The Bytown Brier Lads: From Fundraiser to Passionate Curling Fans
The Bytown Brier Lads, a group of friends who started a curling team to raise funds for a good cause, have raised over $50,000 in the last five years, all while enjoying the sport of curling. And now, with the World Men’s Curling Championships coming to Ottawa, the Lads are excited to witness the action.
According to one member of The Bytown Brier Lads, "we are pumped! We’ll be attending the championships and cheering on our nation's best. But now being able to see in person some of the international greats will be awesome. It'll be a great competition."
But what makes Ottawa a great host city for the championship? For this group, it's the city's rich curling history and passionate curling community. "Ottawa's charm as a big city is its small town feel and friendly people. I think this complements the culture of the sport, with its camaraderie and sportsmanship," says another member.
The championship will not only bring excitement to the city, but it will also provide a boost to the local curling community. "It's a validation to the curling clubs in our city and their countless leaders, volunteers and coaches. It's because of them growing the game in our city that we've been able to attract this marquee event," says a member of The Bytown Brier Lads. "This will provide such an economic boost to our clubs, and we have no doubt that new players of all ages will be attracted to the sport."
But why did this group of friends choose curling as the sport of choice for their fundraiser? "Truthfully, it started out as a bit of a joke. We all played various sports together, but the vast majority of us had barely touched a rock prior to our fundraiser. So, I chose a sport that everyone was awful at to make it fair and also hilariously humbling. And I'm glad I did. I've become an avid curling fan, and so have many of the other guys."
The Bytown Brier Lads are a group of friends who came together for a fundraiser, but they have become much more than that. "It's an incredibly tight-knit group of Lads, and it's definitely become a weekend circled on everyone's calendar," says one member. "We may have started out as a group of guys looking to raise some money for a good cause, but now we're a group of passionate curling fans who love the sport and the community that comes with it."
The World Men’s Curling Championships will be an exciting event for The Bytown Brier Lads and for the city of Ottawa. But for them, it's more than just a competition. It's a validation of the hard work and dedication of the local curling community, and a testament to the power of friendship and the love of a sport.