Curling fan France Isabelle has attended every Scotties Tournament of Hearts except one during the last 33 years, and in that time, has developed many fond memories of the places she’s been and famous curlers she’s met.
Isabelle, who has lived in New Brunswick since 2014 and works as a photographer for that province’s curling association, was stationed in Germany with the Canadian military in the 1980s when she was introduced to the sport. She would curl twice a year at bonspiels in Germany and Switzerland.
It was during one tournament in 1985 where she met and became friends with curler Linda Moore, who later became a commentator for TSN. Moore won the Scotties and world championship that year, while her team became the first to act as Team Canada during the 1986 Scotties.
After attending the 1987 world championship in Kelowna, British Columbia to watch Moore throw out the first honorary stone, Isabelle began attending the Scotties as a fan. She even went to the 1988 Calgary Olympics to watch Moore’s team compete. Moore’s team won gold, but it didn’t count in the standings since curling was then a demonstration sport.
It’s all about sportsmanship
“I am (a big curling fan). I get to meet many people. I’ve never met a curler I didn’t like,” chuckled Isabelle, who noted she only missed the 2008 Scotties in Regina since she had surgery nine days before.
Curling is all about sportsmanship, the Montreal native continued. Curlers shake hands before and after games, while they also compliment each other when someone makes a good shot. In comparison, in other major sports players simply aim to destroy their opponents.
“Curlers are classy people,” she continued. “I can name 300 people right off the top of my head, that if you looked up class in the dictionary, you’d find their name in the definition … you want to meet someone nice, meet a curler, and not just a competitive curler.
“It’s part of who we are. (We’re) genuine.”
Scotties a family game
Isabelle loves the Scotties immensely, she said. To her, curling is a generational, family game. The curlers she watched in the 1980s — such as Scotties’ legend Colleen Jones, who won three championships and has the second-most tournament wins — now have daughters who play in the Scotties.
For example, the father of Team Canada skip Chelsea Carey played in the Briar decades ago. Now he is the coach of his daughter’s team. Furthermore, Isabelle watched Cathy Cunningham, Kim Dolan, and TSN commentator Russ Howard throw rocks; their daughters now play or have played at the Scotties.
“When the granddaughters start curling, I quit,” joked Isabelle.
As an accredited media photographer, Isabelle has moved from shooting pictures of the curlers to taking pictures of their children in the stands. Sometimes they even seek her out to take photos of their families. She feels privileged to be part of the curling community in this way.
Wearing the coveted jacket
The first curler Isabelle ever met was New Brunswick’s Heidi Hanlon in 1987. Since Isabelle was by herself, Hanlon’s family invited her to sit with them to cheer.
Years later, Isabelle received a jacket in the mail from the 1995 Scotties. Hanlon had mailed it to her since she was the only fan in the group who didn’t have one. Isabelle cried for an hour in her living room.
The team from the Northwest Territories/Yukon was the next group to ask Isabelle to wear their jacket. While visiting their table during one tournament to seek autographs, the team asked her if she would wear their jacket when they played.
“I can tell (you), this is almost 30 years ago, and my knees are still shaking at the thought of that,” she said emotionally, “because you don’t expect it.”
Other teams to ask Isabelle to wear their jackets over the years included British Columbia, Quebec, Alberta, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan’s Michelle Englot — whom Isabelle also met in 1987 — represented Team Canada at the 2018 Scotties and gave Isabelle her spare jacket.
“Every player has brought me joy,” she added.
The legendary Sandra
Isabelle was also lucky to meet Sandra Schmirler. Isabelle noted the curling world will never know how good Schmirler could have been since she died in her prime at age 37 in 2000. However, while the Olympic gold medallist was a great player, Isabelle considered her an even better person.
Since Isabelle took pictures of the players so much, the team — known as Team Peterson before Sandra married — sent her a poster of them after a world championship with all their signatures to thank her. A few years later, they sent another signed poster, this one of their 1998 Olympic gold medal win.
The Sandra Schmirler Foundation sprung up in the wake of the curler’s death to help fundraise for preemie babies. Isabelle has volunteered with the organization and been a part of the annual telethon for the last nine years.
A strong memory
Isabelle is unsure how she remembers so much about attending the Scotties over the years. However, with almost clear recall, she can name the winners of the Scotties and Worlds up to 1998.
“I don’t remember everything. But ... I (do) have a memory for curling — only for curling,” she laughed. “This is my Christmas holiday every year … so that’s why I have so many memories.”
Isabelle has seen many changes at the Scotties over the years. She says the biggest change has been parity among teams. At one time it was simply Team Colleen Jones versus the West since she was the only good team from the east. However, Isabelle believes there are now at least eight teams that would represent Team Canada well at the Worlds.
The two pools format has also benefited weaker teams since it allows for upsets, she continued. The game could never grow if weaker teams were sent home early due to few victories.
She pointed to Team Nunavut, which won its first game at this tournament against powerhouse Team Northern Ontario. She thought this was history-making and would lead to Northern kids wanting to play the game.
“I’m really happy to be here every year,” she added. “I love this game.”
