World’s first Black curling comedy series filming in Manitoba

An all-Black cast, a classic sport, and a very Canadian story.

“Cool Sweepings” is a new comedy series that brings diversity to the ice like never before.

“This incredible diverse environment, bringing people together, a sport like curling in which typically people might think Jamaicans or immigrants aren’t a part of, we’re trying to say everything in Canada is for all of us,” said Devon Clunis, the show’s executive producer. “So that really is a vision of bringing people together, unity, the oneness.

“That’s really what we want to tell with this story: we are here, we’re in Canada, we are a part of the culture.”

The cast of “Cool Sweepings” is primarily Manitoban, showcasing local talent on screen.

“Being a Manitoban, curling is something that’s engrained in the Manitoban culture and I see it every single day. I curled in high school. It’s something that we were able to do, but just make it more inclusive,” said producer Chris Sharpe.

For cast members, the hardships faced by the characters on the screen aren’t purely fictional, but experiences they’ve gone through first hand.

“I think all of us get to a place in our life where there’s adversity and I think those parts of the script are very true,” said Darryan Edwards, who plays “Denny” in the seres. “You’re gonna face adversity. It’s all about how you handle it.”

And what started as a job quickly grew into a family-like bond.

“It’s been amazing,” said Joshua Calder, who plays “Chris.” Calder already knew two people on the cast, but became instant friends with those he didn’t know.

It’s that feeling of unity that gave the production a deeper purpose.

“Just getting our faces out there and our names out there would do a lot just for our community as well so. That being said, since we are being watched means we gotta do right for our community,” said “Cool Sweepings” director Reggie Isume.