More scoops for the rest of us

Al Cameron is going over to the other side.

The curling writer for the Calgary Herald and the guy who has probably broken more curling stories in the last decade than anyone else, is leaving his job as a reporter with the Calgary Herald to become the Director, Communications and Media Relations for the CCA.

Cameron takes over his new duties on Jan. 2, 2013.

It's a big move for Cameron but he's the perfect guy to take over this role. He's been in the trenches, worked all the big events and has the respect of the curlers and the media.

Cameron has been covering the game for a long time and been to Briers, Scotties, Worlds and the Olympics. He's been a past president of the Canadian Curling Reporters (that's a biggie, I know) and in his spare time covers the Calgary Stampeders. He's in Toronto this week at the Grey Cup.

For the CCA, it's a great step too. While the media has been well supported over the years by Warren Hansen who looked after media requests in between running Briers and other championships, and by Jeff Timson at the actual events, there always seemed to be a need for a full time person to do this job.

Here's the text of the release sent out to the rest of us stiffs still working in the media:

OTTAWA, ON, November 22, 2012….The Canadian Curling Association (CCA) has created a new Senior Management Team position which will be part of a new communications department within the national governing sport body.  As the organization continues its strategic growth as a business, the CCA has signaled the importance of communication to both its internal and external stakeholders.

As part of the process, a communications department has been established with a new Senior Management Team position to lead this department going forward.  The senior staff position leading this area will be the Director, Communication & Media Relations.

The CCA conducted a nation-wide recruitment search over the last two months that has resulted in the formal hiring of Al Cameron to fulfill this role.  Cameron joins the CCA after spending the past 26 years as a sports writer.  For the last 12 years, Cameron has been with the Calgary Herald.  Cameron is a passionate curling enthusiast and has covered six Briers, nine Tournament of Hearts, seven World Championships, twelve Alberta Men’s and Women’s Championships and the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.

In addition to his curling coverage, Cameron has been the Calgary Herald’s beat writer for the Calgary Stampeders for the past five seasons. 

“The CCA is extremely proud to have Al join our Senior Management Team.  He brings sound experience and knowledge of communication best practices and extensive media relations experience to our organization”, stated the CCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Greg Stremlaw.

Raised in Kamloops, British Columbia, Cameron is married to his wife Corinne and has two sons, Ethan (17) and Isaac (14).

“I don’t think it is a secret that covering curling as a journalist has been a passion for as long as I can remember.  The opportunity to not only be around the sport on a full-time basis, but also contribute to its continued growth and excellence, through the efforts of the Canadian Curling Association, is very exciting”, commented Cameron.

Cameron’s official start date is January 2nd, 2013, but he will also be in attendance at next week’s Capital One Canada Cup in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.