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Another honour for Brier-bound Team Jacobs (4 photos)

Three team members, Sault natives and Algoma University alumni, have roadway at George Leach Centre named in their honour

There’s a new, extra special street sign in Sault Ste. Marie.

Three Team Jacobs members, consisting of skip Brad Jacobs, second E. J. Harnden and lead Ryan Harnden (third Ryan Fry, of Calgary, was absent), attended a ceremony held Wednesday at Algoma University as the post-secondary institution officially named the roadway immediately to the west of the George Leach Centre as Team Jacobs Drive in their honour.

The ceremony was well-timed, as Team Jacobs qualified for the 2018 Brier in a dramatic win over the weekend.

“This is a huge honour. We’ve been really blessed to receive all kinds of awards in this city and this is probably one of the coolest things. What better way to cement our curling team’s legacy than to have a street named after us right on the campus,” Jacobs told an audience of family and community members, along with Algoma University faculty and staff.

“They’ve been absolutely wonderful ambassadors for Algoma University and for the city of Sault Ste. Marie…part of our pride comes from Ryan, E.J. and Brad being Algoma U grads,” said Asima Vezina, Algoma University president and vice-chancellor.

E. J. Harnden earned his Bachelor of Business from Algoma in 2006, Jacobs earned his Bachelor of Arts in Geography in 2007 and Ryan Harnden earned his Bachelor of Arts in Geography in 2014. 

Jacobs was also a member of the 2004 Algoma Thunderbirds men’s curling team, which brought home the first OCAA gold medal for Algoma.

“They’ve been proud supporters of Algoma University. They frequently volunteer their time to participate in student recruitment events, they wear the Algoma University logo on their jerseys, and really importantly to the team, they are supporting student success at the university through the Team Jacobs Follow Your Dreams bursary,” Vezina said.

Team Jacobs thrilled Sault Ste. Marie by earning an Olympic gold medal at the 2014 Sochi, Russia Winter Games in men’s curling. 

Before representing Canada in the Olympics, the four won the 2013 Tim Horton’s Brier and the 2013 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship.
 
The ceremony was also an informal kick-off of the 2018 OUA Curling Championships, hosted by Algoma University, at the Community First Curling Centre, from Feb. 15 to 19.

Wednesday’s ceremony came after two other recent dedications at Algoma University, in honour of past Algoma employees.

A landscaped plaza outside the university lounge was named Piazza Alanna in memory of Alanna Bondar, an Algoma University professor of English and eco-poet, highly regarded as a mentor to her students and a friend to her peers.

The Algoma University physical plant department’s shipping and receiving building was named in memory of Al Taylor, the university’s first physical plant superintendent, who, in the institution’s early years as Algoma University College, used his skills to keep the university’s buildings functional, safe and comfortable for students, staff and faculty.


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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