ISSUE NO. 6 | FEBRUARY 2020

FEATURE

NOCA’S FIRST noca NEWS E XECUTIVE

DIRECTOR TO RETIRE

SCOTTIES

FOLLOW AND CHEER FOR TEAM McCARVILLE FEB. 15 - 23

PLAYDOWNS CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP

FIELD SET

AMETHYST

JACOBS TO VISIT 2020 AMETHYST CAMP

DUSTIN MONTPELLER, REGION 5 CLUB CHAMPION PHOTO CREDIT: BRITT’S PHOTOGRAPHY

@CURLNOCA ON THE WEB @ CURLNOCA.CA

INSIDE THIS ISSUE CONGRATULATIONS LESLIE!

PAGE 3 ➔ WELCOME She was the first person XPLORNET! ENTER TO hired by the newly WIN CONTEST amalgamated board, directly into the role of PAGE 4 ➔ ARTICLE: Executive Director, more MOOSE CALL than 13 years ago.

PAGE 5 ➔ RONNEBECK: Leslie's attention to detail,

PREP4PERFORMANCE while keeping the broader COACHING SYMPOSIUM picture in mind, has been invaluable. Her dedication to PAGE 6 ➔ POSTER: PREP4PERFORMANCE put in extra time and COACHING SYMPOSIUM recognition that the required hours of work to support our PAGE 7 ➔ LONGLAC clubs go beyond a typical MOOSECALAC JUNIOR workday schedule has demonstrated not only her BONSPIEL NOCA Executive Director commitment to excellence Leslie Kerr (right) presenting + CLUB but also her passion for our an award to legendary Ice CHAMPIONSHIPS SET Clubs, volunteers, curlers, Technician Lloyd Stansell PAGE 8 ➔ CLUB and the sport.” --- BONPSIELS --- At the conclusion of the 24th PAGE 9 ➔ MARK YOUR Kathy Henderson annual Amethyst Junior CALENDARS FOR Chief Executive Officer Camp this July AMETHYST 2020 NOCA Executive Director PAGE 12 ➔ POSTER: Leslie Kerr will retire from "Leslie often jokes about what she considers to have CURLING DAY IN CANADA being the ‘oldest’ of the been a challenging but Executive Directors but far PAGE 13 ➔ NOCA rewarding job. from that image, Leslie AWARDS comes to the Curling Here’s what some of the Canada table with fresh + CONGRATS people that have worked thinking and lots of energy. BONOT/WON BRIAND with Leslie have to say about She has been generous with her contributions to the + BOARD ELECTIONS her time and experience game: with anyone who joins the PAGE 14 ➔ DOWNLOAD Michael Szajewski community of the COMPETITION SCHEDULE President Operations Advisory + U18 REGION WINNERS NOCA Committee for Curling Canada. Leslie has capably DECIDED “It is with personal regret served on the executive of but warm wishes that I PAGE 15 ➔ HOST SITE the committee and has been announce the retirement of ANNOUNCED FOR THE a valued and contributing NOCA’s Executive Director 2021 MEN’S AND member of many of our Leslie Kerr, effective July SCOTTIES PROVINCIAL study groups that work on 10th, 2020. Leslie's topics of grassroots retirement marks the end of AND MORE! development, administrative an era for the Northern improvements, wheelchair Ontario Curling Association. curling recruitment and She was the first person competition and is strong in hired by the newly identifying curling member competition and is strong in 5:30 in the morning. I don’t stock the refrigerator with identifying curling member think she sleeps! I always fruit, veggies, cheese and needs. Her wit and wisdom joked with her that I was her assorted beverages. Maybe will be missed but we are personal assistant. I came that is why her room was confident that Leslie has left to dread those 4 words…”I always the people magnet."

