Member of the women's curling team, Margot Flemming (Waterloo/) embarked on a journey of a lifetime to the Northwest Territories as part of her PhD research that involves how we can use satelite to monitor snowfall, particularly in the Territories.

Flemming has spent most of the pandemic in Yellowknife conducting her research and as fate will have it, met up with former Warrior Sarah Koltun (Whitehorse/) who was part of Team Galusha. After completing her masters last year, Flemming was in search of a new team and the opportunity arose for her to join the NWT team while continuing her PhD in the Territories. A few months later of training with Team Galusha, Flemming and the NWT team have made the trip to the Calgary bubble to compete in the 2021 Scotties. 

"It was an opportunity I really wanted to pursue and it works really well with my schooling being up in the Territories. It is very exciting to be a part of this team and to be here at the Scotties," said Flemming .

Flemming, who is working with the Goverment of NWT and a collborationg with the University of Waterloo in her PhD research has enjoyed her life up in the great white north, conducting her research, while training with Team Galusha.

"It's pretty normal up there. They are doing a great job of keeping COVID contained and because of that life is a lot more normal. There are protocols but we seem to have more freedom than the rest of Canada and we have had the chance to curl and compete and it has been great."

Flemming who is curling in the second spot with the Territories is loving the experience of the biggest tournament on Canadian soil and although this year is a big change for many of the veteran curlers, Flemming is taking it all in stride.

"It's interesting, this is my first Scotties so I am enjoying it thoroughly but you can tell some of the veterans are missing the fans and excitement of the event."

Flemming, who is not listed on the roster this year, hopes she can return to her hometown of Waterloo next Fall and compete once again with the Warriors.

Flemming and her team are 2-3 after five games and have three remaining. See their schedule here. 

Watch the full interview with Margot below.