Young curlers with aspirations both on and off the ice can now apply for Curling Canada’s For the Love of Curling scholarship program to help make those dreams come true.

PEI’s Lauren Ferguson was one of last year’s recipients.

2020 For the Love of Curling Scholarship recipients

Top row, from left: Catherine Clifford, Gabriel Dyck, Lauren Ferguson, Abby Marks, Jaedon Neuert. Bottom row, from left: Dylan Niepage, Lauren Rajala, Jamie Scott, Taylour Stevens, Nathan Young.

The program will award 11 scholarships, an increase from the usual 10, of $2,500 each to student curling athletes in Canada who best demonstrate athletic and academic prowess, along with community leadership and volunteerism.

Ten players at the 2020 New Holland Canadian Juniors were past recipients of the For the Love of Curling Scholarship. From left, Ryan McNeil Lamswood, Desmond Young, PEI’s Lauren Lenentine, Paige Papley, Karlee Burgess, Lindsay Dubue, Kira Brunton, Emily Zacharias, Mackenzie Zacharias, Ryan Jacques. (Photo, Curling Canada/Michael Burns)

“What’s most fulfilling about awarding For the Love of Curling scholarships is seeing how over the years these recipients grow as competitors on the ice and as contributors in our society. It is incredible to see how far the recipients of this scholarship have progressed in their lives,” said Curling Canada Board of Governors Chair and member of the scholarship selection committee Mitch Minken. “We also look forward to seeing what this year’s 11 scholars will accomplish in the future.” 

The selection committee will emphasize athletes who have competed at the provincial/territorial level or higher, who have maintained a good level of academic standing while showing a solid commitment to their community through involvement in leadership volunteer activities. Athletes must be under 24 years old as of Dec. 31, 2021, and have not previously received the scholarship.

Applicants will write a personal essay that reflects on how being a curling athlete, and a member of their curling community has shaped who they are today; and how those experiences, connections and shared values continue to inspire their continued curling journey both on and off the ice. 

Ten scholarships have been funded and awarded to young curlers through Curling Canada’s philanthropic programs and initiatives in previous years. This year, the Governor General’s Curling Club —an honourary society under the patronage of the Governor General of Canada since 1874 — presents an 11th $2,500 scholarship, financially supported by donations from its membership.

“The Governor General’s Curling Club has, as its membership, those who have served our sport with accomplishment and distinction locally, provincially and nationally,” said Governor General’s Curling Club President Mrs. Pat B. Reid. “Just as our efforts have helped our sport grow over an extended time, equally the sport of Curling has profoundly enriched the lives of our members. It is thus our Members’ pleasure and privilege to sponsor a curling scholarship for a young talented, aspiring student-athlete, to support the development of his/her educational and curling goals and to promote the next generation of leadership for our sport.”

A seven-person selection panel will determine the 11 scholarship recipients. The panel includes Minken, Curling Canada CEO Katherine Henderson, previous scholars Karsten Sturmay, Mackenzie Zacharias and Nathan Young, high-performance athlete and owner of Dynasty Curling Colin Hodgson and Olympian and six-time Scotties champion Jill Officer.

This season, 13 previous For the Love of Curling scholarship recipients competed at Calgary in the hub city bubble during the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Tim Hortons Brier and Home Hardware Canadian Mixed Doubles Championship.

The application process runs from May 1 to June 30, 2021. Curling Canada will announce the recipients in August 2021.

For more information, or to apply, visit: www.curling.ca/scholarship2021 

Click to read this story at Curling Canada

Congratulations to our six student-curlers and thank you to all who submitted applications this year! These six will also host fundraisers in their communities to help babies born too soon, too small or too sick.

The Spirit of Sandra Junior Curling Scholarship is intended for student- athletes who participate in competitive curling at the junior level while pursuing post-secondary education.

The purpose of these $5000 scholarships is to give talented junior curlers the opportunity to successfully combine their competitive curling pursuits with their academic studies in a Canadian University or College setting. Applicants must be eligible to compete as a junior curler.