NOCA in the type of shape need a letter”. If there was a --- that we can continue to way I could help lessen her build on the successes that load, I gladly did it. She was NOCA President Michael she has created. Best of always well prepared for Szajewski says that over the luck in your retirement from anything that needed last several months the everyone at Curling handling. Board has been working on Canada.” a succession plan to ensure We attended Curling a seamless transition in --- Congresses every year and their leadership group. In this is where I saw how well Marion Clark mid-February the NOCA will respected and liked she was Past President be advertising for a new in curling circles. In fact, NOCA Executive Director to begin you could say that she was work in early May. "Leslie is the hardest worker part of the inner circle. that I know. There is no 9-5 People came to her for ideas Szajewski wants to once in her vocabulary, and and opinions and simply to again congratulate Leslie

‘weekend’ is a fond memory spend time with her as she and wish her and her during the curling season. has a wonderful sense of husband Pete all the best in She is known to respond to humour. One of the first their new adventure. your late-night emails at things she did for us was

Welcome and thank you to our newest sponsor Xplornet Communications Inc. Canada’s largest rural broadband provider has thrown their support behind Northern Ontario’s U18 Curling program and we invite our members to check out their services at this link.

CONTEST: Fill out this form before the end of the season and be entered into draws for a Fear the Moose jersey, Fear the Moose hat, and 2x $25 gift cards from Sport Check. CALL OF THE WILD A TRADEMARK FOR NORTHERN ONTARIO

CURLING FANS

CBC News Posted: Nov 09, 2018 4PM

It's not what you would call a pleasant sound.

But for northern Ontario curling fans, nothing The noise-makers are extremely easy to make, and the sound is made by delights the ears more than coating the shoelace in resin, then pinching it and sliding the finger and a chorus of loud, guttural, thumb along the lace. (Amy Hadley/CBC) grunting moose calls echoing from the stands, Sampson and some friends Ontario, hunting, moose, signalling success for the made a batch of the noise- you know, it seems like this home team. makers to cheer on Thunder is an easy thing [to be] recognizable." The moose call is a northern Bay curler Krista McCarville and her rink. Ontario curling tradition. "And whenever anybody's Fans are known for coming While she's not sure of the supporting ... they know to games with the origin of the tradition, she what they have to bring in handmade noise-makers, said the connotations make order to make sure that made from coffee-cans and sense. they're recognized that shoelaces, that, despite they're here to show their their simplicity, emit a "I'm just assuming northern support" for northern surprisingly powerful sound. Ontario.

"I've never heard a moose before, but supposedly this is what a moose sounds like," said curling fan Tricia

Sampson, who's volunteering this week at the Pinty's Grand Slam Tour Challenge stop in Thunder Bay, Ont.

The noise, she admits, is somewhat "annoying."

But, "after a great shot, it's the greatest sound in the whole entire world."

Curling fan Tricia Sampson shows us how to use a home-made, moose call In preparation for the event, noise maker. 0:44

EVENT HOSTING & BIDDING

 Bid packages will be  In the unlikely event that a BIDDING NOW treated with confidentiality site visit is required,Curling Canada will be responsible FOR and as a ‘closed’ process, CURLING given the multitude of for all related expenses.

CANADA’S 2021- stakeholders and diverse  Curling Canada reserves interests which may be the right to disseminate 22 EVENTS represented. further information to all

candidates throughout the  Curling Canada reserves bid process. Why not bring the the right not to accept any of and/or all of the bids at excitement of a major event ------to your community? There its sole and unfettered For More Information: are incredible economic and discretion. promotional benefits to be  While Curling Canada is DANNY LAMOUREUX realized, not to mention it’s seeking the best possible Director, Championship Services just plain fun. bid for this prestigious Curling Canada event, it is not obligated to Before proceeding to the bid [email protected] process, please read the accept the highest bid. Phone: 613-878-3682 requirements for hosting  As above, bids must be in

Curling Canada events by the form of written clicking on this link. presentation only.

