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Jacobs takes on management role at Soo Curlers

An aging curling club looking to modernize and attract a new generation of members has made a gold-medal addition to their management team. Literally.

An aging curling club looking to modernize and attract a new generation of members has made a gold-medal addition to their management team.

Literally.

“This is the most natural-fitting job for me that I could ever have,” said Brad Jacobs, who has taken on a new role as curling specialist and business development manager at Soo Curlers.

“My first job ever was at Soo Curlers. I grew up in that place,” he adds.

Balancing the new full-time employment commitment will be a challenge for the gold medalist skip of Team Jacobs.

“There are sacrifices that are going to be made. My family is on board, and that is the main thing,” said Jacobs.

He is looking forward to the challenge.

“How the business is run - the membership, the ice, the bar and facility as a whole - it’s second nature to me. It’s a second home, really,” said Jacobs.

Ian Fisher, who has been maintaining the ice at Soo Curlers since 1998, will take on additional duties as associate club manager and is looking forward to working closely with Jacobs.

“He’s a young enthusiastic, well-connected individual with a lot of drive and I think people will see that,” Fisher said.

Jacobs is exactly the age the club needs to attract to grow membership.

“He’s the gap-filler, that he’s already shown people it’s a good game that’s a lot of fun. His enthusiasm will come out, especially when teaching,” said Fisher.

The almost 50-year-old Soo Curlers club will see some renovation, championship photos will be moved from the upstairs dining area to the mezzanine, for example.

“There’s a lot of work that needs to be done to that place in the next five years or so. We need to get with the times. We’re a little bit behind,” said Jacobs.

Managing social media accounts, such as Facebook and Instagram, will honour the past and help bring the club into the modern age.

“We could certainly share the history with people at the same time we create new memories,” said Jacobs.

The most important part of Jabobs’ new role is to engage youth, he plans to visit local elementary schools this fall to share his love of the sport.

“One of the biggest things is showing them it’s cool. It’s as cool as hockey, as football and basketball,” Jacobs said.

Local youth curling programs did see a spike in interest after Team Jacobs’ 2012 Olympic gold medal win, but not as much as he hoped.

Jacobs lamented a lost opportunity as commitments and personal appearances took time away that could have been used to grow the sport in the Sault.

“The year after the Olympics, especially that summer after, there was no time for any of us to have to ourselves,” he said.

With less requests for personal appearances across Canada, Jacobs wants to spend more time at the club working on attracting sponsors and hosting special events.

“There’s a lot of good sponsorship opportunities with that club. We get a lot of traffic in that building,” he said.

Attracting more people to the club will put additional pressure on Fisher to maintain the ice sheets.

We always strive to do better with the ice and we’ll put our best foot forward with that. It’ll be more work,” said Fisher.

(FILE PHOTO: Brad Jacobs. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday)


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Kenneth Armstrong

About the Author: Kenneth Armstrong

Kenneth Armstrong is a news reporter and photojournalist who regularly covers municipal government, business and politics and photographs events, sports and features.
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