Women's Curling 3/2/2021 9:58:00 AM

Laurier Grads Soar: Hollie Duncan

Laurier Grads Soar is a multi-part series that returns for it's fifth instalment for the 2020-21 academic year. The segment features former Wilfrid Laurier University athletes and student-leaders in the Athletics and Recreation Department, and the success they have enjoyed since leaving Laurier. Written by award-winning journalist David Grossman, different features will be released throughout the year that will emphasize the role Athletics and Recreation played in helping them achieve success.

Hollie Duncan: Decision Writer, Royal College of Dental Surgeons; Curler

It has been a few years, make that almost three decades, since Hollie Duncan, née Nicol, was introduced to those special brooms, the colorful circles on the long sheet of ice and the large round rocks sliding along the floor surface at the Unionville Curling Club.

Ten years old at the time, a curious Duncan tagged along with her father to watch him enjoy a sport, one that Canada has dominated on the world stage, since it was added to the Winter Olympic Games almost 25 years ago.

As a youngster, words like bonspiel and Brier were unknowns in her vocabulary. Her father had tried to convince her to have a go at "the roaring game". That's the term used in places like Scotland, believed to be the historic birthplace of curling. The sound, made by the heavy granite stones on the ice, was how some came up with another reference to the sport.

Duncan knew there was always an invite to try, but she had her own mindset and was reluctant. When she finally did take the challenge, things didn't go well. In a tournament, she finished last and had to speak about that experience in front of a crowd. No one likes to lose in sports, regardless of the age.

Things began to change. Duncan took a far greater interest – and started to win. Confidence kicked in and the competitiveness became habit-forming. Fearless and with a limitless reserve of tenacity, Duncan was hooked. Team sportsmanship was huge along with the nuances that make up the game of strategy, skill, tactics and, yes, a bit of luck.

Words took a different meaning. Button, associated with clothes, was now the round circle on the ice. Hurray hard was a term she would use to direct sweepers, her teammates. Take out had nothing to do with food, and more with the removal of a stone from the playing area by hitting it with another stone.

In grade nine at Markham District Secondary School, she earned a place of prestige leading her team to victory and an Ontario high school championship. Her devotion to the sport was rounding into shape, but bigger things were still to come.

“I remember it all well, those early years,” recalled Duncan, who is now a mother and lawyer, and focused on a successful career as a former investigator and now decision writer with the Royal College of Dental Surgeons. “When I look back, my dad was a huge influence in getting me going in curling.”

From an early sense of uneasiness, grew assurance, leadership and talent. Curling greatness was taking shape.

When her high school days had come to an end, Duncan had shown an interest in kinesiology, and a friend had recommended pursuing educational studies at Wilfrid Laurier University. With several other post-secondary institutions aware of her impressive academic excellence, those associated with athletics knew about her capabilities in curling.

For Duncan, it was more than a sport that involved sliding stones on a sheet of ice towards a target area of concentric circles. She had her mind set on performance excellence.

Duncan decided to visit Laurier, and liked what she saw at the university complex.

“That visit did it – a great university and situated in a small community,” she said. “Curling was also big (at Laurier). I could see they had put resources into (the sport) and curling was a success. The Kitchener Waterloo Granite Club was also on campus. I liked that everything was so close, and Laurier also wasn't far from my home.”

Duncan would accomplish so much in four years of Laurier studies – and it wasn't just an academic degree. There were honors associated with her selection as a two-time Academic All-Canadian to go along with the distinction that went with being chosen as the recipient of the Luke Fusco Academic Athletic Achievement award.

One of the top female athletes of all time, Duncan would be associated with a collection of notable performances in the history of Laurier varsity sports competition.

In curling, she was a four-time curling team Most Valuable Player and skip for Golden Hawk that won two Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) championships and an Ontario University Athletics (OUA) gold medal.

For Duncan, the biggest highlight came in 2009. Along with her team, she was representing Canada at the 24th International University Sports Federation (FISU), also known as the World University Games, in China. Along with her team, she would leave Harbin, with a silver medal. On an 11-game winning streak, China would upend the Canadians, 6-5, for the championship.

“It was like an Olympics, competing for your country, wearing the Maple Leaf,” recalled Duncan, who was Canada's flag bearer for the closing ceremonies. “Things stand out in your life. For me, representing Canada was something very special.”

That same year, Duncan was informed of another accomplishment. This time, it was her selection to a special category of achievers. She was the winner of the prestigious Outstanding Women of Laurier award, and several years later, would be inducted to the Laurier Sports Hall of Fame.

Balancing excellence in academics, curling and community achievement doesn't just happen. It takes a great deal of work. Her devotion to all three was immense.

“At Laurier, when I think of those years, it was something I will remember for the rest of my life,” said Duncan, who was the Laurier team skip, a position often referred to as that of the captain, and one who had the huge task of telling players where to throw their shots and when to sweep.

As a volunteer, she coveted a Special Olympics relationship that involved teaching a young boy, who had arthritis, about curling.

“I was always involved in volunteering and had so many opportunities,” she said. “Working harder had its rewards and would lead to me getting better."

“Overall, I just felt a need to give back to the community. With that young boy at the rink, he was somewhere between six and eight years of age, I found so much joy in helping him learn about curling. I remember seeing the excitement on his face. It was special to me and meant so much.”

While her Laurier competitive days are now a thing of the past, Team Duncan, and she's the rink leader, continues to do well on the ice. In 2018, her team won the Ontario Scotties competition held in Whitby.

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David Grossman is a multi award-winning communicator and storyteller with a distinguished career in Broadcasting, Journalism and Public Relations in Sport and Government Relations. In 2018, he was the recipient of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) Media Member of Distinction.

Hollie Duncan: Decision Writer, Royal College of Dental Surgeons; Curler

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