(Sandra Schmirler Foundation)

Notice of Special General Meeting

June 23, 2021 at 6 pm

Location: Silver Fox Entertainment Complex

Due to COVID-19 restrictions there will be a limited number of people allowed to attend the meeting, please RSVP to Amy Duncan at [email protected] by June 18, 2021.

The purpose of the Special General Meeting is to: 

1. Present amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws.  In the spring of 2020 Curl PEI contracted MRSB to complete a review and assist with updating the constitution and bylaws of the organization.  There was a committee struck to work with MRSB through the process.  Attached are the constitution and bylaws as proposed.

While there are many amendments most are housekeeping, i.e. moving sections, cleaning grammar, wording, etc.

There are two aspects to note:

1. Classification of Members – redefined to align with how we operate.
2. Virtual Meetings – while our bylaws did not suggest virtual meetings could not be held, this information provides clarity.
3. Present the changes to the Curl PEI Provincial Championships – Rules of Play.  Below are the proposed additions and amendments.  The additions and amendments have come as recommendations from the Survey Review Committee that was tasked with exploring the results of the survey sent to Curl PEI curlers and member clubs in the spring of 2020.   Attached is a copy of the committee’s report.

• Proposed Resolution 1:

Be it Resolved that all weekend events should be scheduled to end on a Sunday, starting when required which will be determined by the number of teams entered, host facility capacity and format of the event.

• Proposed Resolution 2:

Be it Resolved entry deadlines for the following events be the Friday, 6 weeks prior to the respective start dates: U18, Juniors, Women’s, Men’s, Mixed Doubles, Mixed, Club Championships, and Seniors.  Entry deadlines for the following events will be 3 week prior to the respective, approximate, start dates: U13, U16, Masters, and Stick.  Entry deadlines for new events will be determined when created.

• Proposed Resolution 3:

Be it Resolved #2 in the Curl PEI Provincial Championships – Rules of Play be changed from “All competitors must be affiliated with Curl PEI and adhere to Curling Canada’s Residency eligibility rules.” to “All competitors must be affiliated with Curl PEI and adhere to Curling Canada’s Residency eligibility rules with the following exception: for events in which free agents and birthright status curlers may be included on the roster, teams are only permitted to have up to half the players be non-residents (i.e. 2 players on a 4-person team, 1 player on a 2-person team).”

Amy Duncan

Executive Director, Curl PEI

Tel: 902-368-4208

Suite 203

40 Enman Crescent

Charlottetown PE C1E 1E6

Link to Proposed Bylaw Amendments (PDF Format): https://peicurling.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Curl-PEI-Constitution-Bylaws_Presented-to-SGM-June-23.pdf

Link to Survey Review Committee Final Report – with Executive Summary (PDF Format):

https://peicurling.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Survey-Review-Committee-Final-Report-with-Executive-Summary.pdf

The Community Outreach Centre will move to its new home at 241 Euston Street in Charlottetown tomorrow. 

Brad Trivers, Minister of Social Development and Housing with Donna Keenan, Reaching Home Coordinator for the John Howard Society

The centre will continue to be open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and offer support to people seeking financial assistance, counselling, employment, food and housing. Islanders can also access washrooms, laundry facilities, telephone and computers as well as connections to community and government organizations and services. 

“We are delighted to have a new location for the Community Outreach Centre that offers more indoor and outdoor space. The centre is a vital hub for Islanders in need and it will have space for staff and community partners under one roof to provide people with critical social services and supports.”

– Social Development and Housing Minister Brad Trivers

“The new location for the Community Outreach Centre will provide clients with better access to the services they need,” says Councillor Mike Duffy, Chair of Planning and Heritage. “As chair of the Planning and Heritage committee, I look forward to seeing the centre operating in a larger, safer venue to support the growing city population.”

Oversight of the centre is provided by a working group that includes Blooming House; Canadian Mental Health Association; City of Charlottetown – Police Services; Community Information Legal Association;  Department of Social Development and Housing; Health PEI Mental Health and Addictions; John Howard Society; Mi’kmaq Confederacy of Prince Edward Island; Native Council of Prince Edward Island; PEERS Alliance; PEI Council of People with Disabilities; Salvation Army; The Adventure Group, and the Upper Room Food Bank. 

