Coming off a record season of delivering curling experiences to more young people than ever before, Rock Solid Productions and Curling Canada are pleased to jointly announce today an extension of their partnership through the 2027-28 season.
The two organizations have been working together for more than a decade in bringing the sport into school gymnasiums across Canada, and have expanded those offerings through innovative programs that go beyond the gymnasiums and reach into communities that traditionally haven’t had chances to experience curling.
“We’re thrilled that we can continue this collaboration with the team at Rock Solid Productions, which has been a leader — not only in Canada but around the world — in opening doors for people to participate in curling for the first time,” said Nolan Thiessen, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada. “We have shared ambitions of delivering curling experiences in new, exciting ways and that will benefit our sport for years to come.”
The most visible facet of the relationship is Egg Farmers Rocks & Rings, presented by Curling Canada, and the program is always expanding and innovating to remove barriers to participation in our sport, including downloadable teaching tools and adapted wheelchair equipment.
This past season, Egg Farmers Rocks & Rings, presented by Curling Canada, celebrated its 15th anniversary in record time, providing over 257,000 curling experiences.
In addition, a collaboration with the Alberta First Nations Health Consortium culminated in an extremely successful event at the 2023 Youth Tee Pee Summit, during which First Nations Youth were able to experience curling using Egg Farmers Rocks and Rings.
“Accessibility and inclusivity, combined with innovative ways to reach new communities and audiences, are core aspects of ensuring the sport continues to grow,” said Chad McMullan, president of Rock Solid Productions. “Our long-standing partnership with Curling Canada has allowed us to embrace new ways of introducing curling in a safe and welcoming environment for all, and we look forward to continue building upon that strong foundation.”
Another visible aspect of the partnership between Curling Canada and Rock Solid Productions was the appearance of FloorCurl sets at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Montana’s Brier and BKT Tires World Women’s Championship this past season. FloorCurl continues to be an accessible, inclusive and fun curling experience for school-aged youth, not to mention those who may not have viewed curling as a viable fitness and recreation option.
“The impact that we are creating together is an incredible display of the power of sport,” said Brodie Bazinet, Senior Manager, Philanthropy & Youth Impacts. “Rock Solid Productions has been integral in our ability to reach the most diverse demographic of youth possible, breakdown barriers to sport access and participation, and offer meaningful experiences through curling regardless of geographical limitations or socioeconomic background.”