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Brier 2010 by Susan Nelligan

Greg and I shared a love for curling.  I had the pleasure of hosting him for the 2010 Brier in Halifax.  As soon as he arrived he was talking about going to “Morning Class” which I had no idea what that was.  To be honest, it sounded quite painful to me and I couldn’t understand why Greg was so keen on going until I went with him one morning at 7am.  Well......it was a party.  About 80 people crammed in a hotel suite including a couple suspicious looking nuns passing out pins and these tags.  I’m pretty sure they pulled my drink out of a huge basin filled with a special Northern Ontario concoction.  I quickly understood where his inspiration came from to get up so early every morning.

But the story I want to share with you today about Greg is one that demonstrates his passion, his kindness and his luck.

Again, in Halifax at the Brier, he had his eye on this Brier banner hung in a local bar.  Every time he went into the bar he would ask about it.  They kept telling him to come back after the tournament and if it’s still there, he could have it.  I told him there would be no chance it would still be there the next day but he insisted on trying.  Little did I know he wanted to go down town anyways to pick up a gift certificate for me to my favorite restaurant. 

He got up early the next morning, took a 40 minute bus ride into the city.  Picked up the banner and then walked clear across town with this 10 foot banner in hand.  He walked into the pub and inquired about buying a gift certificate.  They told him he had to go upstairs to the restaurant to buy them.  He goes upstairs, and finds himself standing in front of the Brier champions themselves.  Of course, Greg being who he is, went over there and sat with them, had a chat, got his photo taken with them and had all of them sign his banner.

What a great thing to happen to a great person, as I’m sure Greg is now starting everyday with “Morning Class”.

Posted by Susan Nelligan
Friday September 22, 2017 at 7:23 am
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