'Don't slow down': From curling to cycling, 90-year-old Winnipeg senior committed to staying active
At 90 years old, Al Borys is proving that age is just a number as he continues to play a sport he loves and is active to raise money for a good cause.
For 75 years, Borys has been enjoying the sport of curling and he says he doesn't plan on stopping anytime soon.
He has always been active, from playing softball to enjoying whitewater rafting in his younger days.
But throwing a rock down pebbled ice has stuck with him and it has been one of his favourite sports through the years.
"Off and on in the men's league and more recently in the seniors, which is primarily a recreational league. We come out for the fun, for the comradery, for the coffee afterwards. It's certainly non-competitive, although we still always like to win," said Borys.
The biggest draw to curling for Borys is it's a sport that can be played at any age and any skill level.
Borys is part of the 55-plus league at the Pembina Curling Club, where he curls twice a week. Among his fellow curlers, his skills are being recognized.
"As is the quiet, stoic type. You can see him from far away. He is a steady player and he makes some good shots," said Dennis Huggins, the president of the curling club.
"Recently I've had people mention to me how fortunate I am. And don't kid yourself, I count my blessings every day. Fortunately, I can be active, whether it be cycling in the summer, curling in the winter. Fishing, hunting, I still do everything I pretty well did 30, 40 years ago," said Borys.
On the topic of cycling, Borys says he has been hopping on a bike for the last 15 years to raise money for a good cause.
He has been riding with his family in support of the Manitoba MS Society.
"I decided to ride in the MS bike-a-thon fundraiser from Stonewall to Gimli and return. My daughter joined me, my grandkids joined me."
As part of the riding team 'Al's Angels' they have been able to raise more than $100,000 for the society and most recently he completed the entire 130-kilometre circuit, something he was able to achieve by riding his bike 28 kilometres a day in the spring and summer.
"Don't slow down. There are times you don't feel like going out. There's just times you feel like sitting in a rocker. I say get out and do it and the more you do it, the easier it is."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.