Math teacher ready to 'skip' class to compete in Tim Hortons Brier
Math teacher by day, one of Canada's top curlers by night.
Jake Higgs spent his last day in the classroom Wednesday at Arthur Voaden Secondary School (AVSS) in St. Thomas, Ont. before leaving to compete in the Tim Horton’s Brier.
“A lot of the players in this I would call professional curlers,” said Higgs. “They are curling almost as a full time job, whereas I'm a professional teacher and I curl part time.”
Higgs is one of two curlers from the London area competing. Nunavut- born St. Marys resident Brady St Louis is his teammate.
There is a buzz around the school and Monday morning in Draw 7 against Nova Scotia, 40 honour roll students will hop on a bus and head to Budweiser Gardens to cheer on their teacher.
“It's really exciting actually,” said Kylie WIthenshaw, AVSS student council president. “I've been in his math class for so many years and I've always heard him talking about it. So I’m really excited to go actually see him play, and it will feel very overwhelming being in the stadium watching him.”
Fellow student Devon Tupper thought it was cool that his teacher has a Wikipedia page.
“I’ll be there and will hold up a big sign saying ‘Go Mr. Higgs,’” said Tupper.
Higgs is the only curler from the London, Ont area curling in in the Brier.
With it being just a few dozen kilometers from his house, it won’t just be his students cheering him on.
There will be a couple nights where his friends and fellow curlers from the Ilderton Curling Club will pack the stands.
Jake Higgs skipped Team Nunavut in the 2020 Tim Horton’s Brier in Kingston, Ont. (Source: TSN)
“I think the experience will draw people to come watch Jake,” said Peter Inch, one of the lead tournament organizers. “His family and friends will be there which I think will help revenue. It won’t be a major contributor, but every little bit helps.”
Higgs told CTV News he’s been feeling the love as the tournament approaches.
“I think it is fun for people because they want to see this guy who grew up curling here since he was 10 or 11 years old,” he said.
“They want to see how he's going to do on the big stage against the best players in the world. I’’m interested to see that too,” said Higgs.
This isn’t the first time he’s been on Canada’s biggest stage. In 2020 he skipped Team Nunavut in Kingston, Ont. but went winless (0-7).
Travel restrictions over the past two years didn’t allow Higgs to compete in play downs, but he’s back and ready to improve on his previous competition.
While other teams have been practicing and competing with their fellow teammates, Higgs’ team won’t have their first practice together until Wednesday night.
He’s spent a lot of time getting stuff straightened out at work before he can disappear for a couple weeks.
“Once I get over the stress of getting prepared and I get checked into the hotel, I can just focus on curling, things will be awesome,” said Higgs. “Right now I'm a bit stressed, but it'll be fine.”
No matter the results, he will have a big cheering section.
However his students definitely want him to be on the wining end of Monday morning's post-match handshake.
“That'd be cool to see,” sad Tupper.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6975012.1721775341!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Canadian Olympic Committee offers 'heartfelt apology' after New Zealand accuses Canada Soccer of spying
The Canadian Olympic Committee offered a 'heartfelt' apology to New Zealand Football Tuesday after the New Zealand women's club accused the Canadian women's team of spying on them during a training session.
Jasper evacuees forced into B.C. to flee fires told to make U-turn to Alberta for aid
Thousands of wildfire evacuees forced from Jasper National Park into British Columbia along smoke-choked mountain roads Monday night were directed Tuesday to make a wide U-turn and head home if they needed a place to stay.
Pennsylvania state police commissioner reveals stunning details about Trump shooting
A local law enforcement commissioner revealed during a House Homeland Security hearing on Tuesday stunning new details about the security failures that led to the near assassination of Donald Trump, raising more questions for the embattled U.S. Secret Service.
Sunday was the hottest day ever recorded on Earth, scientists say
Sunday was the hottest day ever recorded, breaking global temperatures dating back to 1940, according to preliminary data from Europe's Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Polar bear at Calgary Zoo died by drowning following 'crushing' injury
The Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo has revealed the cause of death for polar bear Baffin last week.
Clip resurfaces of Vance criticizing Harris for being 'childless,' testing Trump's new running mate
Comments Donald Trump’s running mate JD Vance made in 2021 questioning U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’ leadership because she did not have biological children have resurfaced, testing the young conservative senator in his early days campaigning as part of the Republicans' presidential ticket.
Premier says fine-tuning needed for alert system after miscommunicated Jasper evacuation timing
Alberta's premier says changes are needed to the province's emergency alert system after incorrect information was shared about the Jasper evacuation on Monday night.
'I had to go into hiding': Manitoba man still being harassed after charges into alleged human trafficking ring dropped
A man whose charges were stayed following an investigation into an alleged child sex trafficking ring in Portage la Prairie says his life has been ruined.
'Stars are aligning' for Bank of Canada rate cut: economists
The Bank of Canada is expected to deliver a dose of interest rate relief Wednesday when economists and market watchers predict the central bank will cut its overnight lending rate.