OWEN SOUND, Ontario — Curling has always held a certain mystique; it’s that ‘Canadian’ sport everybody knows about. A surprising amount of people participate, yet few truly understand the game, and fewer still excel at playing it. A classic paradigm, ‘easy to learn, hard to master.’ Between the undeniable thrill of being on the ice and the camaraderie found competing in a game of strategy, it is no wonder curling holds a cherished place in the hearts of millions of Canadians.

It goes without saying that 2020 was a challenging year for a myriad of reasons. With clubs facing a seemingly un-winnable decision, most elected to hold off and skip the curling season entirely.  Both Anne Lemon and Brent Keeling (current and former presidents of Bluewater Curling Club, respectively) said that the decision to not put the ice in had a very emotional buildup, but ultimately resolved itself. With high up-front costs and no certainty of curlers using it, they elected to hold off.  “The actual decision on the day of was easy,” says Lemon.

With the arrival of winter in 2021, however, curling is back and ready to rock! Enthusiasts across the province are dusting off their brooms and sliders to resume their regularly scheduled programming. “I remember nearly tearing up watching the ice go in,” says Lemon. “It’s so exciting to be back again, I can’t fully express my joy.”

“I didn’t think I missed this nearly as much as I have,” says Brent Keeling, the former president of the club. “You take it for granted until you don’t have it, a couple shots in and I remembered!”

Both Keeling and Lemon stated that one primary concern with taking a year off was the potential drop in membership if people found other hobbies during curling’s absence. Fortunately, this has not been the case, with membership numbers holding strong (approximately 180). Many familiar faces have returned, along with some brand-new ones. “It’s great to see new people taking up the game. That’s part of what will ensure that curling is still here in ten years, in twenty years,” says Lemon.

Another sign of how happy curlers are to be back on the ice can be found … off the ice. “People are lingering a little longer to socialize after their game.  It’s obvious they have missed it,” says Lemon. Adds Keeling, “I missed the Saturday afternoons at the club as much or more than I missed the game itself. There’s just something about being at the club.”

For Lemon, joining the club was an obvious step when she moved to the area in 2017. “It was one of the first things I did when I joined the Owen Sound community,” she says. “I hope to one day be that woman in my 80s, still at the club, still throwing rocks, still enjoying the game and the camaraderie.” Keeling points to this as part of what sets curling apart as a game of a lifetime. “It’s a lot like golf in that regard, you can play your whole life. You don’t have to be a good curler to enjoy it.”  With interclub competitions back, and bonspiels aplenty on the horizon, curling is once again providing an athletic and social outlet for people.

Throwing rocks down a sheet of ice may seem simple, and it is, yet it possesses some magnetism, some magic, that has bewitched Canadians for generations.  Curling is woven into the fabric of our country, and small clubs like Bluewater illustrate how deep roots can run.  In an era of cell phones and constant “connectivity,” it is a game that allows for reflection and provides a sense of belonging. This sense of community, togetherness, teamwork; these are the values that resonate through the years, and keep us coming back for more.

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