“This is a really positive step in the right direction for the Community Outreach Centre,” says Donna Keenan, Reaching Home Coordinator at the John Howard Society and member of the working group. “The move not only provides additional space for clients, partners and staff, but also opens the door for the expansion of services, down the road.” 

The centre opened as a pilot January 15, 2020 at 211 Euston Street, moved to Birchwood School in March 2020 for several months due to Covid-19, then moved to Smith Lodge at 35 Weymouth Street where it is currently located. Smith Lodge will continue to operate as a transitional housing complex for people in need of that service after the centre moves to its new location. 

Click to read this news release at the PEI Government website.

If you’re familiar with curling in Canada’s Maritime Provinces, you’ve probably heard the name Andrew Paris before.

And if you haven’t? You certainly will soon. Paris is a rising leader in the sport of curling; not always for his feats on the ice, but for his work in the community that extends well beyond his home province of Nova Scotia . Paris is a self-described husband and father of two who has always had a passion for curling and the recreation sector. 

Andrew has been curling for almost 25 years and threw his first rocks in his original hometown of Summerside, Prince Edward Island at the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club. 

Through his passion for the sport, Paris has translated his skills into roles at the Dartmouth Curling Club (2013-2017) as the Junior Program Director and Technical Director and Provincial Coach for Nova Scotia Curling (2017-2020).

Andrew Paris (left) works one on one with a student

“Curling has always been part of life,” said Paris. “My mother would tell me stories of how I would roll soup cans at a target on the floor as a toddler. I began curling at the age of eight and have been curling ever since (25+ years) minus a couple of years I took off to focus on college.”

And through his lifelong devotion to curling, Paris has earned another substantial accolade.

Paris has been selected to be part of the Canadian Olympic Committee’s 2021 Emerging Leader Development program.

The program’s goal is to enhance the governance of National Sport Organizations and strengthen the talent and leadership of those who identify as Black, Indigenous or a Person of Colour (BIPOC) by building bench strength to reinforce the pipeline of talent in each respective NSO’s system. Understanding that systemic racism and prejudice exists in Canada for Women, the 2SLGBTQ+ community and Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) as they are frequently faced with overt acts of racism and aggression. Through the program, the COC is acknowledging its role in the system and its own failures and our responsibility to take action to end racism. The program allows the Canadian Olympic Committee to engage in activities to support action to end racism and create a safer and more inclusive sport environment, through advocacy, empowerment and education. 

An instructional session with Andrew Paris and keen students – Photo courtesy of Andrew Paris
 

Many NSOs face challenges with funding, capacity and resources, and with staff development being a low priority which can result in higher staff turnover. Through the 2021 Emerging Leader Development program, the COC seeks to provide support to NSOs in this space; to provide professional development, while increasing the diversity in sport leadership in Canada. 

While remaining aligned with the aforementioned goals, the core of the program itself consists of learn-from-a-leader gatherings, peer-to-peer learning, mentoring, professional development opportunities, assessment and learning objectives and other monthly communications with members of the program.

Paris is relishing the opportunity to participate in the program as it is another stepping stone in his goal to make curling a more inclusive sport.

“I’m so thankful for this opportunity,” said an elated Paris. “I’ve spent years trying to make our sport more diverse and it’s an honour to be recognized for that work by being selected to take part in the program. I’m looking forward to not only learning from a fantastic organization in the Canadian Olympic Committee but also sharing stories and learning from other BIPOC individuals working in the sport sector.”

Participation in the 2021 Emerging Leader Development program is only a small portion of Paris’ contribution to curling for BIPOC communities. Most recently, Paris has founded a not for profit called the Black Rock Initiative. The goal of the work is to introduce BIPOC youth to curling while also providing curling clubs with the support and tools necessary to be a welcoming and diverse resource to their entire community. 

Paris has also partnered with Goldline Curling to create a curling broom called The Desmond as part of Goldline’s UnitedWeCurl initiative. 

“The Desmond was designed to tell the story of the Black community in Canada and create a conversation in Curling clubs that will lead to changing the face of our great sport,” said Paris.

Ever selfless, Paris remains focused on benefiting the sport of curling overall through every aspect of his community work. 

