Saudi sisters embrace curling and new friends amid Sask. winters

Retag and Renad Ahmed have only been in Canada for a few years, but have already fallen in love with a national pastime – curling.

The twin sisters, now in Grade 9 at Regina’s Campbell Collegiate, are participating on the recreational team this year. They first discovered the sport after arriving to Canada from Saudi Arabia in 2021.

“Curling is so interesting — how we curl the stone, how we aim where our target is. I’m into this,” said Retag.

While Retag had to miss a class curling trip due to COVID-19 in 2021, her sister still attended and became enamored with the sport.

“I like sweeping a lot. In the beginning, I used to call it mopping,” Renad said with a laugh.

Listen to Retag and Renad on Behind the Headlines:

Kevin Machin, the recreational team coach at Campbell, said the teens were very excited to get a chance to play this season.

“They emailed me in August asking about the team, which was great,” he said, adding that their enthusiasm for the game and interest in strategy is contagious.

“They have only been here a few years and have just wrapped themselves in the winter sport of curling.”

Journey to Canada

It’s a new experience for the entire Ahmed family. They came to Canada in 2021 from Saudi Arabia with their dad, Mahmoud, to pursue more educational opportunities.

“It’s a different culture and so far from our homeland. We are spending 24 hours on flights to reach our country,” Mahmoud said.

“We are enjoying it here. Summer is very good here and we have interesting activities in winter,” he added.

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Retag was excited about the new experiences they could have in Canada.

“I was really interested in the idea of snow and stuff. I left my life in Saudi Arabia and it (was) so hot and there’s no snow. It was so fun to come here and have snow fights for sure,” she said.

Little did Mahmoud know that he and his wife would become curling parents, driving their daughters to the rink twice a week in frigid temperatures for training and games.

Embracing winter

“It’s all brand new for me. I just know about curling this year from the girls,” he said.

“I started asking why curling and how you would play that – any special equipment you need? I found it’s an amazing game they are enjoying.”

Not only have the sisters found a sport they love but it’s also allowed them to meet new friends.

“They are awesome people and the coach is very nice,” Renad said.

“It was so nice to meet all the awesome people,” added Retag.

Machin believes sport is a great way for new Canadians to adjust to the culture.

“It’s so important to help them see what the community is interested in and learn about how to welcome the cold weather and know you can still go outside,” he said. “They have an awesome attitude. They are super positive. They have had spills, they have had the good shots they have had as well. It’s just been neat to see them get excited about the game and learn from it as well.”

Mahmoud has noticed how much his daughters enjoy the sport.

“In our home country, they meet daily with Arabs. This is good, but here we meet different cultures and know more about other people. This is so amazing for us,” Mahmoud said. “We were planning to move from Saskatchewan two years ago but they are pushing me to stay. I believe they are enjoying their time here.”

What started as a fascination may turn into a lifelong passion for the two.

“I feel proud of myself because I did some good shots. I feel proud and (my parents) are so supportive. I’m so grateful they are here. I’m so grateful for everyone supporting me when playing curling,” Retag said.

“Right now I feel like we’re Canadians.”