MOOSE JAW — Moose Gibson, a dedicated advocate for wheelchair curling and a fixture in the local sports scene, has been honoured with the prestigious Sports Builder Award this month.
The award celebrates his years of dedication and lasting contributions to the community, sponsored and presented by SaskPromo.com.
Gibson, a former Canadian Armed Forces service member and passionate sports advocate, expressed his surprise and humility upon receiving the award.
“I mean, I’m humbled,” he said. “I think it’s wonderful for the sport that somebody who has been involved with is being recognized. I never did anything solely for the recognition, of course.”
Gibson’s influence on wheelchair curling and other sports in Moose Jaw is undeniable. In particular, his advocacy was instrumental in bringing the Canadian Wheelchair Curling Championships to the city in both 2023 and 2024.
“When I was a member of the board of Curl Moose Jaw, I suggested to them that Moose Jaw would be a great spot to host the Canadian Wheelchair Championships because the curling club here is so accessible,” Gibson explained.
“At the time, we had two national team players playing on Team Saskatchewan — Gilbert Dash and Marie Wright — and then there was myself and Darwin Bender.”
After a delay during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021 and 2022, the championships were rescheduled and the community responded with overwhelming support — confirming that Moose Jaw was a suitable location to host similar curling events.
“The upper lounge was packed, and it certainly helped that Team Saskatchewan was in the finals during both years,” he said. “There was nothing but good feedback, certainly regarding the accessibility of the facility.”
Beyond his role in wheelchair curling, Gibson has contributed extensively to local sports through officiating and mentoring. He served on the Umpire Development Committee for Softball Saskatchewan, was the Umpire-in-Chief, and officiated numerous Canadian Forces championships.
“I’ve been on the Umpire Development Committee for probably 12 years,” he said. “Now I spend most of my time mentoring younger umpires. I’m trying not to go on the diamond too much these days, however.”
For Gibson, mentoring is about encouraging young athletes to push their limits and grow.
“The sport was good to me, and now I think my role is to pay it forward,” he said. “Sometimes that means getting out of your comfort zone and facing a challenge. If you fall down, you get back up and keep pushing forward.”
Gibson’s humility and dedication have earned the respect of his peers. His involvement with the Moose Jaw Minor Girls Fastball and his advocacy for inclusive sports have left a lasting mark on the community.
Looking back, Gibson credits sports — and particularly curling — with giving him renewed purpose and strength during challenging times. Now he hopes others can find similar strength.
“Wheelchair curling has probably saved my life,” he said, reflecting on his health journey. “I had a cardiac issue… 10 stents, two balloons, and a quintuple bypass. My cardiac surgeon said it would be a miracle if I lived to 60. Curling gave me a little incentive; it sort of kept me going.”
Now 65, Gibson continues to remain active in the sports community, mentoring others and supporting the next generation of athletes and officials.
“I’ve done everything I wanted to do on the diamond, and I’ve done pretty much everything I wanted to do off the diamond,” he said. “Now, it’s just about paying it back and helping others succeed.”
Though the recognition may have come as a surprise to him, those who have witnessed his dedication know that Gibson’s selection for the Sports Builder Award is a well-deserved honour.
