Nancy Swift recommends trying curling if you're looking for a way to get to know people in a community.
"When you go out on that ice, all anybody cares about - and everybody out there is the same way - they just want to have some fun," Swift said. "They want to stay warm and they want to learn the game."
Swift is one of the organizers for this year's local Curl for Cancer event, which is to be held at the Sackville Curling Club on Saturday, Feb. 6 starting at 8 a.m.
This year will mark the 20th anniversary of the Sackville event.
"I think it's quite a thing for a little town like this to have 20 years of an event like that. We've raised a fair amount of money," Swift said. "We've been so well-supported."
Over 30 teams have signed up for the tournament so far, she said.
"We hate to turn anybody away. We turn ourselves inside out not to turn anybody away."
Each individual player or team has a pledge sheet and they all raise their own money.
"It all goes to Curl for Cancer. We pay for nothing out of that money to sponsor the event. All the money, every cent, goes to the Canadian Cancer Society. Everything is donated."
So far, the committee has never had to turn down any teams - and they don't plan to start.
"You can't just say, 'No, I'm sorry. You just can't curl.' They just want to donate and curl for the cause," Swift said. "So, we don't know (how many curlers will participate) until the very end."
Even those who don't know a rock from a broom are encouraged to take part in the fundraiser, she said.
"We have experts there - seasoned experts - who will show them what they have to do or guide them."
Tape is sometimes applied to the shoes of novice players to help them slide, Swift explained.
"We do stress safety, but we're geared for that for sure."
Spectators and children are also welcome, she added.
"I think it's important that kids realize that you have to put back into the community."
As per tradition, there will be refreshments, food and local entertainment at the event as well as a guest speaker, she said.
"Usually, we have someone who is a survivor or that cancer has touched one way or another. It touches so many people."
This year's guest speaker is Jack Stewart, the chief scientific officer for BioProspecting NB, Inc., a local drug discovery and development company conducting research into new cancer treatments.
"Community events such as the Curl for Cancer achieve so much. First, they raise money for research into solving the cancer mystery. Second, they build and renew community," Stewart said. "Third, they are a hell-of-a lot of fun."
Last year's Curl for Cancer event raised $16,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society.
For those of us who don't follow curling, there are a lot of terms that might be unfamiliar. Here are a few basic terms to know.
bonspiel - a curling tournament
delivery - the act of throwing a rock
end - a division of time in a game; like a period in hockey
house - the round scoring area
skip - the player who calls the ice and determines the strategy
sweeping - using a brush to polish the ice in an effort to alter the action of the rock
