Hope Classic

To travel across the world visiting everything and everbody everywhere.

Keep the fight going for the cure "Cancer"

This is the Hope Classic logo for a curling Bonspiel that is held annually in Thunder Bay, Ontario.....Northwestern Ontario!

This bonspiel is run by some amazing women and this Travel Bug will contine to keep the Hope alive....travel Far!!!

A Brief History of The Bearskin Airlines
Hope Classic Curling Bonspiel

“The BEARSKIN AIRLINES HOPE CLASSIC” is a curling bonspiel for women, which raises money to fight Breast Cancer. The 18th ANNUAL BEARSKIN AIRLINES HOPE CLASSIC will be held February 7th – 9th, 2014, at the Fort William Curling Club.

Linda Buchan, who had just recently undergone breast cancer treatment, was approached in 1996 by Barb Crooks, a breast cancer survivor, about starting a bonspiel to raise money for the Breast Cancer Support Group. The organizing committee worked on planning the bonspiel for just over a year and in 1997 the first annual Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic was held at the Fort William Club, and we cannot say enough about this club and how they have been superb in  helping us.

Linda Buchan  approached Cliff Friesen, the co-owner of Bearskin Airlines about supporting the committee in this endeavour. Cliff’s daughter, Tammy Saliidas, had also just undergone breast cancer surgery and treatment. Cliff was supportive from Linda’s first meeting with him, and from that point on the committee has never looked back. This bonspiel is probably one of the most popular women’s bonspiels in Thunder Bay and the best  part of the bonspiel is that all money raised stays in Northwestern Ontario. All money is donated to the Linda Buchan Centre through the Northern Cancer Fund of the Thunder Bay Health Sciences Foundation.

Linda Buchan, passed away on December 11, 2002, just before the 7th Annual Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic, and although it was extremely difficult for the committee, they all agreed to carry on with Linda’s Dream.
The money raised over the years has been absolutely amazing with the totals as follows:

1997  $39,000
1998  $48,000
1999  $64,000
2000  $90,000
2001  $115,000
2002  $125,000
2003  $180,000
2004  $150,000
2005  $165,000

2006  $210,000
2007  $190,000
2008  $175,000
2009  $165,000
2010  $169,000
2011  $185,000
2012  $177,500
2013  $155,500

Total: $2,403,000

This brings the total amount raised in seventeen years to $2,403,000.00 and once again we must say how wonderful it is that all money raised stays right here in Northwestern Ontario. We cannot express enough gratitude to the local and area sponsors as well as all of the women curlers who have supported us year after year.

Linda never wanted the Bearskin Airlines Hope Classic to be about her. She wanted it to be about “making a difference to the lives of women in Northwestern Ontario.” Well, a difference has been made and her dream is continuing.