Marc Kennedy at 50th World Lefthanders Curling Championship

OAKVILLE, ON – The World Lefthanders Curling Championship is celebrating its 50th anniversary this weekend with 48 teams (192 participants) and two-time Olympic champion – and celebrity lefthander – Marc Kennedy.

The event kicked off yesterday (Apr. 17) at the Oakville Curling Club.

Kennedy, who captured his second Olympic gold medal in February with team Brad Jacobs, isn’t registered on a team but will still play – curlers “bid” on him to join their team for an end. 

The bidding raised $2,200 for Food4Kids Halton, a local charity that provides healthy weekend food support for elementary school children facing food insecurity. 

“I’ll have the opportunity to play a few ends with some of the teams, raise some money for charity, and share some of my Olympic experiences with the group,” Kennedy said on Friday. “It will be all about celebrating curling and bonding with fellow lefties.”

Kennedy will play eight ends today, scattered throughout the day with with different teams – one end per squad. 

Other left-handed curling stars – including Paul Savage, Richard Hart, Val Sweeting and Tyler Tardi – were featured in a video played on Friday at the event.

“I think lefty curlers are very unique,” said Kennedy. “We experience the game in a different way than our right-handed teammates. And the fact that this opportunity exists for all of us to gather together and celebrate our uniqueness is pretty incredible.”

Kennedy will be in a Q&A session hosted by club manager and three-time world men’s champion Ian Tetley on Saturday afternoon.

Select games at the World Lefthanders are being livestreamed on YouTube.