Category Archives: Youth Curling

MORDEN, GIMLI TEAMS WIN ASHAM U-18 TITLES

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Teams from Morden and Gimli have won the CurlManitoba Asham U-18 Championships in Morden.

The two rural Manitoba teams and a pair from the Winnipeg capital region will represent Manitoba at the national U-18 championship when it takes place in Saskatoon in late February.

Each of the CurlManitoba’s Asham U-18 final games Sunday, at the Morden Curling Club, featured a rural team against a Winnipeg area team – showing that, supported by CurlManitoba, local club efforts to grow youth curling across the province are working.

The winners of the two games, the Nash Sugden (Morden) and Caitlyn McPherson (Gimli) teams, are the Manitoba champions for 2024-25. However, thanks to the performance of Manitoba’s champions at last year’s nationals, the finalist teams also earned a national entry.

In the Asham U-18 Men’s, Morden’s Nash Sugden team (Tyler Fehr, Tanner Treichel, Ryan Thiessen, Coach Gord Titchkosky) posted a 5-4 win over Heather’s Logan Zacharias team (Rylan Graham, Carter Malmquist, Hudson Strand, Coach Sheldon Zacharias).

Morden’s Sugden team (l-r) Coach Gord Titchkosky, Ryan Thiessen, Tanner Treichel, Tyler Fehr, Nash Sugden – with Asham Curling’s Terry Gibb
Heather’s Zacharias team (l-r) Coach Sheldon Zacharias, Rylan Graham, Hudson Strand, Carter Malmquist, Logan Zacharias – with Asham Curling’s Terry Gibb

Tied 3-3 after 6 ends, Sugden had a shot at a game winning four on the seventh. He rubbed a guard to give up a steal to trail by one coming home – but didn’t have to throw his final stone as Zacharias slid deep in the 12 foot circle with his final stone, facing three.

Sugden and Zacharias both topped their respective pools in the ten-team championship with perfect 4W-0L records. Sugden beat Zacharias to advance to the final while Zacharias won the semifinal 6-3 over Liam Burton-Heather (Tiernan Bertrand-Meadows, Myles Lagadi, Callum Smith, Coach Shelley Bertrand-Meadows). The Burton team reached the semifinal with a first round playoff 5-4 win over St. Vital’s Kieran Callewaert entry (skipped by Luc Cormier, Evan Traczuk, Quinn Lagace, Coach Blaine Malo).

In the Asham U-18 Women’s Gimli’s McPherson team (Julie Magnusson, Robyn Buchel, Jorja Buhr, Coach Shawn Magnusson) defeated West St. Paul’s Karys Buchalter (Ainslee Card, Amy Buchalter, Eva Le Heiget, Coach Kelsey Meger) 9-5 to win the championship.

Gimli’s McPherson team (l-r) Coach Shawn Magnusson, Jorja Buhr, Robyn Buchel, Julie Magnusson, Caitlyn McPherson – with Asham Curling’s Terry Gibb
West St. Paul’s Buchalter team (l-r) Coach Kelsey Meger, Eva Le Heiget, Amy Buchalter, Ainslee Card, Karys Buchalter – with Asham Curling’s Terry Gibb

Tied 2-2 after four ends, McPherson gave up a three to Buchalter on the fifth end. The Gimli team bounced back to score a three of their own on the sixth and steal two on the seventh to lead by two coming home. They controlled the last end, got a stone buried early and scored two more for the 9-5 final score.

Buchalter and McPherson both finished the round robin with 6W-1L records with Buchalter being awarded the first place bye to the final thanks to a round robin win over McPherson.

McPherson needed an extra end to win the semifinal over Carman’s Kiera Krahn (Bethany Allan, Hannah Smith, Ella Robins, Coach Cal Edie). Krahn finished third in the eight team round robin with a 5W-2L record.

The 2025 Provincial Coaching Award, sponsored by Asham, goes to the coach who best exemplifies attributes of a quality coach as voted on by their peers. The men’s coaching award winner was Gord Titchkosky (Team Sugden) and women’s coaching award winner was Cory Barkley (Team Brown).

