The 2023 Canada Games Host Society was happy to catch up with North Tryon’s Lori Robinson who hopes to complete the Games cycle this February while adding “Games-time volunteer” to her already stellar Canada Games resume. 

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Having represented Prince Edward Island as an athlete in Cape Breton in 1987, a spectator in PEI in 1991 and 2009, and a coach in Red Deer in 2019, Robinson saw the hard work volunteers put in, so when the opportunity presented itself to volunteer for the 2023 Canada Winter Games in her home province she jumped at the chance.

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At the 1987 Canada Winter Games, both Robinson and her brother, Andrew, skipped for the men’s and women’s curling teams representing PEI. Having performed well in recent competitions, Robinson was more than confident in her team’s abilities.

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 "We were the team to beat as we had won the Canadian Junior Nationals the previous year. We had won the Provincials in 1987 and won the trials to represent PEI at the Games between those wins.

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"I remember thinking this is as close to the Olympics as I will ever get. I liked that we were part of the larger Team PEI and we got to meet athletes from sports other than curling all over Canada. It was pretty exciting.”

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A passionate and involved member of the Island’s curling community, Robinson transitioned from player to coach ahead of the 2019 Canada Winter Games, to help lead Team PEI, skipped by nephew Nicholas Johnston, into Red Deer.

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“I was a proud coach and family member and hoped they were having a good Games experience like I did.”

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Curling has long played a huge role in the lives of the Robinson family, starting with her mother who represented the Island at the Canadian Women’s Championships in 1979 and 1980. Following in the footsteps of her parents, Alan and Julia, Robinson hopes to give back to the sporting community by volunteering her time to support Canada Games curling events in February.

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“It will be a busy two weeks,” Robinson said. “I look forward to reliving my experience as a player, coach, and spectator as I volunteer.”

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In Red Deer, Lori found she had the utmost appreciation for Games-time volunteers. “I saw how valuable the volunteers were to make the Games successful.  They would be up early in the morning outside in the cold giving high-fives to athletes as they got on the buses to their venues. Everyone was enjoying themselves. It was amazing. 

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“People don’t realize all the work the volunteers do, and if they weren’t there, the event wouldn’t be successful.”