Scott Pfeifer, 4 time Participants will be able to Canadian Champion and 3 customize their weekend and time World Champion will choose the topics most be the keynote speaker on relevant to them. Saturday. Scott will also be There will be a Vendor’s presenting on Mixed market so participants can Doubles and Brushing. access the latest in curling Other presenters include equipment and technology. Renee Sonnenberg, Team There are two options for Leader at the 2018 participation: Olympics, Helen Radford, RONNEBECK: Coach of the Canadian 1) The full weekend which Prep4Performance Youth Olympic Team, Mick includes a meet and greet event on Friday evening, Lizmore, High Coaching Symposium sessions all day Saturday, the Performance Consultant vendor’s market, dinner and Calling all coaches, with Curling Canada, Wendy Morgan, National entertainment on Saturday instructors, athletes with Wheelchair Team Leader, evening and more sessions on disabilities and athletes!! Sunday morning. Breakfasts Dr. Joe Baker, specialist in Save the weekend of Friday, are provided if you choose to skill acquisition, Bryan May 29 through Sunday, stay at the Briar’s Resort and Cochrane, World Champion May 31 for a fantastic all other meals and nutrition Skip and many others will learning experience at the breaks are included. The cost Briar’s Resort on beautiful be sharing what they know. for the full weekend is $299

Lake Simcoe. In addition to the latest on plus HST if you take advantage of the Early Bird The Ontario Curling Council delivery and brushing technical skills, other topics offer and register by April 1. with support from Curling After April 1, the cost is $349 Canada is hosting a will include: plus HST. coaching symposium to  wheelchair athlete 2) The one-day option, bring together coaches, development Saturday, includes the instructors and athletes who  mixed doubles vendor’s market, all daytime are interested in learning  skill acquisition about a variety of topics sessions, nutrition breaks and  membership recruitment, lunch for $199 + HST. related to all stages of the Adult Learn to Curl and Long-Term Curler diversity Entertainment on Saturday Development Model. evening will be Jamie  preparing to perform Whether you coach  teaching the stick delivery Williams and his incredible recreational curling, teach  youth feeder programs 21-piece one-man band!!! Little Rockers and youth, are and the Long-Term Curling Check out Jamie’s Facebook an Adult Learn to Curl Development Model page to see one of his high energy entertaining Instructor, an instructor at  strategy with a twist performances. the club level, a competitive  developing consistent or high performance coach draw weight Click here for more info. or an athlete, there will be  skill analysis and drills ------something of interest for  developing a mental you. training program for U21 Submitted by: athletes Some of the best curling ANDREA RONNEBECK  analytics and how to experts in Canada will be Education Manager – North gather and use them sharing their experience and [email protected]  Safe Sport knowledge with participants. Phone: 807-466-8351

Scott Pfeifer, 4 time Canadian Champion and 3

LONGLAC MOOSECALAC JUNIOR BONSPIEL

How do you get 90 plus young people to be quiet?

The Longlac Curling Club has been hosting a youth Bonspiel for over 25 years. A number of years back we tied it into Moosecalac, our local winter carnival on Family day weekend. The Bonspiel can take up to 24 teams. The last number of years we have been consistently over 22 teams, which means the first draw is happy young ones. A bottle drive at 7:00 am(Want to see a sheet, usually one at each end. is conducted the day after Labour bunch of tired parents!). The Some years we could have 6- 8 day to support the purchase of teams of kids who have never youth play three end games in prizes. Being a small town people curled before, so a crash course a three event format. Curling know each year we are coming in the basics. This year we had finishes at 5:15, with a pizza and either stock up on 23 teams of enthusiastic young supper and everyone gets a bottles/cans or have a donation ones. prize. In the 45 minutes from for the crew collecting. 5:15 to 6:00 we feed all the ------teams and get the prizes out, To make this work (think 96 kids) they know what is coming and we have a group of people taking Submitted by: make sure it happens quick! registration, a dedicated person JAMIE MCPHERSON Over the years it was figured marshalling the kids for games, Longlac Curling Club out that purchasing 96 prizes and then an army of people on of similar value makes a lot of the ice, minimum one adult per

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIPS SET

Congratulations to the teams that have qualified for the 2020 Northern Ontario Club Championship March 26-29 at the Community First Curling Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

