As people flock to arenas around the city for the start of a new hockey season, there's another winter sport trying to intrigue youth to give it a try.
The Galt Curling Club is getting ready to run its annual Learn to Curl program on Sept. 30.
The two hour introductory session is designed for youth who have never stepped on the ice and is led by club manager Quinn Walsh.
"Curling really is a sport where it'll give you what you want out of it," Walsh said.
"If you're looking for something where you'll get a little bit of exercise once a week while having a social night out, curling has that. If you're looking at wanting to be super competitive and travel, it has that too."
Walsh believes the skills taught and the lessons learned through curling extend well past who wins and loses.
For youth, there's an emphasis on the soft skills that come with playing a sport. Teamwork, sportsmanship and professional etiquette are all a focus for coaches and players.
"I believe that the impact of our club goes beyond just being a space with ice where people can curl," Walsh said.
"We act like a community centre in a sense. The club provides that social environment and community support that a lot of people can find they're missing in their lives."
The club is also running a learn to curl for adults which began earlier in September. The program was so popular that it had to open up more spots for people to join.
Walsh looks at herself as an example of what kind of impact the sport can have. She began curling at 8 years old when a friend invited her to a similar youth program.
After two and a half hours, she was hooked.
Stops on the Ontario tour and the Humber College varsity curling team followed. Today, she continues to play on the tour in hopes of qualifying for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and is a National Coaching Certification Program accredited coach looking to share her knowledge of the game with the next generation.
"The average curler won't end up on the same path I did simply between when they discover the game and what they want out of it, but that's okay," Walsh said.
"I see part of my role within curling to welcome others to the sport and hopefully they're able to fall in love with the game in their own way that fills their cup in the same sense that the game fills mine."
Parents are encouraged to register their child for the free lesson through the Galt Curling Club website.
