United We Curl wants everyone to feel like they belong in curling

There are few times that I feel very encouraged by anti-racism efforts in sport. One if those times was attending the launch of United We Curl's #IbelongUWC campaign. 

I have only been to a bonspiel (curling event) once before as an adult, although I have watched on television. I come from Halifax, the land of Canada's curling queen, Colleen Jones. I have always been interested in curling but was committed to playing soccer at a young age. 

But was curling, a predominantly white sport, really for me or people like me? Most curlers insist that it is, and an organization of racialized curlers is working to make it as accessible as possible to everyone.

Like many sports initiatives and organizations, diversity, equity and inclusion components came to a crossroads after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. From a time of anger and sadness, a group was created that is marinated in the love of sport and that carries hope on its mantle. Its founding members are curlers from all communities and open to all genders, races and abilities. 

Last week, United We Curl (UWC) hosted a launch event of #IBelongUWC, a partnership with Rogers Media All In. It was hosted by Sportsnet's Donnovan Bennett with a panel of speakers including Dr. Richard Norman, Sabeena Islam and Brittany Tran — all directors of United We Curl, with now-retired Olympic curler Joanne Courtney. 

They all spoke about their experiences on the ice and in the curling communities they are a part of. But they also spoke about how much they love the sport and what it can do to be better and extend itself to more Canadians. 

Part of what UWC seeks to do within the curling landscape is share knowledge and raise awareness, create safe spaces for different cultures and understand why the existing model may not feel the most welcoming for people new to curling culture.

Islam explained that they had an event in her hometown of Kingston, Ont., and it was specifically for youth from racialized communities.

"Many of the parents who signed their kids up said that they felt more comfortable because there was a person of colour there," she said.

Islam admitted that she carries a score terminal in her purse at all times. Curling is about community and that is something that resonates with many people across the country and particularly those who have a place in a cultural or ethnic community.

But there are barriers. Islam told the crowd about how buying a beer for the losing team in an after-party is an expected part of curling culture. But as a Muslim, Islam doesn't drink alcohol nor will she buy it for anyone else. So that could be awkward and create distance for her.

"I'm happy to buy you a diet coke, but not a beer," she said.

Norman is a scholar who works with the organization but consults on futures in sport as well as diversifying sport culture. He said during the event that it is important to keep spaces for racialized people within the sport as opposed to a process of "assimilation" within curling.

"Curling is an adaptive sport," Norman said. "It can be whatever we want to make it."