Legendary Alberta curler collects top Japanese honour
Alberta curler Wally Ursuliak has been awarded one of Japan’s top honours in recognition of his role in helping introduce the sport to that country almost four decades ago.
In 1980, Ursuliak was asked to travel to Alberta’s sister province of Hokkaido and become the first curling instructor in Japan.
In doing so he laid the foundation for a sport that has since grown immensely in popularity across the country.
The 87-year-old former world champion and Brier winner from Morinville was presented with the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays medal by the consul general of Japan, Kunihiko Tanabe, in Calgary on Thursday. The award recognizes Ursuliak’s tireless work promoting friendship and understanding since his first visit to Hokkaido.
Thanks to his efforts, curling would eventually spread throughout Japan and from there to Korea and China. That in turn meant the sport became popular on three continents, a development required for curling to be recognized as an Olympic sport — first as a demonstration event in Calgary in 1988 and finally as a medal event, fittingly in Japan, with the Nagano Winter Games of 1998.
“Because of Wally’s instruction, the annual Hokkaido curling championship is called the Alberta Cup and the 36th championship in 2016 featured a special trophy that was presented as a gift from the Province of Alberta,” said a statement from the consul’s office.
When first approached by the Alberta government in 1980 to show some visiting Japanese dignitaries how curling was played, Ursuliak took them to a rink in St. Albert where a women’s game was in progress. Hours later, after returning home, he received a phone call and was asked if he’d like to visit Hokkaido to demonstrate the sport to locals.
It was supposed to be a onetime visit, but such was Ursuliak’s popularity that he was invited back six years in a row.
“That first winter I’d hop from town to town and play on outside rinks in January in front of all these curious people who had little idea back then about curling. It was a wonderful time with so many great memories,” said Ursuliak.