Achi news desk-
People had different ways of expressing themselves as super fans at this year’s World Women’s Curling Championship in Sydney, NS, but one group stood out – the pin collectors.
“I started [collecting] them when I was about 12 years old, and I have between 5,000-10,000,” said Debbie Pezzarello of Coxheath, NS.
In fact, some people have made collecting pins a lifelong hobby.
Although she didn’t have her massive collection with her in her seat on the rink at the 200 Centre, Pezzarello says her favorite pins come from some of the most iconic moments in Canadian sports history.
“My favorites are the Vancouver Olympics, and I also have the Toronto Blue Jays’ back-to-back World Series collection,” he said.
Curling fans from all over the world have started using pin trading as a way to make friends and memories.
“I’ve got over 3,000 from all over the world,” said Janice Morrison of South Bar, NS “I’ve got hockey, I’ve got baseball, I’ve got Prime Ministers. I have them as far as Australia.”
In the merchandise outlet in the main concourse of the arena, the official pin of the 2024 Women’s Worlds in Sydney was a collector’s item.
But, why is pin collecting so popular among curling fans in the first place?
“I don’t know! They probably don’t have curling cards, players don’t have (trading) cards to collect, so maybe it’s pins,” said Erin Flowers, of Goldline Curling Supplies. “I’ve grown up in the industry, and I’ve seen everything from pin-covered full vests to pin-covered hats.”
Some of the tournament’s many volunteers joined in on the fun too.
For Doreen Lewis, it all started during her own athletic days.
“I have a collection at home of over 500,” said Lewis. “Years ago I played in quite a few nationals in softball, so our team used to get pins from Cape Breton, and we would exchange pins for every game we had. So that’s how I started.”
Now that the tournament is over and the heroes of the sport are going home, at least some among the tens of thousands who were at the rink for all the excitement at the 200 Center will have something special to remember.
