Warren Hansen took on the challenge of changing curling because first and foremost he is a curler. In the 1970s, he was a top-level curler who was contracted by the Canadian Curling Association (CCA) to develop the teaching system for curling in Canada. Hansen became the driving force behind getting curling into the Olympics, first as a demonstration sport, then as a full medal sport. Following that, he became the key driver for making major curling events in Canada – like the Brier and Tournament of Hearts – into significant revenue producing sport properties.
Hansen was the director of event operations and media relations for the CCA for 30 years and was the managing editor of Extra End Magazine (Canada’s national curling magazine) for 30 years. In addition, he is the author of Curling: The History, the Players, the Game (Toronto: Key Porter Books, 1999). He lives in Port Coquitlam, B.C. and continues to work, promote and advance curling around the world. Hansen is a Builder in the World Curling Hall of Fame, a Curler/Builder in the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame and a Builder in the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. |