Curling Across The Nation – Again
What drives someone to travel the entire country promoting curling?
Rob Swan from New Brunswick is undertaking exactly that mission, propelled by his passion for the sport as he visits as many Canadian curling facilities as possible.
Through his Curling Across the Nation initiative, he visited the Napanee and District Curling Club this past Saturday to compete in a match and express his dedication to the game.
“I’m here to shine a spotlight on curling at the community level,” Swan explained.
The New Brunswick resident comes from Harvey Station, a small community of roughly 400 people located approximately 35 minutes west of Fredericton.
He described being immersed in curling throughout his entire life.
“Both my parents played. Two out of my three sisters participated, so curling has always been part of my life,” Swan said with a grin.
As he changed into his curling footwear, elite-level competitors were delivering stones on the screen above the clubhouse bar in Napanee. He humbly acknowledged he would “never compete at that caliber.”
“However, I can assure you that none of those top-tier players will visit this curling ‘centre’ to support it,” Swan stated.
Swan expressed his dislike for the term “club.”
“It has such an exclusive connotation. I prefer centre. It feels more welcoming. I want everyone to feel comfortable and participate.”
Swan recalled an era when the sport was extremely “closed door,” requiring an invitation from an existing member to join. He noted that was when alcoholic beverages and tobacco were permitted on the ice. “Things have really evolved,” he remarked.
One significant transformation that resonates with Swan is the improved accessibility and inclusivity. He now participates in games with people from all backgrounds.
“Every segment of society is represented. Yesterday evening I competed in Smiths Falls with a newcomers’ league. Some participants had only been on the ice a handful of times,” he shared. “There are children in the little rock programs. There are seniors well into their nineties. I competed against a grandmother and her grandson this morning in Belleville before arriving here – a delightful pair. She was 98 years old.”
During a visit to Holland, Swan competed with the Dutch National Wheelchair Team. He said they were initially skeptical and questioned why an “able-bodied person” would want to participate.
“I explained that I’m working to showcase every facet of this sport, and I cannot accomplish that without participating myself,” he said.
Swan noted that LGBTQ+ curling leagues exist in nearly every major city he visits nowadays.
“There’s even a national championship for gay curlers,” he mentioned. “So there isn’t a single segment of society that curling hasn’t welcomed.”
When asked if he would be stopping in Kingston during this trip, he declined. Among his personal guidelines as he documents the facilities on his list is never returning to the same location twice. He previously visited Kingston years earlier during the beginning of his mission.
“I never revisit a curling facility. I haven’t competed in my own hometown in years,” he said. “The sole exception was Ottawa. After they demolished the old building, I returned to play in the replacement once it was completed. I did the same for a facility in Nova Scotia that had to reconstruct their building.”
His second guideline stipulates that he must complete a full six ends for it to count as an official game.
“Anything shorter, and it doesn’t make my list,” he explained. “I never want anyone to claim, ‘That wasn’t legitimate. You merely tossed a few stones at that facility.'”
Swan emphasized that smaller curling facilities are where national competitors began and that they serve as the training ground for Canadian icons like Kevin Martin and Jennifer Jones.
“Without these smaller community curling centres, where will the next generation of curling champions emerge?” he posed.
Swan initiated this journey eleven years ago when he assisted his own community’s curling facility with fundraising. After seeing its success there, he decided he could replicate those efforts for other communities.
The opening game of his nationwide initiative took place at St. Vital Curling Club in Winnipeg after receiving a cancer diagnosis and undergoing treatments.
“I received my diagnosis in May, and by October I was competing on the ice in Winnipeg,” he recalled. “That first year provided a wonderful escape. I didn’t need to think about cancer, the treatment, blood tests, CT scans, or anything else.”
One might think Swan is retired, given his coast-to-coast curling adventures, but he maintains full-time employment as an electrician, managing everything on a demanding schedule.
“I traveled here Thursday, but I was working on Wednesday,” he said. “I’ll return Tuesday and head straight back to work.”
He carries a pledge sheet to every facility he visits, requesting their sponsorship for his journey. He intends to play 30 games in 30 centres this season.
“I understand that many smaller curling centres face financial difficulties. I hope to help address that,” he said. “There are 34 spaces on the pledge form. If one hundred members complete their sheet with two-dollar pledges for my 30 games, that generates over $200,000.”
Swan has ventured beyond Canadian territory to promote awareness of a sport he treasures. In reality, he has traveled globally. He said the sport is gaining popularity internationally, producing world champions from outside Canada.
Despite his international travels, Swan still maintains it is Canada’s sport.
“When I was in Italy, I played a small informal game with my driver and a father with his son,” he recalled. “Their English was limited, and my Italian was even worse. I managed to ask the younger competitor who his curling inspirations were. Throughout the entire drive to the facility, it was ‘Brad Gushue! Brad Gushue!’ – a Canadian.”
Gushue hails from St. John’s, Newfoundland. His team captured the gold medal in the 2006 Winter Olympics by defeating Finland 10–4.
“I’ve competed in 13 nations, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, France, England, Austria, Switzerland… and Scotland, where it originated,” he said. “I always maintain the sport was born in Scotland but raised in Canada. It belongs to us.”
Swan noted that Canada has more curling facilities than all other countries combined. A brief internet search verified this claim.
However, it’s the Canadian small-town community facilities that occupy a special place in Swan’s heart. He finds it rewarding to witness his efforts creating an impact.
“I was in Campbellford yesterday, and the mayor and council members attended,” he said. “They have problems with their roof. It requires repair. The mayor was first to contribute $100. He is demonstrating leadership for others. That will make a difference.”
The Napanee and District Curling Club currently faces roof issues. The members are presently collaborating with the agricultural society that leases the facility to the club to identify a resolution.
November will take Swan to Peterborough, Lakefield, Omimi, Marmora, Bobcaygeon, and additional locations.
He previously competed at a competitive level but now simply appreciates the social dimension of the sport.
“There’s no comparable sport,” he said. “You can relax in the clubhouse following a game and share a beverage with the person who just defeated you.”
You can contact Rob Swan at curlingacrossthenation@gmail.com to discover more or on the Curling Across the Nation Facebook page.
