Curling championship brings visually impaired athletes together

Edmonton is hosting the 2026 Canadian Vision Impaired Curling Championship with eight teams competing; games began Monday and gold medals are scheduled for Friday.

Edmonton is hosting the 2026 Canadian Vision Impaired Curling Championship at the Granite Curling Club. Eight teams from across Canada are competing and games began Monday. Natalie Morin, who is visually impaired and leads the Edmonton Blind Curling Club, is skipping Team Alberta. The event is organized by the Canadian Council of the Blind and will present gold medals on Friday. Key facts: - Eight teams gathered at the Granite Curling Club in Edmonton for the 2026 Canadian Vision Impaired Curling Championship. - The event is the Canadian Council of the Blind's 18th championship and the first time it has been held west of Ontario. - A visually impaired curling team is made up of four members: the lead is totally blind or has only light perception and the other three are low vision; a sighted sweeper is permitted. - Players may use adaptations such as binoculars, a light on a broom, or audio cues like a teammate tapping the ice. - The tournament provides opportunities for socializing and peer networking among participants from different regions. Summary: Participants say the event spotlights competitors' abilities while keeping the rules of curling with modest adaptations. The championship continues through Friday, when gold medals are scheduled to be presented.