The Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame is pleased to announce that the coaches of seven Canadian and World Junior curling champion teams have been added to the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame Honoured Members listing.
The announcement was made September 20/26 at a CurlManitoba’s Coaching Technical Excellence Seminar at the Heather Curling Club.
Speaking on behalf of the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame, Vice-President Carlene Strand, explained that the inclusion of the seven coaches corrects the earlier exclusion of each coach’s significant contribution to the success of their team. “In the early years, when coaching was not acknowledged as a key to success by many in the curling world, we did not include the coach as a team member with seven of our honoured Canadian and World Junior champion teams. We acknowledge now that was an oversight,” she explained. “In recent years, the coaches of our inductee junior teams have automatically been included with the team.”
The junior teams whose coach is now formally recognized as a part of their Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame are:
♦ Braden Calvert 2015 team – Coach Tom Clasper
♦ David Hamblin 2002 team – Coach Lorne Hamblin
♦ Kelly Mackenzie 1995 team – Coach Bill Mackenzie
♦ Hugh McFadyen 1986 team – Coach Don Harvey
♦ Bob Ursel 1985 team – Coach Jim Ursel
♦ Karen Fallis 1981 team – Coach Ina Light
♦ Mert Thompsett 1979 & 1981 teams: Coach Mark Olson
The junior teams whose coach had already been formally recognized as a part of their Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame are:
♦ Matt Dunstone 2013 & 2016 teams – Coaches Cal Edie and Scott Grant
♦ Kaitlyn Lawes 2008 & 2009 teams – Coaches Alex Mowat and Rob Meakin
♦ Jennifer Jones 1994 team – Coach Nancy Malanchuk
♦ Chris Galbraith 1995 team – Coach Arnold Asham
♦ Darcy Kirkness 1984 team – Coach Jim Kirkness
In an acknowledgement of the role played by coaches in developing curlers and helping them to succeed, Strand announced that the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame has established a new COACH category. The first COACH inductees will be introduced at the 2027 Induction event on May 1, 2027 at Winnipeg’s Victoria Inn.
The new recognition of curling coaches is one of several changes being made by the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame as the organization celebrates its 40th Anniversary.
The organization was established in 1987 with a mandate to preserve and inform the public about Manitoba’s curling heritage as well as to honour the teams and individuals who have played major roles in establishing Manitoba’s great curling reputation.
Plans for the 40th Anniversary celebrations are currently being finalized. While specific details will be announced in the near future, the celebrations will include:
♦ Inclusion, for the first time, of CURLER inductees whose success includes both Manitoba championships and major success on behalf of other provinces.
♦ Inclusion for the first time, as noted above, of COACH inductees.
♦ Induction of 40 individuals, in honour of the 40-year anniversary
♦ Change of format for the induction event from a traditional fund-raising dinner to a more relaxed reception with tickets priced at about half of what they have been in the past in order to allow more people to be a part of the celebration.
It is anticipated that complete event details and the 40th Anniversary slate of inductees will be announced before November 30, 2026.
