BRIER FAN CURLS ACROSS THE NATION
Rob Swan is one happy guy. “This is one of the most spectacular facilities in the country, with the best curling ice,” he says during a break in action at the Glencoe Club Friday morning. “It’s a big thrill to play here, too, since it’s where Team Canada and Team Alberta train.”
It’s no surprise that a curling fanatic would appreciate such a mecca for the sport, especially since Calgary is currently hosting the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier. But when Swan describes his schedule of late, it’s remarkable that he’s even still on his feet.
Over the past couple of weeks, he’s curled on local rinks close to 30 times. Since he arrived in town just before the start of the Brier, the New Brunswick native has been spending every spare moment travelling to clubs in and around the city.
By Friday evening, Swan will have reached his goal — at the Crossfield Curling Club — to play 100 games in 100 rinks in Canada.
“Yeah, it is absolutely nuts,” he says with a laugh prior to his 98th game at the Glencoe. “But it’s curling and I love it.”
It was this lifelong love of curling that set him on his journey last year, under the name Curling Across The Nation. With the unofficial motto, One Man, One Broom — Swan began his curling marathon last October, determined to help his home rink get a much-needed facelift.
“It is more than 53 years old, and never had a renovation or any real upgrades,” says the 48-year-old electrician, who has so far raised $6,000 toward a goal of $50,000. “It deserves some TLC.”
As an institution of sport and socializing in the small New Brunswick village of Harvey Station, the Harvey Curling Club is without par. According to Swan, his community counts fewer than 400 inhabitants, yet the local curling club has more than 100 members. “We are into curling big-time,” he says.
When it comes to vocal supporters, curling sure could use more people like Swan. Brought to Canada in the early 19th century by Scottish emigrants, the sport has played the dual roles of providing Canadians an economical sporting and social activity during long winters, while also helping to shape not only community, but also national identity.
While viewing audience numbers for such high-calibre events as the Brier have increased in recent years and the sport has spread worldwide, Canada has also seen a precipitous decline in players, as a generation dies out and the next one fails to pick it up.
When he first began his quest, Swan only had his hometown curling club in mind. Travelling regularly across the country from New Brunswick to northern British Columbia, where he works in remote communities three weeks out of the month, he was accustomed to being on the road.
“I figured taking some detours to curl was something I could manage,” he says with a chuckle, adding he pays his expenses out of pocket, with all money raised going to his club back home. “I let the clubs know I’m coming a couple of months ahead, so I’m sure to get a spot.”
He started out in Winnipeg, he says, because it’s a curling mecca. “One guy there told me that a few years ago there were 27 clubs in the city and now only 16 remain.”
Because of this, Swan says his initial aim soon expanded to promote not only his club, but also the sport of curling in general.
“I want to show people how great curling is,” he says, noting that he was only rejected by one club, a high-end private one in Ontario, which later reconsidered and made him an honorary member. “I’ve also been trying to encourage the more successful clubs to help out ones that aren’t doing as well.”
After taking a well-deserved rest and settling in to watch his favourite sport from the stands at the 2015 Tim Hortons Brier this weekend, Swan says he’ll soon start planning the next season of Curling Across the Nation. “I’m going to repeat it every year for the next eight,” he says, adding he’s already lined up rinks in Scotland for the 2016-17 season.
While some would indeed say that’s a little bit nutty, Swan makes no apologies. “Curling is the greatest, most sociable sport there is,” says the tireless curler.
“It’s one of the only sports where you can get your ass kicked, then go have a beer and a laugh together afterwards.”