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OF NOTE: Since the CurlManitoba U-18 Women’s event began in 2013, it has been dominated by rural teams. The 2013 event was won by Pembina’s Hannah Brown. That is the only win by a Winnipeg club team. Since then, the rural winners have been from:

4-Altona: Mackenzie Zacharias (2015, 2016, 2017) Dayna Wahl (2023)
2-Dauphin: Emma Jensen (2018, 2019)
1-Carman: Shaela Hayward (2024)
1-East St. Paul: Megan Walter (2020)
1-Neepawa: Zoey Terrick (2022)
1-Winkler: Brooke Friesen (2014)
** There was no event in 2021 due to Covid

The U-18 Men’s has seen a much evener balance between rural and Winnipeg winners.

2-St. Vital: Jordon McDonald (2019, 2020)
1-Altona: Rylan Campbell (2024)
1-Carberry: Braden Calvert (2013)
1-Der Lodge: Jordon McDonald (2022)
1-Elmwood: Brett Walter (2018)
1-Fort Rouge: Brett Walter (2016)
1- Heather: Hayden Forrester (2015)
1-Morris: Brett Walter (2017)
1-Starbuck: Brandon Radford (2014)
1-Virden: Jace Freeman (2023)
** There was no event in 2021 due to Covid

CURLMANITOBA WELCOMES NEW PARTNER ACCESS CREDIT UNION

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CurlManitoba is excited to announce expanded support for the development of Manitoba’s junior curlers in a new partnership with Access Credit Union.

The unique new partnership features a three-way agreement between CurlManitoba, Access Credit Union and the Bob Picken Open Masters Bonspiel (the BOBSpiel). The agreement will see Access Credit Union expanding the bonspiel’s Bob Picken Junior Legacy grant program, by doubling the number of grants available to junior programs across Manitoba each year. Access Credit Union became the Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 bonspiel (September 24-28, at Granite CC)

Access Credit Union will also be supporting the strengthening of CurlManitoba’s Youth Curling Camps program. The Access Credit Union Youth Curling Camps are designed as fun and positive one-day camps for young athletes to play, have fun, learn, and improve in the sport of curling. Individual and team instruction provide a chance for the young athletes to work on all of the sport’s fundamental skills.

In addition to the junior grants program and the youth curling camps program, during the 2024-25 curling season Access Credit Union will be visible to Manitoba curlers as a Manitoba Open bonspiel event sponsor and as the Presenting Partner for the Dynasty U20 Mixed Doubles championship.

Access Credit Union is the largest credit union in Manitoba and the sixth largest in Canada, with more than more than 203,000 members and more than 60 branches in Winnipeg and across southern Manitoba; west to Morden and Manitou, north to Moosehorn, Ashen and Fisher Branch, south to Emerson and Gretna, and east to Pinawa, Whitemouth, Vita and Sprague.

“Curling is an important social, recreational, and competitive sport across Manitoba and the young people involved in this and other sports are one of our most important assets,” says President and CEO, Larry Davey of Access Credit Union. “We consider it a wonderful opportunity to support CurlManitoba and the many volunteers in their efforts to support junior and youth curling programs.”

On behalf of CurlManitoba, Executive Director Craig Baker expressed sincere appreciation for the new support of Access Credit Union. “CurlManitoba has had an important focus on youth and junior development as a priority for the last several years. We can see that emphasis paying dividends in the expansion of junior programs, including numbers in recent junior and youth events. We are excited by the opportunities this new partnership creates to continue the growth.”

Bob Minaker, co-chair of the Picken Open Bonspiel committee, also added his appreciation to the new sponsor. “We have made $6,000 in Picken Junior Legacy grants over the past four years in support of some excellent junior programs. Our greatest disappointment has been the other very excellent programs which we have not been able to support. With the help of Access Credit Union, we will be able to turn some of those no’s into a yes. It is exciting to think about.”

Application information for the new Bob Picken Junior Legacy Grants presented by Access Credit Union will be circulated to Manitoba curling club junior activities coordinators in the near future.

PEMBINA VALLEY TEAMS DOMINATE ASHAM U-18 PROVINCIALS

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Teams from Altona, Carman, and Morden, the heart of Manitoba’s Pembina Valley region, will represent Manitoba at the national U-18 championships in February.

Carman’s Shaela Hayward team won the Asham U-18 Women’s provincial curling championship Sunday afternoon in Selkirk to win a trip to the nationals. The U-18 Men’s final was won by Altona’s Rylan Campbell team over Morden’s Nash Sugden – both will be going to the national championship in Ottawa.

