Why is curling such a big deal in Saskatchewan?

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What came first? The province of Saskatchewan or the game of curling?

The answer, of course, is curling, but the people of Saskatchewan are so invested in the game that it feels like a pillar of the province's culture.

Curling Canada says Scottish miners brought the game to Canada, with the first Saskatchewan games taking place in 1879.

Sandy Forbes of Maple Creek, Sask., has photos dating back to 1902.

Her community celebrated the 120th anniversary of its rink in January 2024.

"Curling started in 1900 just on a lake outside of Maple Creek," she said, adding that a few years later the community built a curling rink.

Forbes said the game has been a huge part of her life and seeing multiple generations on the ice participating in a bonspiel is special.

People mostly come out for the love of the game, she said, but there are also prizes, ranging from money to fresh baked pies.

"We actually want to have a generational turkey shoot similar to the piespiel, but instead of winning a pie you win a turkey," she said.

Saskatchewan communities are known for hosting unique curling events. There's the barefoot bonspiel, funspiels and glow curling, where everyone wears neon.

CBC's Devin Heroux, a sports reporter covering Canadian athletics around the world, was quick to admit that curling has his heart.

"There's something really, really beautiful about an empty curling rink, Sort of the serenity that washes over you when you walk in there. And then the unmistakable sound of a piece of granite sliding over pebbled ice," said Heroux.

"There's just this overwhelming sense of community."

Michael Leier, founder of Saskatoon's Queer Curling League and