1. Dozens of recent refugees to Canada went curling for the first time this week — and they had a blast.
The refugees now calling Canada home come from all over: Syria, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and elsewhere.
A big group of them grabbed their brooms at the Royal Canadian Curling Club in Toronto on Wednesday to try their hands at one of Canada's most iconic winter sports.
2. They were there thanks to the Together Project, which matches government-sponsored refugees with Canadians who can help support them as they get their bearings in a new country.
Together Project director Anna Hill said curling was a great way to get the newcomers more familiar with Canada.
"Curling is a fantastic, very Canadian winter sport, and we thought that they might be interested in learning about winter sports in Canada since we have quite a long winter here," she told Reuters.
3. This refugee family, originally from Afghanistan, was super excited to get on the ice.
4. But first they had to learn the basics, like how to walk around on the slick surface.
5. And how to throw the rock.
6. This young Yazidi woman couldn't wait to put on her slider.
7. And figure out how this crazy sport actually works.
8. Meanwhile, this kid was mostly just doing his own thing.
9. As some family members kept wary watch from the sidelines...
10. ...others probably wished they were a little older so they could join the fun.
11. Whoops!
12. Some of the refugees were very new to Canada. This 11-year-old originally from Sri Lanka had just arrived in the country two weeks earlier.
Arun Daniel told The Canadian Press he had his reservations at first.
"When I see it on TV, I thought it was boring really but then when I really do it, it's so hard," he said. "And plus it's fun when you always fail and you really have to try again, I feel so fun doing it."
13. Don't worry, kid. You'll get there.
14. There were big smiles all around.
15. And lots of love.
Awww. 😊
16. Welcome to Canada! 🇨🇦
By the way, that guy they're posing with is Jim Creeggan, the bassist for the Barenaked Ladies. Yes, this is a very Canadian photo.