Hayward (Keira Krahn, India Young, Rylie Cox, Coach Diane Hayward) was the only unbeaten team through the weekend competition in Selkirk. They posted a 5W-0L round-robin record and defeated Cassidy Dundas – Heather (Lauren Evason, Eryn Czirfusz, Tessa Terrick, Coach Craig Terrick) in the Page 1 vs 1 Playoff game Saturday evening.

Carman’s Team Hayward (Keira Krahn, India Young, Rylie Cox, Coach Diane Hayward) with Asham rep Terry Gibb

The Dundas foursome defeated clubmate Bethany Allan (Emily Ostrowsky, Amelie Le Heiget, Taylor Letham, Coach Deb Popovic) in the Sunday morning semi-final to set up a rematch. The result was the same, however, as the Hayward foursome won 6-3 to complete a perfect 7W-0L weekend.

The Asham U-18 Men’s final game also featured a re-match of the Page 1-1 Playoff game but with a different result.

Nash Sugden – Morden (Tyler Fehr, Tanner Treichel, Ryan Thiessen, Coach Gord Titchkosky) were extra end winners over Rylan Campbell – Altona (Logan Zacharias, Nick Senff, Rylan Graham, Coach Sheldon Zacharias) Saturday evening.

The Campbell team fought back to the final with a semi-final win over the Colin Desaulniers-skipped Kieran Callewaert team – AMCC (Luc Cormier, Desaulniers, Quinn Legace, Justin Arbez, Coach Rej Lagace). That semi-final win created the momentum needed for a dominant final game performance which saw them put three three’s and a five on the scoreboard.

Altona’s Team Campbell (Logan Zacharias, Nick Senff, Rylan Graham, Coach Sheldon Zacharias) with Asham rep Terry Gibb

Over the weekend, the Team Campbell record was 6W-1L while Team Sugden had a 5W-1L record.

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As provincial champions, the Hayward and Campbell team records at the national championship in Ottawa will be the records which count in the tally to determine whether Manitoba will have one or two entries at the nationals a year from now. As the formula includes the provincial champion’s record across two years, this year’s record and the record from a year ago will be taken into account.

Morden’s Nash Sugden team (Tyler Fehr, Tanner Treichel, Ryan Thiessen, Coach Gord Titchkosky) will also attend the nationals as Manitoba’s second team

HAYWARD, SUGDEN TEAMS ADVANCE TO ASHAM U-18 FINALS SUNDAY IN SELKIRK

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Shaela Hayward’s Carman team & Nash Sugden’s Morden team have advanced to the Sunday 1:30PM final games of CurlManitoba’s Asham U-18 Women’s & Men’s provincial championships in Selkirk.

Saturday evening, Shaela Hayward – Carman (Keira Krahn, India Young, Rylie Cox) defeated Cassidy Dundas – Heather (Lauren Evason, Eryn Czirfusz, Tessa Terrick) 5-4 in the Page 1 vs 1 playoff game. Dundas will play in the 9:30AM semi-final against Bethany Allan – Heather (Emily Ostrowsky, Amelie Le Heiget, Taylor Letham).

Carman’s Shaela Hayward and her team will play in the Asham U-18 final Sunday at 1:30pm in Selkirk

Allan advanced by defeating Liv Leadbeater – Swan River (Kate Patterson, Calli Goethe, Lexie Leadbeater) 8-3 in the Page 2-2 Playoff game.

Hayward and Dundas had advanced to the Page Playoff 1-1 game with perfect 5W-0L records while Leadbeater and Allan were the second place teams in the pools with 4W-1L records.


Meanwhile, in the U-18 Men’s competition, Nash Sugden – Morden (Tyler Fehr, Tanner Treichel, Ryan Thiessen) and Rylan Campbell – Altona (Logan Zacharias, Nick Senff, Rylan Graham) needed an extra end to decide their Page 1-1 game. Campbell needed one to tie coming home and Sugden posted a three on the extra end for an 8-5 win.

The Sugden team advances to the Sunday 1:30PM final. Campbell will play Kieran Callewaert – AMCC (Luc Cormier, Colin Desaulniers, Quinn Legace) in the morning semi-final. Callewaert advanced with a 7-6 win over Evan Boutet – Ft Garry (Cooper Steele, Liam Burton, Hayden Pich).

