Jam Can Curling

It was in the early 1970's, in a small rural town in Manitoba, when I curled for the first time. I was a young girl in elementary school. Although we did have a proper curling facility in town, the curling I participated in was called "Jam Can Curling". Curling sheets were prepared at the local ice arena, and big "jam" cans filled with cement with a handle out the top, were the 'rocks' we used to play. It was a tricky game of curling trying to shoot awkward cement-filled cans versus smooth curling rocks, down the ice. Skill was needed for sure! 'Jam Can Curling' was a local bonspiel for kids that took place annually. I skipped a co-ed team for a few years-winning the grand Jam Can Curling trophy twice! My parents, sister and I still laugh to this day remembering this funny, yet creative form of curling. To top it off, these stories inspired my daughter to start a girls curling team at her highschool here in Ontario. She is just beginning her fourth year of highschool curling-her third as skip. Lucky for her, she gets to curl in a proper facility and with proper rocks! I'm not sure if coffee was provided at the Jam Can Curling bonspiels, but you can be assured that the parents and coach have a Tim Hortons coffee in hand every time we cheer for our highschool girls and boys teams!
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