Brad Jacobs among first signatories

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     

(Sault Ste. Marie, ON) Friday, July 8, 2016 – M.P. Terry Sheehan, alongside Olympic Gold Medalist in curling, Brad Jacobs, announce the launch of a petition (e-456) to call upon the House of Commons to recognize curling as one of Canada’s national sports.

“Curling is a great sport that is at home in Sault Ste. Marie. We are the birth place to great players like Brad, and home to even more fans,” stated Sheehan.

Sheehan, and Sault Ste. Marie native Brad Jacobs, have teamed up to garner support for a new petition that would see curling introduced alongside hockey and lacrosse as one of Canada’s national sports.

“I was first approached by Scott Morphet, an intern working on Parliament Hill and a Sault Ste. Marie native, who had the idea to start the petition. He is a huge fan of curling – he also plays – and could never understand why it wasn’t a national sport the way hockey and lacrosse are. The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was a great idea.

Petitions are a great way for people in Sault Ste. Marie and across Canada to get involved in the political process – it’s an easy way to make sure your voice is heard by the government and by parliamentarians,” concluded Sheehan.

Additional Quotes:

“Curling for me is the most Canadian thing there is. Played by my family for generations, a curling club has always been a welcoming place that brings people together from all walks of life. From Olympic and World championships to the Sandra Schmirler foundation, Curlers inspire greatness both on and off the ice.

I was inspired to petition the House of Commons to adopt Curling as a national sport of Canada because of the amazing people, both friends and family, that have positively impacted my life through the sport.

Thanks to the support of Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, this idea has a chance to become a reality!” – Scott Morphet

“I’m happy to support the launch of today’s petition –  it is a great idea. I know it’s in the right hands with MP Terry Sheehan. There are over a million Canadians that play curling and over a 1000 curling clubs across the country. Curling is a sport that’s ingrained in Canada’s roots, it’s in our blood” –  Brad Jacobs, Olympic Gold Medalist in Curling

—————–

Petition to the House of Commons

Whereas:

• ​The sport of curling has been played in Canada for over 200 years. The Montreal Curling Club, founded on January 22, 1807 remains the oldest established sports club in all of North America.
• Curling brings together people from all walks of life. There are competitive and recreational curlers of all ages, genders, and ethnicities from coast to coast to coast.
• Canada has the most Men’s and Women’s world championships, most Olympic medals in the sport, and more curlers than any other country in the world.
• Curling has been a Canadian staple since confederation and has grown alongside Canada. Curlers today continue to inspire future generations of Canadians in pursing greatness both on and off the ice

We, the undersigned, Citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to Recognize the sport of Curling as a national sport of Canada, in addition to Hockey and Lacrosse, by amending the National Sports of Canada Act (S.C. 1994, c.14).

Find the petition here: https://petitions.parl.gc.ca/en/Petition/Details?Petition=e-456

-30-

Media Contact:

Terry Sheehan, M.P.

Tel: (613) 406-1280

Email: [email protected]