The Callewaert team win over Boutet came on the strength of a five on the second end. Credit the Boutet team, they fought back to be tied coming home but the AMCC foursome had hammer for a 7-6 win.

Sugden and Campbell had advanced to the Page Playoff 1-1 game with perfect 4W-0L records while Boutet and Callewaert were the second place teams in the pools with 2W-2L records.

PICKEN LEGACY FUND CHEQUE PRESENTATION AT ELMWOOD

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Picken Legacy Fund committee member Bob Minaker with Elmwood’s Junior organizer Julia Vincent

I had the privilege today, with Bob Minaker, to visit the Elmwood Curling Club’s junior program where we saw a beehive of activity with four full sheets of little rockers on the ice with half a dozen volunteer coach-instructors. There were almost as many older kids waiting eagerly for their turn on the ice.

During the change-over, we had the opportunity to present one of this year’s Bob Picken Junior Development grants – a $500 contribution from the Bob Picken Legacy Fund, the proceeds of this year’s Bob Picken Masters Open Bonspiel.

Three grants were presented this year. Along with Elmwood, $500 grants to Winkler and Portage Curling Clubs brought the total of grants paid out since the project began to $6,000.

Julia Vincent with Bob Minaker & Resby Coutts (centre back) surrounded by the Elmwood Junior program’s young curlers and their volunteer instructors.
The expression “herding cats” comes to mind as you watch the Elmwood’s little rockers on the ice with the volunteer instructors – smiles all around tell you they’re having fund!
Instructor Destiny Hondz leads the stretching session as the older juniors prepare to go on the ice.
(Borrowed from Facebook) Winkler’s Ross Derksen with Trepp Fehr, one of the curlers in the Winkler Junior-Teen program. Winkler & Portage also received Picken Legacy Fund grants this season.

ASHAM U-18 CHAMPIONSHIPS SET FOR SELKIRK, JANUARY 4-7

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(CurlManitoba Release) Twenty-one of Manitoba’s best aspiring young curling teams will be in Selkirk January 4-7, 2024 as the first CurlManitoba championship of the new year gets underway. Six games in the 12-team U-18 Women’s championship kick-off the event at 8:30AM Thursday followed by four games in the nine-team U-18 Men’s at noon.

Altona’s Dayna Wahl, defending champion and 2023 Canada Games representative, will return to try to make it three Manitoba wins in two curling seasons. Piper Stoesz and Gillian Hildebrand return as well with Lauren Weselak and Coach Chris Hamblin joining the line-up. A year ago, the Altona team had a 3W-1L round robin record and won a pair of playoff games.

The challengers include five other returning teams. These include the intact Karys Buchalter (West St. Paul) team which made the playoffs a year ago, and the intact Shaela Hayward (Carman) team which had a 3W-1L round robin record but missed the playoffs. Three of four players return from last year’s finalist Beaudry team, now skipped by Cassidy Dundas (Heather), Bethany Allan’s Heather team, and Liv Leadbeater’s Swan River team.

The field is rounded out by teams from East St. Paul (Robyn Buchel), Gladstone (Jorja Buhr), Killarney (Gina Giasson), Pembina (Hailey Hall & Ainslee Card), and St. Vital (Hannah Patton).

There is one invitation available through the championship to represent Manitoba at the national championship in early February in Ottawa.

Although all three of last year’s U-18 Men’s playoff teams will be represented, there is no defending champion in this year’s Asham U-18 Men’s Championship, making it a wide-open competition to determine a new champion.

Rylan Graham (from Jace Freeman’s 2023 champion team) and Nick Senff (from Ronan Peterson’s 2023 finalist team) now form the front end for Rylan Campbell’s Altona team. Campbell and third Logan Zacharias played in last year’s event with Luke Robins.

Carter Malmquist, who played on the 3rd place Zach Norris team a year ago, skips his own Stonewall team this year.

Only one team returns intact from last year’s event. Nash Sugden and his Morden team will be looking to improve on their 3W-3L record from a year ago as they pursue this year’s title.

Three of the four members of Portage’s Colton Olafson team also return. They also posted a 3W-3L record last year.

Teams from AMCC (Kieran Callewaert), East St. Paul (Tyler Graham), Fort Garry (Evan Boutet), Lorette (Sebastien Sarrasin), and the host Selkirk Curling Club (Brady Szydlik) will challenge for one of two opportunities to represent Manitoba at the nationals.

