Western professor Tom Jenkyn was inspired to research curling brooms as a result of his participation in the Canadian Olympic Committee’s Own The Podium Top Secret fund.

The fund was designed to provide Canadian athletes with an edge in equipment and technique.

“Originally, our main focus was to help Olympic teams,” Jenkyn said. “We would like to help the average curlers play better as well, or the ‘Joe Schmo’ curlers in their Thursday night league.”

For Jenkyn, the biggest challenge was to determine if the broom could be produced in a quick and cheap manner, while still looking decent.

“This project really shows that engineering isn’t just about bridges, buildings and machinery. It also leads to creative product design,” he explained.

The broom, which currently remains nameless, will be available to the Canadian marketplace next curling season.

“Maybe we will have a contest in naming it,” Jenkyn added.

“The experience has been very gratifying and very fun. Next time, when people think of engineering, hopefully they will have a broader and much more creative view of it.”

—Alli Aziz