1. How did you first get introduced to curling?

I was first introduced to curling by my father at the age of 7. He lived across from a curling club when he was growing up and that was the same curling club I started at.

2. Was there someone or something that was a key motivating factor for you to curl and to aspire to play at a high level?

There wasn’t necessarily one person that inspired me to start curling. My parents influenced me at a young age and I fell in love with the game from there. I was a fairly active kid, playing a lot of sports, so I grew up with that competitive nature. After that, my teammates motivate me to keep playing along with all the coaches I have met in my curling career.

3. What would you tell someone aspiring to be a high level curler to do to develop the skills and mindset needed to be able to compete and play at the highest levels of the game?

I always recommend to people trying to get to a high level of curling, to play up. If you are playing against who you aspire to be, that is where you will learn the most. Yes, you will lose games but in my opinion that is how you will learn. In terms of mindset, it may be tough to lose games as you are trying to get better, so I would recommend working with a mental performance coach to improve your mental skills as well.

4. What do you enjoy most about the game of curling?

What I enjoy most about curling is being a part of a team environment. I never enjoyed doing individual sports because I found that I liked being able to be social with my teammates instead of in my own head. Playing individually made me feel isolated.  But in a team environment, I have 3-4 other people to bounce ideas off of.

5. If you could go back in time, what would you tell your 10 year old self?

I would tell my 10-year-old self to make sure to prioritize friends and family as you grow up. I would tell her to always thank her parents as they are a huge reason for your success in curling and in life. As much as curling is an important part of my life, as I got older, I realized more and more the importance of family and I wish I knew that better at a younger age.

6. Do you have a favourite memory that stands out in your curling career to date?

One of my favorite curling memories was being lucky enough to represent Canada at the Youth Olympic Games in 2020. Not only did I compete, but I was selected to carry the flag at the Opening Ceremonies. I remember being so nervous but also so grateful to walk out in front of thousands of people as I represented my country.

7. What one piece of advice would you give to someone just starting out in the game of curling?

I would tell them to meet as many people as possible and make friends in the curling world. Not only is it important to practice, but it is just as important to network and make connections. You never know who your future teammates or coaches may be.

8. What one suggestion/recommendation would you make to increase what Canadians know about high-level competitive curling and the elite players who compete to be the best in the game? How do you see this making a difference?

One suggestion I would make to increase what Canadians know about curling is to start with the kids. Bring curling into schools more frequently and teach them how to play in school. Maybe a few will enjoy it and try it outside of school and that will rub off on the parents as well. I think curling needs to be more widespread throughout Canada as not many people know just how competitive it can be. If we teach kids about all the opportunities available to them, we can start to show Canada just how great curling is.

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