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All 14 provinces and territories automatically have an entry into the U-18 Nationals Men and Women Championships. The second U-18 Men’s spot for 2024 was earned by a strong performance over the past two championships by the Manitoba teams. On an accumulated results basis over the two years, the top SIX provinces earn the second entry to the nationals. In all, there are 21 spots available (14 provinces/territories, an added spot for the host province, and the six past-performance earned berths).

PICKEN MASTERS ‘SPIEL COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES JUNIOR GRANTS

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The organizers of the 2023 Bob Picken Open Masters Bonspiel (the BOBSpiel) have
announced the recipients of three junior development grants from the Bob Picken
Legacy Fund.

Thanks to the participating teams and the event sponsors, the fund grew again in 2023. As a result, it is possible to present $500 grants to Junior programs in three Manitoba curling clubs. While the grants will draw down the fund slightly, it is anticipated that the program will continue for several more years along with the early-season bonspiel.

This year’s grant recipients are the junior programs in the Winkler, Elmwood and
Portage Curling Clubs.
WINKLER: A 15-week Grades 5-8 program with 32 curlers. An early season focus on
skill development transitions into alternating practice weeks and game weeks later in
the season. The grant will support on-ice equipment upgrades and to allow for develop
of innovative ideas like a Triples FunSpiel.
ELMWOOD: A Little Rocks (16 weeks) and Bantam & Junior (20 weeks) program with
about 60 total curlers. Depending on age level, the focus is teaching the basics of the
game, skill building and games. The grant will support replacement of club equipment
such as short-ice hacks, acquisition of protective helmets for the little rockers, and
training for volunteers.
PORTAGE: Total numbers in the 90-100 range for Little Rocks (K – Grade 5), Junior
(Grades 6-8) and High School curling programs in conjunction with the Portage School
Division. The grant will support replacement of aging brushes and brush heads and
acquisition of sliders. It will also support outreach activity including a developing plan for
a Newcomers to Canada curling introduction.

With this year’s Bob Picken Legacy grants, a total of $6,000 has been provided by the
bonspiel and by Manitoba’s Masters age curlers for junior development in Manitoba
curling.

ALTONA HOST CURLMANITOBA U-18 CHAMPIONSHIPS BEGINNING TONIGHT

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CurlManitoba’s U-18 Championships begin tonight in Altona – with 7 young men’s teams and 10 young women’s teams participating. The men play a 7 team, 6 game round robin while the women are split in two pools of five for a four game round robin.

It will be a first major test for the two teams which won the Canada Games Trials at Heather in November. Dayna Wahl’s Altona team and Jace Freeman’s Virden team will be out to prove it was no fluke that they earned the Canada Games berth and that they should be one of the two Manitoba teams at the Canadian U-18’s in early February in Timmins, ON as well.

In the Men’s U-18 Championship, Freeman and Elias Huminicki were on last year’s winning McDonald team and their lead, Jack Steski, was on the finalist team a year ago. The combined credentials identify them as the favorite. Rylan Graham, their fourth player, also played in this event a year ago. 

At Heather after winning the Canada Games Trials (front Altona’s Dayna Wahl, Piper Stoesz, Anna Marie Ginters, Gillian Hildebrand, Coach Keith Stoesz AND back Rylan Graham, Jack Steski, Elias Huminicki, Jace Freeman, Coach Graham Freeman)

Huminicki is already the leader in games played at the Manitoba U-18 Men’s Championship – having played 26 games in four previous appearances. He is poised to move ahead of his former skip, Jordon McDonald, into first place on the list of most games won. With 17 previous wins he is tied for second in that stats category, behind only McDonald who won 20 games out of 21 played as he skipped the 2019, 2020, and 2022 champion teams. (The event was cancelled due to covid in 2021).

Cameron Olafson, who was also on the winning McDonald team a year ago, is skipping his own Portage team this year. Two other members of the 2022 finalist Ryan Ostrowsky team are also playing this year. Luke Robins is skipping a West St. Paul team with Logan Strand at lead. They lost the Canada Games Trials semi-final. Finalist Ronan Peterson’s Heather team, the only team in the championship from inside the perimeter highway, is also competing in Altona.

