Vera Pezer
Author, Athlete, Hero
Books
The Little Community that Could
ISBN:978-1-926832-56-2
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It took energy to survive and thrive in small town Canada in the early twentieth century. Today, we may wonder where all that energy has gone. Is it merely a distant memory? Does it still have an impact on society?
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The the story of Meskanaw, Saskatchewan is told - the 'little community that could" - those of us who hail from the prairies will recall our own small towns and villages. Like Meskanaw, each had its own spark of energy, something special that made the settlement unique. History is created by circumstances, stories, and people, and the tales of our home towns and their energy continue to enrich our lives and our heritage.​
Smart Curling
ISBN: 9781897252031
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Success in curling demands outstanding skill and strategy, but getting and keeping the champion's edge requires even more. Exceptional psychological skill is imperative. Ask the experts.
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Smart Curling uncovers these secrets for those who are committed to curling excellence. Winner of countless championships, she knows all about "hurrying hard" while keeping her cool to win. From the perspective of a competitor and that of sports psychologists, Pezer illustrates how to maximize motivation and concentration while effectively managing stress and distractions. She teaches about self-regulators and confidence and outlines the relationship between practice and competition. She helps players understand and practice excellent communication - verbal and nonverbal. And she outlines team dynamics to understand and work with the various personalities and roles of team members and coaches.
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The Stone Age
ISBN: 9781894856294
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The game of curling has been an intrinsic part of life on the Prairies since the 1800s. The smallest towns are home to a rink, a league, and even a local bonspiel. The Stone Age: A Social History of Curling on the Prairies chronicles the sport's development from a crude game played by fur traders on a frozen river, to the sophisticated Olympic sport it is today. In the early years, curling survived and adapted to a wave of immigration, railway expansion, two World Wars, and a depression, gathering countless fans along the way.
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Since the 1950s, curling has experienced an explosion in the number of men, women, juniors, and seniors who have taken up the game - both on the Prairies and across Canada - along with increasingly lucrative bonspiels, intense media coverage, and its share of controversy. The Stone Age looks at this important legacy of success both on and off the ice. It also highlights the careers of curlers such as Bob Dunbar, curling's first superstar, Sylvia Fedoruk, Joyce McKee, Ernie Richardson, Sandra Schmirler, all of whom made vital contributions to the development of the sport.
Thanks to four-time Canadian Women's champion Vera Pezer's long and outstanding involvement in the game, she brings character and color to The Stone Age, with her personal stories of the events, players, and reporters who brought curling from the Prairies to the world stage.
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The Stone Age will be of interest to curling fans and Prairie history aficionados. It explores the impact of the sport on the cultural and social life of the Canadian Prairies and why it developed in a substantially different direction here than in its native Scotland or even Eastern Canada. More than that, for anyone with a love of the sport and history, The Stone Age provides a purely entertaining read.