Inverclyde rolled out the red carpet for Canadian curlers

At the Waterfront the local curlers teamed up with the Inverclyde Tourist Group and Port Glasgow High School pupils to give the Canadian curlers a warm welcome.

Their visit came four years after the last Canadian Curlers tour was cancelled due to the global pandemic.

This time round they stopped off at the Waterfront as part of a tour that has taken them all over the country with a stop off in Inverclyde.

Historic curling match at Waterfront (Image: George Munro) Greenock curler Karen Jack said: "It is wonderful to welcome the ladies from Canada. It is great privilege that we get a chance to play host.

"We wanted to make it a special day so we were delighted to have the tourist group involved and show them around Inverclyde.

"We asked Port Glasgow High pupils to make mementos for them to take home."

Curling match at Waterfront (Image: George Munro) Before the game started there was a special ceremony on ice with the flags of both countries flying high and the players were piped in.

Port Glasgow High teacher Greg Starling was on hand with his graphics and crafts pupils who all took part in group work to make the personalised coasters to take home.

Third year pupils Lexi Mackean, Lyra Murray, Kody McCue, Beth Campbell and Lewis Cunning. 

Port Glasgow High pupils present Canadian visitors with gift (Image: George Munro)

Canadian Curling player Anne Bouffard, a flag bearer for the day, thanked her hosts for the welcome.

Curling match at Waterfront (Image: George Munro)

She  said: "It is great to here in Inverclyde. We enjoyed the tour of the visitor attractions. The Cross of Lorraine meant a lot to me because my heritage is French Canadian. 

"We have waited a long time to come here after the original tour was cancelled in 2020. It has been a wonderful visit and everyone has been so welcoming."