In the Women’s U-18 Championship, Team Wahl (Piper Stoesz, Anna Marie Ginters, Gilian Hildebrand) topped their round robin pool in last year`s championship but lost in the semi-final to Grace Beaudry who went on to lose the final. Beaudry has recruited Cassidy Dundas and Tessa Terrick from last year`s champion team. With Lauren Evason rounding out the squad, the Wahl & Beaudry teams can be considered co-favourites this year. It is notable that Beaudry recently won a 2023 Scotties berth (with a different team).

Altona’s Mackenzie Zacharias teams won three consecutive U-18 titles in 2015-1026-2017. Tessa Terrick and Cassidy Dundas have each won 17 games in previous U-18 appearances, a number well behind the leading 38 games played by Meghan Walter in seven appearances at the event.

The Altona Curling Club hosts the championship action, beginning with an 8PM Men`s draw this evening and continuing to playoffs at 9AM and 1PM on Saturday.

PLAYOFFS SET IN CANADA GAMES MIXED DOUBLES TRIALS; ARBUCKLE-MACDONELL #1 SEED

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The playoffs are set in CurlManitoba’s Canada Games Mixed Doubles Trials at the Heather Curling Club. As the only undefeated (4W-0L) team in round robin play, the St. Vital duo of Mackenzie Arbuckle and Aaron Macdonell have been seeded #1 in the playoff round and have earned a bye to the semifinals.

Lauren Rajala & Ryan Ostrowsky (Granite) finished second in their pool, behind Arbuckle-Macdonell, with a 3W-1L record.

Three other teams, two pools, Mikaylah Lyburn – Jordon McDonald (Deer Lodge), Samantha Eagles – Logan Strand (Granite) and Katie Lukowich – Thomas McGillivary (Granite), also all had 3W-1L records. Based on their pre-game last stone draws, Lyburn – McDonald were made #2 seed and also earn a bye to the semi-final.

Four teams finished with 2W-2L records but only one could advance to the six team playoff round, again based on their pre-game last stone draws. The nod went to Lauren Evason – Rylan Campbell (East St. Paul).

The quarterfinal games at 9AM Sunday will feature Eagles – Strand VS Lukowich – McGillivary AND Rajala -Ostrowsky (Granite) VS Evason – Campbell (East St. Paul).

The winners advance to the semifinals at 12:30PM with medal games scheduled for 4PM.

(CurlManitoba Release) CANADA GAMES MIXED DOUBLES TRIALS THIS WEEKEND Thirty of Manitoba’s most accomplished U20 curlers will compete in CurlManitoba’s Canada Games Trials this weekend at the Heather Curling Club.

The 2-person teams competing at Heather will play in three pools of five. Two teams in each pool will advance to a straight knockout playoff with the top two teams earning a bye to the semi-finals.

While very few of the team combinations have competed often in Mixed Doubles competition, many of the individuals playing this weekend have had the opportunity to play Mixed Doubles Tour and other events in the past two years.

The field features several players with proven track records and national competition experience with their four-person teams. These include:

** Zoey Terrick and Cassidy Dundas, who were teammates on the 2022 Manitoba U18 Women’s Champion team. Terrick will partner with Tanner Graham on a Heather team. Dundas will partner with her brother Hunter Dundas, playing out of Neepawa.

** Jordon McDonald and Cameron Olafson, who were teammates on the 2022 Manitoba U18 Men’s Champion team. McDonald also won the 2019 and 2022 U18 Championship and the 2022 U21 Men’s Championship. McDonald will partner with Mikaylah Lyburn on a Deer Lodge team.

** Luke Robins, who was a member of Ryan Ostrowsky’s Manitoba #2 team at the 2022 U18 national championship. He will partner with Rylie Buchalter on a West St. Paul team.

** Katy Lukowich, who skippd Northern Ontario to an overall 7-3 record at the 2022 U21 nationals, including a first place round robin record in her pool. She will partner with Thomas McGillivary on a Granite team.

CurlManitoba’s Canada Games Trials at the Heather will feature draws at 2PM and 6PM, Friday; 10AM, 2PM, and 6PM, Saturday and playoffs on Sunday.

For the first time, Mixed Doubles curling has been included in the Canada Games and this weekend event is designed to identify the final members of Manitoba’s curling contingent. Earlier this month,

Team Dayna Wahl (Altona) and Team Jace Freeman (Virden) earned the opportunity to represent Manitoba in the Women’s and Men’s competitions respectively at the Canada Games in Prince Edward Island in February.

