Unique curling program hits Riverheights

Capital One Rocks & Rings program brings curling to Manitoba schools

Westman Journal
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
By Lanny Stewart

Just a few weeks ago, Grade 3, 4, 5 and 6 students from Riverheights School got a chance to throw a curling rock - just not on ice.

Capital One, in association with the Canadian Curling Association, has put together a curling program called the "Rocks and Rings" in an effort to get youth acquainted with the sport during the school day. The program, which will take place in gyms all across Manitoba this year, focuses on children and families that would otherwise not receive the opportunity to participate in the sport.

"What we're trying to do is expand curling to the next generation," said Laurel Ostfield, communications manager for Capital One. "Also we wanted to bring curling to kids that really hadn't been exposed to it in the past so people who may be new to Canada or families that maybe couldn't afford to go to a curling club or never have had the opportunity to go to a curling club before. So by bringing it into the schools, we're exposing it to a whole new group of kids."

Riverheights School in Brandon was just one of approximately 80 schools in Manitoba that have hosted and will host the "Rocks and Rings" program for a day. The program is also visiting Treherne, Selkirk and numerous schools in and around the Winnipeg area.

"They learned about the history of curling and learned different facts and they then learned some different drills," said Tyson Ramsey, phys. ed teacher at Riverheights school. "I thought it was fun. The kids really seemed to enjoy it."

Ostfield says the program uses unique curling equipment consisting of rocks with wheels attached and a setup that takes minutes. The curling rocks were approximately the size of the plastic handles on regular curling rocks.

Ostfield says upon completion of the program, each student receives a graduation certificate, which provides information on how the student can get involved in the sport in his or her area.