RockSolid Productions Inc. Opening new doors to young people across the country through curling
By Anneka Burghout, Rock Solid Productions Inc.
The 2023-24 season has been nothing short of incredible, full of numerous opportunities for youth engagement in camps, schools and gyms.
Each year, Curling Canada and Rock Solid Productions Inc. team up to provide $20,000 in meaningful philanthropic projects across the country, ensuring curling is accessible to as many young people as possible. This year was no exception, with the value of initiatives reaching $30,000.
Let’s take a look at some of the key joint initiatives under Curling Canada and Rock Solid Productions’ For the Love of Curling program.
From curling to summer camps
Last summer, hundreds of children had the chance to experience curling at a summer camp thanks to the donation of equipment from Curling Canada and Rock Solid Productions Inc. The two summer camps which received the equipment, Camp Triumph and Camp Christie Lake, provide programs to youth who would not otherwise have the opportunity to be exposed to the sport of curling.
In total, more than 500 children were able to use the equipment and enjoy a new activity. The children actively participated in various ground curling programs and one camp was lucky enough to have four-time world curling champion Craig Savill among them!
Indigenous youth try curling at Youth Tee Pee Summit
At the Youth Tee Pee Summit 2023 in St. Albert, Alberta, 100 young Indigenous adults had the chance to participate in a pilot project featuring Egg Farmers Rocks & Rings, presented by Curling Canada.
The goal was to showcase the sport and inspire young leaders to bring the game, in the form of FloorCurl, back to their communities for all ages to enjoy. The First Nations Health Consortium (FNHC), the organizers of the event, purchased and shipped all the equipment to the communities to help amplify the benefits of the sport. To ensure the use of the equipment, this event was essential in encouraging young leaders to want to organize these activities in their communities.
The pilot was a huge success, breaking down barriers to trying the sport and introducing an inclusive activity to many Indigenous communities. Since the summit, the FNHC has taken care of shipping Ground loop equipment while training community leaders and educators with personalized Rocks & Rings programming.
This is an ongoing project that will continue to introduce the sport of curling to many communities who would not otherwise be exposed to it, allowing people of all backgrounds, ages and abilities to have the chance to play.
Fran Todd All Heart Award winners host inclusive curling sessions
The Fran Todd All Heart Award (FTAHA) supports young athletes who embody the values of curling, place the highest priority on fair play, respect and inclusiveness, and care deeply about the future of curling in Canada . One of this year’s recipients was high school student Rebecca Doherty, who has been on her student council since 9th grade, providing her with the knowledge to solve problems and speak out about the needs of her peers while sharing her passions with the others at Hillcrest High. School in Ottawa, Ontario.
Hillcrest High School is a diverse school where curling is not common for many students. As a competitive curler, Rebecca wanted to share her love of curling with her peers, while showing how inclusive the sport can be. Rebecca organized a curling event, starting with a Egg Farmers Rocks & Rings presented by Curling Canada ground curling experience in the school gymnasium for 75 students, then a diverse group of 45 students to try curling on the ice at the RA Centre. These students included new Canadian students from low-income households, students in the program with developmental delays, and students with autism spectrum disorders.
The end goal was to host an inclusive on-ice event, which successfully introduced the sport to students initially in the gymnasium, providing them with a safe space to understand the rules and master the game. Once on the ice ice, Rebecca was able to provide inclusive accommodations, such as dedicated, uncrowded ice time and setting up a chair for students who were uncomfortable bending over or who were out of position. comfortable staying on the ice for a long time.
The event was a great success in introducing people to sport in an inclusive environment and giving students the opportunity to try a new sport that they may not have had the chance to do otherwise.
FloorCurl Joins Moresports BC Programming Offerings
At Moresports BC, six sets of FloorCurl equipment were donated for use in their various sports programs at their two locations. In the winter, each of their multi-sport programs included floor curling sessions, introducing children from Kindergarten to Grade 5 to the sport. Additionally, they organized a winter camp and training session for volunteers, which was attended by approximately 60 people.
During their spring break camps, the equipment was used at all of their Tri City locations, each having a Moresports BC teen coach leading a day-long introductory lesson. This allowed them to introduce floor curling to approximately 150 children from Kindergarten to Grade 7 and approximately 25 teenagers in the community.
The equipment was also used by a teacher to guide her school of 300 children through a floor curling program during her PE lessons.
The FloorCurl sets were the perfect way for Moresports to show what a fun and safe place they are to try the sport in their community. The donated equipment will allow Moresports to continue to introduce young people of all ages to curling through its various sports programs.
Through our For the Love of Curling program and our partnership with Rock Solid Productions, we continue to be committed to growing the sport of curling and creating as many meaningful opportunities for youth across the country, especially those who may not have access to the game. We couldn’t do this without the support of the Canadian curling community, and we can’t wait to see what opportunities present themselves next season.
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