Rob Swan, the now famous curler who began Curling Across the Nation to raise money for his tiny New Brunswick community rink, will be throwing, or perhaps pushing, rocks as he curls next Friday with the Daytime Stick League.
Swan is just an ordinary guy who works in the Gas sector of Alberta two weeks on, two weeks off, yet he is extraordinary in his passion for the sport of curling.
“Last October I curled 10 countries in 11 days. I applied to have that recognized as a new world record. I just received an email this morning saying that Guinness (World Records) will recognize that as a new world record – it’s been a good day,” said Swan on Friday, Nov 10, in an interview.
He admits he is a fanatic about curling. Aside from men’s, ladies and mixed leagues he rhymes off many leagues including Special Olympics, Vision Impaired, leagues for the deaf, wheelchair league, Little Rocks (children 12 and under), and more; he’s curled in most every league imaginable in his quest to promote this sport.
“I don’t see any other sport that allows so much of Canadian society to take part,” he states with enthusiasm.
Although Curling Across the Nation started four years ago as a small fund raiser for Swan’s own hometown club, the Harvey Curling Club of Harvey Station, New Brunswick, CATN has taken on a life of its own as Swan seeks to promote the sport everywhere he goes, and he goes everywhere.
Curling was an Olympics sport in 1912 he says. It was scaled back, but returned as a full medal sport in 1998. Swan is pleased that curling regained Olympic status for Men’s, Ladies’ and Mixed leagues, but he is promoting it to be recognized worldwide in all leagues including Special Olympics.
What is it about curling? The camaraderie between winners and losers, he thinks. “You cannot go into curling, having not met new friends when you leave.”
On a more personal note, Swan is a life-long curler who didn’t let cancer stop him. He is also curling to encourage those with serious illnesses.
“I’ve been curling most of my life. Before I started this (CATN), I was diagnosed and treated for cancer. I want people to know, there is life before, during and after cancer.”
Swan describes this very Canadian sport saying, “It was born in Scotland, but it was raised in Canada - it is our child.” Being an official Olympic sport, Swan says curling is catching on in countries such as Israel, Afghanistan, Guyana (Africa) Brazil, Australia, and New Zealand.
In cold Canadian winters it is an especially affordable sport.
“Every facility here in Canada has the equipment that you need to take part. To get started, you don’t need anything. Go to a facility and say, ‘Can you teach me how to curl?’ They’re more than happy to teach you how to curl.”
He is still raising money for his home rink in the Maritimes. Built in 1961 for a community of around 300 people, he explains, “Like a lot of communities, these facilities are aging.” With no major industry or big business to help Harvey Curling Club he says, “I’ll keep doing this for as long as I can.”
He has no official sponsors, but pays his own expenses to curl around the country, and he’s gone beyond Canadian borders.
“So far I have curled just one game in over 270 different curling facilities in 10 countries.”
A curling booster wherever he goes he says, “When I visit a curling facility, I take every opportunity to showcase that facility on my Facebook page.”
Meet Rob Swan at Virden Curling Club Friday, Nov. 24, as he curls with the Daytime Stick League.
