New Zealand national curling team bids farewell to Calgary retirement residence roommates
A group of New Zealand curlers living in a Calgary retirement residence are heading home.
In September, the national team struck a deal to live at the Chartwell Colonel Belcher Retirement Residence during their Calgary stay.
The curlers, more than 50 years younger than many of their roommates, say their time inside the home has been incredible.
"To be honest, we're just really integrated into this family here," skip Anton Hood said.
"It's been amazing and really heartwarming for us."
Hood says it's like staying with his own grandparents – 175 of them.
"We're just walking down the hallway and saying hello to everyone," he said.
The curlers and residents gathered for a farewell party on Thursday.
Flags were hung, cake was made and a lot of goodbye hugs were exchanged.
"There were a lot of residents down there, which was awesome to see," second Brett Sargon said.
"We loved it."
So did the residents.
Bertha Esplen, 97, can't talk about the team without smiling.
"Oh my goodness," she said.
"Words cannot do justice to how they acted towards us and how we acted towards them. They just feel like my own children."
In the fall, the New Zealanders came to Calgary to practise and learn more about the game.
They say their off-ice fun rivals their time on the ice.
"We didn't win as much as we wanted," Hood told CTV News.
"But we're going to the Worlds (in Switzerland) in a few weeks and feel good about how we're playing."
After that, it'll be some downtime back home before another stint in Calgary come autumn.
"We'd stay here again in a heartbeat," Hood said.
"It’s warm, lovely and the people are great. You can't complain at all."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Air Canada walks back new seat selection policy change after backlash
Air Canada has paused a new seat selection fee for travellers booked on the lowest fares just days after implementing it.
Province boots mayor and council in small northern Ont. town out of office
An ongoing municipal strike, court battles and revolt by half of council has prompted the province to oust the mayor and council in Black River-Matheson.
3 law officers serving warrant are killed, 5 wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say
Three officers on a U.S. Marshals Task Force serving a warrant for a felon wanted for possessing a firearm were killed and five other officers were wounded in a shootout Monday at a North Carolina home, police said.
'Shocked and concerned': Calgary principal charged with possession of child pornography
A Calgary elementary school principal has been charged with possession of child pornography, authorities announced Monday.
Health authority confirms cockroaches at B.C. hospital, insists they 'do not bite'
The Vancouver Island Health Authority is downplaying what staff describe as a cockroach infestation in a medical unit of Saanich Peninsula Hospital.
Toronto police arrest 12 people, lay 102 charges in major credit card fraud scheme
Toronto police say 12 people are facing a combined 102 charges in connection with an investigation into a major credit fraud scheme.
Winner of US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot is an immigrant from Laos who has cancer
One of the winners of a historic US$1.3 billion Powerball jackpot last month is an immigrant from Laos who has had cancer for eight years and had his latest chemotherapy treatment last week.
Britney and Jamie Spears settlement avoids long, potentially ugly and revealing trial
Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears will avoid what could have been a long, ugly and revealing trial with a settlement of the lingering issues in the court conservatorship that controlled her life and financial decisions for nearly 14 years.
WATCH 'Double whammy': What happens if you don't file your taxes by the deadline
The clock is ticking ahead of the deadline to file a 2023 income tax return. A personal finance expert explains why you should get them done -- even if you owe more than you can pay.