curling
Clubs hosting the Scots will be a day to remember.
The Richmond Curling Centre has the honour of hosting the Scottish Ladies on
Wednesday, November 5, 2025. The Scottish Ladies bus arrives at 9:15 am and the
Canadian curlers will form a Broom Arch to welcome. Six teams from Richmond and six
teams from the Scottish contingent will be piped onto the ice and welcoming remarks
will be made by The Worshipful Mayor of the City of Richmond, Malcolm Brodie, and the
President of the Richmond Curling Centre, Don Grant. The games start 10:00 am and
after the game a lunch will be served. The bus leaves with the Scottish Ladies for the
Tunnel Town Curling Club.
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025
7:30 - 11:00 PM
AT THE RICHMOND CURLING CLUB
At the conclusion of the Canada-Scotland Women’s Curling Friendship Tour, the
Richmond Curling Centre will be hosting an evening of frivolity and friendship. Please
come enjoy a fun sendoff with great music lead by the DJ from the Band Vintage, lots of
food and most of all the wonderful friendships. Everyone is invited to attend. Tickets
are $20.00 per person (bring your spouse or your significant other). Tickets are
available from Scottish Ladies tour club representative and will be sold at the door as
well.
