N.L. schools to shut early for Olympic curling final
CBC News: N.L. schools to shut early for Olympic curling final
Last Updated Thu, 23 Feb 2006 11:26:45 EST
CBC News
The Newfoundland and Labrador government is closing schools early on Friday so that students can watch the Canadian men’s curling team compete for the gold medal at the Torino Olympics.
* FROM FEB. 22, 2006: Gushue curls into final
Schools across the province will be dismissed at lunchtime, before the St. John’s-based rink skipped by Brad Gushue competes in the Winter Games curling final in Italy, Education Minister Joan Burke said Thursday.
“It’s a historic moment for Newfoundland and Labrador,” she said. “[We] certainly want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to see the game. It’s exciting for the young people of this province.”
Burke said buses will be ready to take children home early.
Gushue’s rink faces Finland at 1 p.m. NT (12:30 p.m. in most of Labrador and 11:30 a.m. ET).
The game will be carried on CBC Television.
Burke said while schools could have arranged to have children watch the final in the classrooms, buses would have arrived during the final ends.
“School children just can’t walk out of school and declare a holiday,” Burke said. “We have to do that for them.”