Hurry Hard: Corporate Practice Takes to the Ice!

On April 27, members of Toronto’s Corporate and Public Affairs practice traded in their blazers and heels for brooms and slider shoes at the Royal Canadian Curling Club. With only two players who’d ever hit the rink before, standing firm on the ice proved to be the first challenge for the group at this year’s team offsite.  Armed with basic instructions, a competitive spirit, and more sarcastic barbs than a Comedy Central celebrity roast, players used the event to mark the collective accomplishments of the practice over the last year and gave its players a chance to come together outside the office to learn a popular Canadian sport. (Photos after the jump)

It was a great afternoon together and really fun time that won’t soon be forgotten.  As James Bigg playfully teased, “Thankfully the atmosphere at our latest offsite wasn’t as icy as the rink we were playing on.  There was no shortage of bruised egos – or actually, bruises in general, as our colleague Betsy can attest to. When I’ll next be hitting the rink is open for debate, as is whether they will even let me back in.”

Team photographers and citizen journalists Alexis Redmond and Shane Dolgin captured nearly every second of the calamity and victories from their Blackberry devices (Disclosure: client).  At times, it appeared that every move was recorded, captured or tweeted in minute-to-minute updates used to entice others en-route or back at the office.  While our crew may be cohesive and strategic in the office, we made for unlikely and hilarious “rock” stars in this sport. 

Photog Shane Dolgin documents the action.

“Despite exceptional training from my experienced teammate, Cam Summers, my technique was unorthodox,” said Betsy Hilton.  “It’s clear that if I want to pursue my Olympic dream in this sport, I will have to acquire knee pads.”

Betsy Hilton attacks the ice with her signature delivery. Skips Amanda Brewer and Tom Sargent look on.

Preparing to sweep, Bonnie Brownlee dons her curling sunglasses in a strategic move that blocks the glare from the ice and intimadates the opposing team.

Cynthia Innes and Betsy Hilton square off with their brooms.

Players from Team Corporate take over the RCCC rink