United We Curl wants everyone to feel like they belong in curling

There are few times that I feel very encouraged by anti-racism efforts in sport. One if those times was attending the launch of United We Curl's #IbelongUWC campaign. 

I have only been to a bonspiel (curling event) once before as an adult, although I have watched on television. I come from Halifax, the land of Canada's curling queen, Colleen Jones. I have always been interested in curling but was committed to playing soccer at a young age. 

But was curling, a predominantly white sport, really for me or people like me? Most curlers insist that it is, and an organization of racialized curlers is working to make it as accessible as possible to everyone.

Like many sports initiatives and organizations, diversity, equity and inclusion components came to a crossroads after the murder of George Floyd in 2020. From a time of anger and sadness, a group was created that is marinated in the love of sport and that carries hope on its mantle. Its founding members are curlers from all communities and open to all genders, races and abilities. 

Last week, United We Curl (UWC) hosted a launch event of #IBelongUWC, a partnership with Rogers Media All In. It was hosted by Sportsnet's Donnovan Bennett with a panel of speakers including Dr. Richard Norman, Sabeena Islam and Brittany Tran — all directors of United We Curl, with now-retired Olympic curler Joanne Courtney. 

They all spoke about their experiences on the ice and in the curling communities they are a part of. But they also spoke about how much they love the sport and what it can do to be better and extend itself to more Canadians. 

Part of what UWC seeks to do within the curling landscape is share knowledge and raise awareness, create safe spaces for different cultures and