Pearl Anderson, a lifelong curling fan and curler ‘til well into her 70’s, grew up in Baden, Mb.  In 1935, at 18 years old, Pearl traveled by train to Cranberry Portage in pursuit of work at a local restaurant, Good Eats, owned and operated, (unbeknownst at the time), by her future in-laws, Edith & Barney Anderson.  

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Four years later, she married Fred and started their Cranberry journey.  They celebrated 64 years together, 5 children, 16 grandchildren and, in 2022, at 105 years, when she past away, she had a huge family of 85 descendants.  She was very proud of her family, had close connections with them and kept tabs on everyone.

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Both Pearl & Fred were avid Cranberry supporters, involved in community activities and especially the Cranberry Portage Legion and Seniors.   Pearl was always an avid curler, in the renowned curling rink by the railway station and the present uptown curling rink on the highway (especially excited about it being right in her neighbourhood!!), and even curling on a rink set up on Lake Athapap, as a fundraiser for the new rink. 

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She and her team bonspieled in Flin Flon, The Pas and at Legion conventions.  She thrilled at having new curlers on her team, and teaching them the game.  Her enthusiasm for the sport trickled down through her children and grandchildren, many of whom are still actively involved with the sport.  Her son, Ken, in his 80’s now, is still curling and making ice for his local club in Alberta.   After retiring from curling, she became a ‘permanent’ cheerleader for her grandchildren, enjoying many hours upstairs at the rink watching their games and visiting with friends. 

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Pearl’s interest in curling included watching every possible professional game on television.  Over time, Glenn Howard, Canada’s four-time World Men’s Curling Gold Champion, became her favourite skip.  In her 95th Birthday year, her granddaughter, Carla, contacted the Glenn Howard team, told Glenn about his enthusiastic fan here in Cranberry Portage, and asked if he would be so kind as to call her grandma on her 95th birthday.   

March 27th, he called, even though he was leaving on his flight to the World’s in Basel, Switzerland that same day.  Pearl was relaxing, after lunch, when the phone rang.  Note:  she had no idea about this call.  She said … ‘Hello’ … and Glenn responded … ‘Happy 95th Birthday Pearl’.  She replied … ‘Well thank-you … who am I talking to?’  Glenn chuckled and said … ‘who is your favourite curler, Pearl?’  With a question in her voice, wondering why anyone would ask her that, she responded … ‘Glenn Howard’.   He laughed and said … ‘Well this is Glenn calling to wish you a very happy birthday, … your granddaughter contacted me and asked if I’d call you today.’ Pearl responded … ‘oh for goodness sake, well this is certainly a surprise, thank-you!  Aren’t you on your way to World’s soon?’  Glenn chuckled at her knowledge of him winning the Briar, and therefore going to the World playoffs and said … ‘I’m just leaving for the airport but wanted to call you first’.   Pearl said … ‘well, thank-you, very much, now you go and have some good curling … I’ll be here watching and cheering you on’.  With her good wishes, he won the Gold the following week.   That phone call was certainly a highlight she retold many times.   (Later I said to her … ‘good thing you didn’t say Kevin Martin’.  She said … ‘never mind I almost said Jeff Stoughton, cause he’s my next favourite’ … haha!).

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In memory of my mother, Pearl Anderson, we are proud to sponsor the prize for the winning team in the Cranberry Portage Winterfest Mini-Spiel.  Many thanks to the Winterfest committee for organizing this fun curling event for our youth.  Mom would be happy.  Her name lives on in the curling world of Cranberry Portage.

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Good curling everyone!!

Jan & Merv Hershmiller