2023 Curling Cares Fundraising Calendar packed with some of curling’s biggest names

Autumn means a lot of things to curling fans. Curlers retrieve brooms from the back of the closet, sheets of ice are pebbled, and the anticipation of who will be in the upcoming curling calendar begins.

Curling Canada and TheCommunityFundraiser.com are pleased to give curling fans an exclusive teaser of some athletes featured in the 2023 Curling Cares Fundraising Calendar.

“TheCommunityFundraiser.com is a generous supporter of curling and is finding endless ways to allow athletes an opportunity to showcase their personalities and raise funds for charities and initiatives near and dear to their hearts. This includes support for the future generations of curling,” said Brodie Bazinet, Curling Canada Foundation Manager.

The 2023 Curling Cares Fundraising Calendar will include a selection of notable names from the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, a prominent pair of upcoming Canadian curling siblings, a popular curling podcast duo, and an ensemble of international curlers, including an Olympic gold medallist.

Each will support a charitable initiative that has personal meaning and is essential in their communities. Additionally, each calendar sold supports Curling Canada’s youth development and philanthropic programs. Calendar sales and targeted athlete model efforts in support of Curling Canada’s For the Love of Curling program have raised more than $126,755 since 2015.

The calendar will also include 2022 Paralympic bronze-medallist Jon Thurston of the Canadian wheelchair curling team. Thurston threw fourth stones and was instrumental in securing Canada’s podium appearance at the Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Proceeds from all of the calendars Thurston sells will benefit Curling Canada’s For the Love of Curling youth philanthropic programs.

“I was honoured when asked to be part of the Curling Cares calendar. I’m grateful to be able to represent the wheelchair curling discipline and help raise funds for a great cause in youth curling initiatives. Curling has given me so much, and to be able to help raise funds to help others enjoy the sport means so much,” said Thurston.

Thurston is the second wheelchair curling athlete to be featured in the calendar, following Sonja Gaudet’s appearance in 2012.  Thurston’s support of Curling Canada’s youth initiatives will make a lasting impact on all aspects of the game, including wheelchair curling. 

The Egg Farmers Rocks & Rings program, presented by Curling Canada, introduced a wheelchair curling component to school programming last year. Thurston also joined a virtual live session with students to introduce youth to the sport. 

Other confirmed curlers in the calendar include:

• Andrea Kelly (NB) – 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts bronze medallist;
• Kristin MacCuish (MB) – 2021 Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials silver medallist;
• Rylan and Madison Kleiter (SK) – siblings, two-time Canadian junior men’s bronze-medallist (Rylan), Team Saskatchewan at 2022 New Holland Canadian Juniors (Madison);
• Lori Eddy and Mary Chilvers (ON) – 2 Girls and a Game Podcast and Team Ontario at the upcoming 2022 Everest Canadian Senior Curling Championships;
• Amos Mosaner (ITA) – 2022 Olympic mixed doubles gold medallist
• Sixten Totzek (GER) – Team Germany skip, 2021 and 2022 world men’s championships;
• Yumi Suzuki and Kaho Onodera (JPN) – Best friends from Team Fujisawa (2022 Olympic women’s silver medallist) and Team Yoshimura (two-time world women’s competitor), respectively. 

Who are the other curlers in the 2023 Curling Cares Fundraising Calendar? All will be revealed on Oct. 4 when the final participants are announced, including one more Canadian curling athlete.

“The PointsBet Invitational is an early opportunity to remind curling fans of this incredible commitment their athletes make each year,” said Rick Warner, owner of TheCommunityFundraiser.com. “It takes courage to do this, and taking time to arrange their own photo shoots and push calendar sales in their communities isn’t an easy thing – and yet curlers do this every season.

“When we confirm the final Curling Cares lineup on Oct. 4, the 2023 campaign really kicks off and it’s up to curling fans to support them.”

Pre-orders for the calendar are now accepted. Pre-order it today by visiting www.curlingcares.com.

Calendars are $25 each, plus tax, shipping and handling. 

Fans attending the 2022 PointsBet Invitational will receive an exclusive pre-sale offer for five dollars off the calendar. Fans will find the special promo code posted throughout Willie O’Ree Place on posters and table cards.

Kelly and MacCuish won’t be the only calendar models at the event in Fredericton this week. No less than 37 Curling Cares alumni will compete on the ice, including members of Teams Einarson, Bottcher, Koe, Dunstone, Scheidegger, Gushue, McEwen, Jones, Homan and more.

Since 2014 the Curling Cares fundraising project has raised over $700,000 for multiple charities.