TWO MANITOBANS EARN CURLING CANADA ALL HEART JUNIOR CURLING AWARDS

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Manitobans Logan Strand and Luke Robins, both from West St. Paul Curling Club, are among eight young Canadian curlers who have received Curling Canada’s new ALL HEART JUNIOR CURLING AWARDS.

(Curling Canada Release) Curling Canada will back eight youth-driven philanthropic curling programs supporting intentional engagement and participation with a more diverse demographic of Canadians through its new All Heart Junior Curling Awards program this year. 

The programs, designed and implemented by junior curlers across Canada, are geared to foster greater inclusivity and create authentic community connections through curling.

The two Manitoba 2022-23 All Heart Junior Curling Award recipients are:

Luke Robins – West St. Paul, Man. (West St. Paul Curling Club) – Running on- and off-ice sessions of an introduction to curling program for Ukrainian refugees, including language interpretation as well as familiar music and refreshments

Logan Strand – St, Andrews, Man. (West St. Paul Curling Club) – Conducting an International high-school student group session, followed by opportunities to join the junior curling program free of charge. 

Across Canada, the other Manitoba 2022-23 All Heart Junior Curling Award recipients are:

Jessica Byers of Haliburton, Ont. (Haliburton Curling Club) – Running a post-COVID outreach/re-engagement program to community members, including cottage-living full-time residents; assisting in implementing new league structures, and relaunching the youth program. 

Kaamraan Islam – Kingston, Ont. (Cataraqui Golf and Country Club) – Implementing an adult Learn-to-Curl program for racialized community members, building off the success of the club’s similarly targeted youth programming last season.

Kya Kennedy – Saskatoon (Sutherland Curling Club) – Hosting a World Cup of Curling, a multi-cultural event featuring a learn-to-curl session, a fun spiel and a social banquet with food and decorations for all represented ethnicities of participants. 

Ashleigh McKinnon – Sherwood Park, Alta. (Sherwood Park Curling Club) – Organizing family-friendly Learn-to-Curl sessions  with the Boys & Girls Club of Strathcona County, incorporating on-ice introductory skills sessions and wrapping up with outdoor fun spiel.

Sitaye Penney – Portugal Cove-St. Philip’s, N.L. (REMAX Centre St. John’s Curling Club) – Introducing a program for International students and the Association of New Canadians for a Try Curling group session, followed by the opportunity to join an eight-week Learn-to-Curl program.

Wil Robertson – Fredericton (Capital Winter Club) – Conducting three season-long initiatives: inviting Indigenous leaders and community members to the club for sharing circles; inviting LGBTQS+ leaders and community to the club as a safe space with opportunities for presentations to its members; and a Learn-to-Curl series for underrepresented community members and new Canadians.

Each recipient has designed a program that removes barriers of entry to the sport, allowing chances for non-traditional curlers to truly embrace and try curling while also breaking the mold of the sport’s perception. All award winners have found a way to use their off-ice skills and connections to make meaningful relationships with their communities through curling.

The scope of the programs varies from welcoming racialized and marginalized Canadians into facilities for on-ice programs to using facilities for speaking engagements and gatherings focusing on topics such as LGBTQS+ inclusion and Indigenous cultural awareness, while making the facility a safe space for all members of the community.

At the same time, the new award program offers curling facilities an opportunity to support their young ambassadors who are implementing the programs and help create sustainable change by providing chances to develop the skills of these young curling leaders.

“The enthusiasm and support from the curling facilities are genuine and heartfelt. They’re putting their trust in these young ambassadors to run new and ambitious programs that will make the sport more sustainable, inclusive and overall better for everyone,” said Helen Radford Curling Canada Manager of Youth Curling and NextGen and member of the selection panel. “I’m so excited for the potential of this new program and to provide these opportunities to eight deserving candidates to showcase their leadership and why they are true leaders in curling.

”The All Heart Junior Curling Award program is in its first year. The program is designed to distribute $20,000 annually to deserving junior curlers building the sport in their communities by advancing their personal curling goals and developing new programs focused on building a more diverse and inclusive sport.

Each award winner will receive a $2,500 award, allocated as a $1,000 curling-related personal expense reimbursement and a $1,500 contribution to their curling facility for operational costs related to their program.