The last few weeks have been a wild ride for Métis curler Kerri Einarson.
Einarson and her teammates are fresh off their fourth straight win at the annual Canadian Women’s Curling Championship (Scotties Tournament of Hearts) tying a record set by Colleen Jones nearly 20 years ago.
“It’s a surreal, amazing feeling,” the Métis skip tells Host Dennis Ward on the latest episode of Face to Face.
“It doesn’t get old.”
The team took home the bronze medal from the Worlds last year, so there is unfinished business for Einarson, who will meet host Team Sweden in the first match of the round robin.
Einarson says she is looking forward to stepping on the ice and representing the Maple Leaf.
“I started curling at the age of eight,” she explained. “My uncle, Greg McAulay, he won the Worlds back in 2000 and the Brier, and when he won I knew that it was something that I wanted to do.
“I’ve been chasing my dreams ever since I started juniors,” Einarson added. “It’s been an amazing journey. I never thought that I would get to where I am today, but we’ve put in a lot of hard work on and off the ice and it’s definitely paying off.”
Einarson recently quit her job as a rehabilitation aide to pursue her curling dreams full time, help her husband with his fishing business, and spend more time with her twin girls.
The girls are already big into curling and talking strategy, noted their proud mom.
To be waning
Because the popularity of curling seems to be waning, Einarson wants to grow the sport and helps out with a junior program in the community of Gimli, Man.
Einarson, who was a recipient of the Tom Longboat Award in 2021, which recognizes Indigenous athletes for their outstanding contributions to sport, feels the game is also becoming more inclusive.
“I’ve had so many people reach out to me that are Indigenous and say we’re so happy to have you representing us,” she says. “To hear that is so nice.
“I want to give back to the game, so I also help out two Indigenous mixed doubles curlers. They reached out to me and I help teach them here, they come here and I help practice with them. I think that is very special.”
Team Einarson – comprised of lead Briane Harris, second Shannon Birchard and third Val Sweeting – also has the backing of the Manitoba Métis Federation, whose MMF logo is featured prominently on the team’s curling attire.
The MMF and Team Einarson have just announced the sale of special curling brooms, with proceeds going to MMF youth sports programming.
The 2023 World Women’s Curling Championship runs March 18 to 26.
