“Not only has Elaine has been contributing to the sport of curling for many years by giving her time and expertise to clubs and curling organizations, but she has also encouraged me and many others into leadership roles that continue to grow the sport of Curling in our community.” – Stephanie Britwistle, nominator
As we know, the success of community sport depends on the dedication and time of volunteer sport leaders. Elaine Brimicombe has been a leader within the local and provincial curling community, dedicating her time and expertise to creating an inclusive environment to welcome more participants to the sport of curling.
Elaine has been a member of the Board of Directors for the Ottawa Valley Curling Association as well as the Ontario Curling Association (CurlON) since 2015. In addition to her roles with OVCA and CurlON, Elaine has been instrumental in events like the 2016 Tim Hortons Brier in Ottawa as well as developing community programs like wheelchair curling at the RA Centre.
When asked about her participation in the wheelchair curling program at the RA Centre, she shared “The energy and excitement of this program is infectious.”
At the end of Elaine’s executive term with CurlON in 2022, she was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award. During her time as Chair, Elaine expanded the governance model, revamped the organization’s strategic plan, and launched their equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategy where she believes that for curling in Ontario, #EveryonePlays.
“I truly believe in ‘Moments Build Momentum’. When someone tells me they enjoyed their curling experience as either a volunteer or a participant I want to share those moments with others to continue to build momentum.”
Elaine has also been spending her time volunteering to make the 2023 World Men’s Curling Championship a success at TD Place. The event is running from April 1st to the 9th. For more than 35 years, Elaine has been participating in curling events, both as a curler and a volunteer, from the local level to the international level.
For Elaine, hosting a national or international curling event in Ottawa is about supporting community curling. For events that she has been involved in, a portion of ticket revenue from major events has been reinvested into community programs and facilities.
“This revenue is then used by the associations and members clubs to provide programs such as Learn to Curl, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, funding to support youth programs and low-interest loans to curling facilities to purchase capital equipment or undertake renovations and repairs,” said Brimicombe about the countless major events with which she has been involved.
Major events can not only provide a boost in participation for communities but can provide an influx of resources for community organizations in support of programs, equipment, and facilities. These benefits can be felt by participants for years to come. Our recent blog in partnership with Ottawa Tourism about how sport tourism can help community sport organizations can be found here.
Elaine’s volunteer career in curling has had a substantial impact on community programs and the people around her. While she is honoured to be nominated as a Community Sport Hero, she is also grateful to work alongside so many great volunteers and believes that this is truly a shared nomination with all the curling community.
“Curling is a very social and supportive community. Through curling, I have met so many wonderful people, from all walks of life and many have become my closest friends. Not only have we shared hours on the ice (and summertime walks and golf) or in boardrooms — we have shared many life milestones, including laughter and tears,” shared Elaine. “When we work together on an event, large or small, we make connections with people that can last a lifetime.”
For many sports in our community, dedicated volunteers, like Elaine, are pivotal to the success of sport programs. As the True Sport Report 2022 stated, volunteer involvement in community organizations is not only key to building successful sport programs, but also to building social capital in our communities. The impact of the work of Elaine, and countless other sport volunteers, goes beyond the field of play and helps to build thriving communities.