As the 2026 Montana's Brier unfolds in St. John's, Jayden King cements his place in history as the tournament's first Black skip, while Sitaye Penney and her championship U Sports team are honored, highlighting curling's push for greater diversity.
Building on pre-event buzz around first-time Asian and Black skips Cody Tanaka and Jayden King, the Montana's Brier in St. John's continues to spotlight the sport's inclusivity. The 23-year-old King, skip for Team Ontario from Tillsonburg, Ont., has embraced the experience, calling it "awesome" and a chance to represent diverse communities. "It's been great to not only represent Tillsonburg and our province, but also... show everyone that curling is a safe space, and is a home for anyone no matter where you come from or what your background is," King said.
He noted curling's shifting demographics amid urban growth and post-Olympic potential to draw more diverse participants.
Adding to the narrative, Sitaye Penney, a St. John's curler since age five, was part of Memorial University's team that won the school's first national U Sports curling title in February. With skip Cailey Locke, second Emily Neary, and third Hayley Gushue, they will represent Canada at the 2027 Winter World University Games in China. Honored at the Brier on Monday before a hometown crowd, Penney reflected on her journey: "Growing up, I never really had anyone [in the sport] that... looked like me."
Now, she sees the impact: "It definitely feels like my work kind of paid off... Because now younger athletes can look up at us and see, 'They can do it so we can do it, too.'" These moments underscore curling's progress toward broader representation.
