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Jack Motyer, left — who turns 95 on Jan. 29 — is the oldest member of the St. Vital Retired Men’s Curling Club. (PHOTO BY ARIELLE GODBOUT)

Many 95-year-olds try to avoid icy surfaces, worried about the perils of falling.

Not Jack Motyer.

The St. Vital resident — who will celebrate his 95th birthday on Jan. 29 — spends two mornings each week hurrying up and down the rink at the St. Vital Curling Club.

Motyer — the oldest member of St. Vital Retired Men’s Curling Club — has been enjoying the sport for more than 30 years, with no plans of stopping any time soon.

"I’d hate to give it up. I’m going to keep going until I can’t curl anymore," said Motyer, who retired from Air Canada in 1978.

"It’s a competitive game, but it’s very friendly," said Motyer, who plays third. "And if you put a little sweeping into it — some hard sweeping — you get your exercise."

Staying fit has always been a priority for Motyer, who spent many years teaching young kids in St. Boniface — his neighbourhood at the time — to swim as a volunteer with the Royal Lifesaving Society.

When Motyer retired, he said it was important for him to find ways to stay active, prompting him to join the curling club.

But curling twice a week wasn’t enough, he added.

Motivated by the lack of active living options for older adults at the time, Motyer also helped form the Retired People’s Particip-action Club — an exercise group for seniors that is now under the banner of the YMCA-YWCA of Winnipeg.

The 94-year-old is still involved, volunteering as an instructor for the low-impact exercise group once a week.

"It’s not strenuous, but you do cover all your muscles," he said.

Motyer — who will be celebrating his birthday with his daughter — said he believes the secret to his longevity is a combination of factors.

"I think there’s good genes there," he said, explaining his mother lived to the ripe age of 99, while his sister lived until 98 and his brother to 94.

"But it’s also the exercising and good living," he said.

Joel Bouchard, another curling club member, said Motyer is an inspiration to the other curlers.

"I think 95 is a really good age that you’re still able to do all of these activities," he said, adding Motyer’s passion for curling is also inspiring.

"He really loves the game. He’s very competitive."

Motyer said anyone can enjoy curling  — or any active lifestyle — but said fear holds back seniors.

"They see it on TV and think, ‘Oh, I can’t do that’," he said. "All you’ve got to do is get out and do it."

For more information about St. Vital Curling Club, visit www.stvitalcurling.ca.

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