Beaverlodge Mayor Gary Rycroft presents Geoff Walker with a sign signifying the name change to 4th avenue in the community. Photo courtesy Jeff Henson/EverythingGP

By Jeff Henson

GEOFF WALKER

Beaverlodge curler and Olympic medal winner honoured by his hometown

Apr 27, 2022 | 11:01 AM

The town of Beaverlodge honoured one of their own on Tuesday, as several hundred people attended a parade to honour Geoff Walker.

The lead for the Canadian men’s curling champion and Olympic bronze medal-winning Brad Gushue rink was honoured to have been recognized in this way by his hometown.

“I am very humbled to see all of the people come out and cheer me on. Especially have all of the elementary school kids that were out there. That was special too.”

“I am glad first off that it was a beautiful day so that was nice to come out. And then to see all of the people as we were going down the street. It is funny, some of the kids were coming up to me saying “I am so nervous”. So I responded “You are nervous? Look at the people that I have to go see.” All joking aside, it was really neat and as I said I am just honoured. It was so much fun!”

Geoff was holding his young son Liam with him in the car as it made its way down 4th avenue towards the Beaverlodge Curling Club.

Geoff Walker and son Liam wave to fans during parade in his honour on April 26th. Photo courtesy Jeff Henson/EverythingGP

Following the parade, Beaverlodge Mayor Gary Rycroft presented Walker with a key to the town.

He also announced that 4th avenue was officially being renamed Geoff Walker Way.

Walker says that was a particularly special honour, as his grandparents lived on that street for many years.

“I spent a lot of time there as a youngster. I remember going out and helping my grandfather with yard work. That was sort of my first job – cutting his grass for five dollars. So to have (the new name for the street) start there and run all the way through main street and past the pool and obviously past the curling club is really cool. If I had to handpick a street, that would definitely be the one.”

Walker addresses those in attendance after he was presented with a key to the town, and had a street in Beaverlodge renamed in his honour. Photo courtesy Jeff Henson/EverythingGP

Besides winning the Olympic bronze medal and the Brier title, Walker capped off an incredible four-month stretch by helping the Gushue rink win a silver medal at the recently completed World Curling championships in Las Vegas.