Vision Impaired Curling Championship roars into Edmonton
Posted February 2, 2026 9:12 pm.
Last Updated February 2, 2026 9:22 pm.
Natalie Morin has been around curling all her life. She grew up in Edmonton and around a rink with her dad.
“My dad is an avid curler. He’s actually on Team Alberta with me, so that’s really important. If I wanted to hang out with dad, I had to come out to the curling rink to do it,” said Morin.
Even though she’s about 80 per cent blind, it’s not stopping her and others from picking up a broom and leading her team.
“Any opportunity I can get out there, I absolutely take it,” said Morin.
This week, the Canadian Visually Impaired Curling Championship (CVICC) is at the Granite Curling Club in Old Strathcona. Seven provinces are here, 3 out of 4 curlers are partially sighted, one is fully blind, and an extra fully sighted person to sweep.
There are some minor adaptations to help these curlers: the fully blind curlers have guidance from others which includes hitting a broom on the ice, or using someone’s voice, and using lights on some skips’ brooms to help guide shots. It’s the same game, with the same competitiveness.
“It’s participating, demonstrating your abilities rather than focusing on the disability. It’s being part of the community, coming out to a rink like this, being accepted in a rink like this,” said Corry Stuive, the event coordinator of the Canadian Council of the Blind.
This year’s tournament is the first time it’s being hosted west of Ontario. Visually impaired curling is not a sport at this year’s Paralympic Games, but there’s hope it can grow so it can be added.
Morin’s Team Alberta managed to win their Monday afternoon game, some key momentum if they want to take the championship at the end of the week.
“Any opportunity I can get out there, I absolutely take it,” said Morin.