“My hope is that the sport of curling will benefit far more from my participation in the 2021 Emerging Leader Development program than I will,” said Paris. “That’s why I’m so pumped to take part in the program. I believe that most curlers in this country want to see our sport become more diverse. I truly believe that my participation in this program along with the work that has already started and is yet to come at the Black Rock Initiative and Curling Canada will eventually lead to creating more opportunities for the BIPOC community in our great sport.”

As Paris remains a leader for BIPOC communities in sport, he reflects upon the importance of his work and the impact his contributions have made on his family, his community and the sport of curling as a whole.

“I’m so proud to have played a part in introducing curling to hundreds of youth and adults over the years, including my own wife and kids,” said Paris. “I really enjoy watching how they’ve progressed along from where they started. I’m also proud and honoured to have played a small part in the development of the high-performance junior curlers who’ve come out of this province over the last few years. Regardless of their successes, to watch how they’ve grown into great young ladies and men has been an amazing experience.”

In a sport that has been missing BIPOC representation for many decades, Paris is a pioneer in curling. His work remains an important aspect of the sport’s maturation process as we, as a community, strive to catch up to Canada’s ever-evolving demographics. Ultimately, promoting the voices of BIPOC curlers will allow curling to be a more viable sport option for every Canadian. And with much work still left to do, curling’s community can continue to look to leaders like Andrew Paris to guide our path in growing the sport for all Canadians.

Click to read at Curling Canada

Notice of Special General Meeting

June 23, 2021 at 6 pm

Location: Silver Fox Entertainment Complex

Due to COVID-19 restrictions there will be a limited number of people allowed to attend the meeting, please RSVP to Amy Duncan at [email protected] by June 18, 2021.

The purpose of the Special General Meeting is to: 

1. Present amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws.  In the spring of 2020 Curl PEI contracted MRSB to complete a review and assist with updating the constitution and bylaws of the organization.  There was a committee struck to work with MRSB through the process.  Attached are the constitution and bylaws as proposed.

While there are many amendments most are housekeeping, i.e. moving sections, cleaning grammar, wording, etc.

There are two aspects to note:

1. Classification of Members – redefined to align with how we operate.
2. Virtual Meetings – while our bylaws did not suggest virtual meetings could not be held, this information provides clarity.
3. Present the changes to the Curl PEI Provincial Championships – Rules of Play.  Below are the proposed additions and amendments.  The additions and amendments have come as recommendations from the Survey Review Committee that was tasked with exploring the results of the survey sent to Curl PEI curlers and member clubs in the spring of 2020.   Attached is a copy of the committee’s report.

• Proposed Resolution 1:

Be it Resolved that all weekend events should be scheduled to end on a Sunday, starting when required which will be determined by the number of teams entered, host facility capacity and format of the event.

• Proposed Resolution 2:

Be it Resolved entry deadlines for the following events be the Friday, 6 weeks prior to the respective start dates: U18, Juniors, Women’s, Men’s, Mixed Doubles, Mixed, Club Championships, and Seniors.  Entry deadlines for the following events will be 3 week prior to the respective, approximate, start dates: U13, U16, Masters, and Stick.  Entry deadlines for new events will be determined when created.

• Proposed Resolution 3:

Be it Resolved #2 in the Curl PEI Provincial Championships – Rules of Play be changed from “All competitors must be affiliated with Curl PEI and adhere to Curling Canada’s Residency eligibility rules.” to “All competitors must be affiliated with Curl PEI and adhere to Curling Canada’s Residency eligibility rules with the following exception: for events in which free agents and birthright status curlers may be included on the roster, teams are only permitted to have up to half the players be non-residents (i.e. 2 players on a 4-person team, 1 player on a 2-person team).”

Amy Duncan

Executive Director, Curl PEI

Tel: 902-368-4208

Suite 203

40 Enman Crescent

Charlottetown PE C1E 1E6

Link to Proposed Bylaw Amendments (PDF Format): https://peicurling.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Curl-PEI-Constitution-Bylaws_Presented-to-SGM-June-23.pdf

Link to Survey Review Committee Final Report – with Executive Summary (PDF Format):

https://peicurling.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Survey-Review-Committee-Final-Report-with-Executive-Summary.pdf