For Jennifer Baxter, stepping onto the curling rink serves as a much-needed escape from the challenges she faces in her daily life. As a member of Team Christina Black, Baxter, 38, will be representing Nova Scotia at the upcoming Canadian Olympic trials in Halifax, starting this Saturday.
With no men’s team from Nova Scotia qualifying for the competition, the entire province’s hopes lie with Team Black to become the first Nova Scotian team to compete in Olympic curling. The trials feature eight men’s and eight women’s teams vying for a chance to participate in the Olympics in Italy, commencing on Feb. 6.
During the day, Baxter works as a learning center teacher at the Halifax Regional Centre for Education, which requires her physical presence and makes remote work impossible. Consequently, she has to take time off from work without pay to pursue her curling career. To alleviate some of the travel burden on Baxter, the team added a fifth member, Marlee Powers.
Baxter’s daily routine involves leaving for work around 8 a.m. and returning home no earlier than 7 p.m. Due to training sessions and team practices after work, she maintains a demanding schedule.
On a personal level, Baxter, who got married three years ago and has two stepchildren, has faced challenges with fertility treatment and recently experienced the loss of her father while competing in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts earlier this year.
Pursuing the Dream
Despite the sacrifices and hardships, Baxter finds fulfillment in competitive curling, which has been a lifelong passion for her. She views curling as a space where she can temporarily escape from life’s challenges and focus on the sport and her team.
Ranked fourth in the women’s field at the Olympic trials, Team Black, led by skip Christina Black, embodies the resilience and determination of Nova Scotians. Their previous accomplishments include a bronze medal at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts earlier this year.
Anticipating the support of the hometown crowd, Black and Baxter are optimistic about their performance at the trials. As they enter the competition, their primary focus remains on winning while immersing themselves in the curling experience.
Despite the challenges and uncertainties, Baxter and Black remain determined to pursue their curling aspirations and represent Canada on the international stage.
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