St. Adolphe’s Lauren Evason, alongside Jaxon Hiebert of Sherwood Park, Alberta, have been selected as one of two mixed doubles finalist curling teams for Team Canada at the 2024 Youth Olympics in Gangwon, South Korea.

The Evason-Hiebert team and a second pairing will work with Curling Canada coaches at an upcoming training camp in Edmonton. They will then compete at the end of August in a best-of-seven series to see which pairing will represent Team Canada.

In order to be eligible to apply for the four-person or mixed doubles team at the Youth Olympics, players needed to either qualify for the U18 Canadian Curling Championships or the Canada Games.

“I had qualified for the U18s in Timmins, so I had to complete my application before the event so that Curling Canada could scout me during the competition,” says Evason. “For the application itself, there was a written component, and I needed two references. And I had to include my grades, past report cards, and all my athletic achievements. I didn’t really have any expectations for the four-person or mixed doubles team. Either way, I knew it was an honour to be selected.”

When Evason, a Grade 11 student at École Régional Gabrielle-Roy in Île-des-Chênes, received the email that she had been selected as a finalist for the mixed doubles team, she was beyond shocked and excited.

“I had heard rumours that those who had made the team had already been notified, so by early April I had accepted that I wasn’t going to hear back from the committee,” says Evason. “I was definitely disappointed at first, but I was content with their decision and was very excited for whoever was picked.”

However, it turned out that all hope was not lost.

“I got the email while in the car with my friend and her mom on our way home from her dance recital, and I was totally speechless,” she continues. “I couldn’t believe what I was reading, and I truly thought I was dreaming. I couldn’t wait to get home to tell my parents, not knowing they had also gotten the email.”

Despite hearing the news some time ago, Evason says that she wasn’t allowed to talk about it with anyone until the Canadian Olympic Committee made the official announcement—which finally happened last week.

“I am just so grateful to have been chosen for this opportunity. And although it feels a lot more real now that it has been announced, it hasn’t truly sunk in yet.”

Evason knows Hiebert, her partner, because they both competed at the U18 championships. They didn’t chat at the Nationals, but they are now starting to get to know each other a bit since they’ve been introduced as partners.

The Curling Canada training camp will take place from August 27 to September 4. The camp will begin with on- and off-ice training on Sunday, with the games kicking off on August 30.

At the event, a best-of-seven series will determine who goes to South Korea as Team Canada. The other team will serve as alternates but not travel to the Games.

Evason has a full life outside of curling. She’s also a self-taught baker who runs Baked Creations by Lauren. And with wedding season starting up, she’s entering a busy time of year.

“I make cakes for all occasions,” she says. “I am self-taught other than watching YouTube videos to try and perfect certain techniques, and I took a cookie decorating class to learn the basics of royal icing. I really enjoy creating new cakes, and my favourite part is seeing people’s faces when they receive their cake or treats.”