Curling superfan enjoying the Brier in Regina

Curling is a staple for many here in Saskatchewan, but the love of the game doesn’t stop in this province.

Right now, fans and volunteers are taking part in this year’s 2024 Brier after having travelled across the country to be here.

One of those volunteers is Dee Hopley, a product of Leduc, Alta., who can be picked out pretty easily at the Brandt Centre.

She’s the one in a chicken hat.

Why a chicken hat? She said the answer is very simple.

“It’s just to make people and the players smile,” Hopley said. “That’s all it is.”

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She explained the hats have been a staple for her and her family when coming to curling events.

“My sister drunkenly brought four back from Vegas in 2010,” Hopley said. “They wore them for a few events, and then we all went to the Roar of the Rings in Winnipeg together to keep track of each other.”

For many in this province and this country, curling has been a huge part of their lives. For Hopley, that statement couldn’t be more true.

“I played, my husband played (and) my daughter played,” Hopley said. “Now I do stick curling, and it’s the people. When my husband died, the curling community saved my head.”

If curling is going on somewhere, you can bet Hopley will be there. She says she loves to volunteer at the events.

“I try to volunteer at least, even if it’s just locally, for five to seven events a year,” she said.

Working at the Brier isn’t a new thing for Hopley; she was at the Canadian men’s curling championship before in 2018. She said a lot of things have changed since then.

“I’ve lost a lot of weight, so I fit in the chairs better, and I knew more people because we were still living in Saskatchewan and I’m now in Alberta,” she said. “The staff, the Curling Canada staff, have changed since then, like some of the new ones started in 2017 (and) 2018 and I didn’t know them yet.”

She said the event has brought in people from all over. It’s even brought in people from outside the country.

“We have a volunteer here from Marseille, France,” she said. “That’s pretty wild.”

Hopley said the Brier has been taking a toll on her, but she is determined to rest once the event is all said and done.

“My feet are so sore,” she said. “I’m not a drinker, but I closed down the Patch (on Monday) night with Team Nunavut, and I’m exhausted. But you know what? On Tuesday, when I’m back home in Leduc, I can sleep.”

This year’s event is to end Sunday.

— With files from 980 CJME’s Britton Gray