Curling Cares Calendar bigger than ever in 2022

Teamwork makes the dream work. When curlers work together on the ice, they achieve their dreams. When we work together off the ice, we make the world a better place. And this year’s 2022 Curling Cares Calendar brings those two sentiments together with a new calendar that is literally bigger and better than ever.

“We are honoured to have TheCommunityFundraiser.com as a generous supporter once again. Their organizational efforts to invest in the sport of curling, to increase the profile of our sport and athletes, especially the next generation of curlers, and how it sets the future of our sport up for success, are unparalleled,” said Brodie Bazinet, Curling Canada Foundation manager. “It’s always a treat to open up this calendar, see all of the accomplished athletes and think about how they inspire young curlers across the country. In this year’s calendar, we once again get to see some of those young athletes who were inspired from past editions be featured for the first time and get the chance to inspire a new generation.”

The 2022 Curling Cares Calendar features Olympic and world champions, along with future stars who aspire to reach the pinnacle of our sport. The calendar size is increasing to 10″ x 13″ in portrait orientation to accommodate the grand ambitions and accolades of the curlers inside. The calendar also includes a special 18″ x 24″ centrefold poster for the first time.

A collection of curlers and teams, four-player and mixed doubles, will be featured in the 2022 calendar. Each will support a charitable initiative close to their heart and essential in their communities. Additionally, proceeds from each calendar sold also support Curling Canada’s youth development programs. Calendar sales and athlete model efforts supporting Curling Canada’s youth philanthropic programs have raised more than $115,000 since 2015.

All four members of Team Zacharias – skip Mackenzie Zacharias, vice-skip Karlee Burgess, second Emily Zacharias, and lead Lauren Lenentine – have at one point received a For the Love of Curling Scholarship in their young careers to help balance the pursuit of success both on and off the curling ice. The team from Altona, Man., had an incredible run in 2020, winning the Canadian and world junior women’s titles. In 2021, the team made its Scotties Tournament of Hearts debut as a wild card team in the Calgary hub city bubble. 

“Our team is incredibly honoured to be the faces of Curling Canada’s For the Love of Curling Scholarship program as part of the Curling Cares Calendar this year! We are so excited to have the opportunity to raise money for the Curling Canada Foundation and play a role in helping young curlers across Canada,” said Mackenzie Zacharias, who received her For the Love of Curling scholarship in 2017 and was part of the 2020 and 2021 scholarship selection panels.  “All of my teammates have received this scholarship in the past and are so thankful for this aid made possible by the support of the curling community. Being a student-athlete is not easy balancing school and sport. It takes a lot of time and effort. This scholarship has provided me with the resources to continue to curl as well as pursue an education, and for that, I am thankful. Encouraging the continuation of sport in a young person’s life is incredibly important, that is why my team and I are proud to be raising funds that will support future scholarship recipients.”

Other Canadian curlers included in the 2022 Curling Cares Calendar include: two-time Canadian mixed doubles silver-medallists Kadriana Sahaidak and Colton Lott; Olympic gold-medallist, two-time world champion and three-time Tim Hortons Brier champion Marc Kennedy; 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts skip Laurie St-Georges of Quebec; Two-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts champions Team Einarson; two-time Tim Hortons Brier skip Greg Smith of Newfoundland and Labrador; and Olympic bronze-medallist/world women’s champion, Julie Skinner.

There’s also plenty of international curling stars in the upcoming calendar, including 2021 world men’s silver-medallists Team Mouat of Scotland; Japan’s Tetsuro Shimizu; 2021 world women’s bronze-medallist skip Tabitha Peterson of the U.S.A.; Chris Plys, who has represented the U.SA. twice as vice-skip at the world men’s curling championship; and Norway’s Olympic mixed doubles bronze-medallists Kristin Skaslien and Magnus Nedregotten.

“It’s our pleasure to continue working with the Curling Canada Foundation heading into 2022,” said Rick Warner of TheCommunityFundraiser.com. “The scholarship program continues to foster Canadian curling dreams, and these young athletes are now paying it forward to the next generation of curling talent.”

Calendars are now available for purchase by visiting curlingcares.com for $34.95 (tax and shipping inclusive) CAD and must be ordered by Dec. 12 (in Canada) for guaranteed delivery by Christmas. Calendar orders will begin shipping on Oct. 25.