When Brad Gushue, who is the de facto manager as well as the skip of his Canadian men’s champion curling rink, approached Purolator about becoming a sponsor of the team, he did so because he thought there was a natural fit, seeing a relation based upon “delivery,” as in what the company does with parcels and such and what Gushue and his teammates do with curling stones on the ice.
“I thought it was great symmetry, and from a marketing standpoint, something they could utilize,” said Gushue earlier this week in St. John’s after his team, which also includes Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant and Geoff Walker were introduced as Purolator brand ambassadors.
In return, the company will become a major sponsor of the rink during the four-year period leading up to the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
But Gushue found a more personal positive in the arrangement.
It’s because of Purolator’s Tackle Hunger program, an initiative that has seen the company deliver 18 million meals to hungry families over the last 15 years.
“I always worry about my kids,” said Gushue, proud father to daughters Hayley and Marissa. “They’re a bit spoiled like most children these days and I want them to get into an environment where they realize how lucky they are to have what they have.
“I want to get involved for that reason, but mostly because it addresses a real need these days.”
Gushue says he hopes to be able to highlight the program during the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling event in Conception Bay South in mid-December.
“Whether it’s a food drive or something like that … it’s something we’re working on,” said Gushue.
“It’s more than putting a logo on our uniforms. It’s about making a partnership and it’s also about trying to make a difference.”