Men: Montpellier, Greenstone Dental, Weiss, J. Szajewski, Chandler, Laitar

Women: Hoppe, Wojtowicz, Graves

CLUB BONSPIELS

MARK YOUR

CALENDARS FOR AMETHYST 2020

The 2020 Amethyst Camp is open for registrations! We are only accepting 64 campers so don’t delay if you or someone you know is interested in attending this fantastic summer curling camp. Mark your calendars for Sunday June 28th – Thursday July 3rd. Canadian Champion, Olympic Gold Medalist, and skip of the number one The 2020 Amethyst Junior team in the world, Brad Jacobs to appear at 2020 Amethyst Camp. Curling Camp will be held in North Bay – for the third camps across Canada and Meals: year. All curling will take overseas. The combined Breakfast, Lunch, Supper, place at the North Bay experience of our coaches and 2 snacks are provided Granite Curling Club, and includes coaching and/or daily. There will be a pizza campers will stay at competing at a provincial, party Sunday evening, as Canadore College residence. national and international well as Wednesday after the level. Check out all of their Special Guest: Great Shootout. bios at amethystcurling.com Brad Jacobs, skip of Team Non-Curling Activities: Accommodation: Jacobs and 2014 Olympic Events are planned daily to Gold winner, will be at the Canadore College Residence allow the campers to have camp June 29-30 as a – rooms are air-conditioned some fun away from the special presenter. He will mini suites, with 2 club. This year we are address the campers, and bedrooms (each with a planning some great social work with all of the groups. double bed), a bathroom, activities. and a kitchenette (campers Learning Topics: are not allowed to cook but Registration Fee:

Technical skills, strategy may keep extra food, snacks The fee for the camp is and Tactics, Team and drinks in the fridge). $1010 (HST included) which Dynamics, Nutrition and Campers request their covers all meals, Fitness, Delivery Analysis, roommate and every effort accommodation, activities, Sweeping, Goal Setting, is made to ensure their awards, and a camp t-shirt. Practice Planning, and request is met. Payment can be made by more. Each group also has While the experience of cheque or e-transfer. an offsite physical education staying with the rest of the Contact session daily. campers in the residence is [email protected] for Instructors: preferred, we will offer the e-transfer instructions. option of participating in all We have some of the best camp events, but not Check out the Amethyst instructors in Ontario at this staying on campus this year. website and Facebook page camp, many of whom have in the coming days and instructed at summer weeks for more information. camps across Canada and overseas. The combined experience of our coaches

NOCA AWARDS

Don’t’ forget to nominate someone from your club for an award they deserve!

The Northern Ontario Curling Association Board of Directors is pleased to announce the

NOCA Annual Awards program. Awards will be given in five categories: NOCA Volunteer Awards (3), NOCA Club Recognition Award (1), NOCA Ice Technician (1), NOCA Honorary Membership (unlimited), and NOCA Coach Awards (2).

Please take a moment to nominate a deserving person and this is one way to recognize The deadline for nominations is from your club. Volunteers are their contributions to your club February 28th annually. More the unsung heroes of curling and the sport of curling. information can be found at curlnoca.ca/programs/awards

CONGRATULATIONS to the Port Arthur Curling Club’s Oye-Sem Won Briand (left) and Trevor Bonot (right) on winning the 2020 Northern Ontario Mixed Doubles Championship. The pair will wear green and gold at the 2020 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship March 17-22 in Portage La Prairie, MB.

Thank you to the Keewatin Curling Club for being such great hosts.

ELECTIONS

The NOCA Board will be seeking nominations for the following positions: Region 4 Director, Region 3 Director, Director at Large. Region Directors are elected at the Region Spring meetings, and the Director at

Large will be selected by the Board of Directors based on the applications received. The elections will be open for nominations on March 1, 2020. More information is available at curlnoca.ca (click link).

CLICK ON SCHEDULE TO DOWNLOAD PDF

EVENT DEADLINE BrokerLink Mixed Provincials March 13th

Note: all registrations close at NOON on the deadline date.

U18 REGION WINNERS DECIDED

Congratulations to the following teams that have advanced to the 2020 Northern Ontario U18 Provincial Curling Championships March 4-8 at the Community First Curling Centre.

Region 1 & 2

• Boys: Team Burgess (Kakabeka Falls) • Girls: Malette (Thunder Bay) & Payne (Fort Frances)

Region 4

• Boys: Team MacMichael (Sault Ste. Marie) • Girls: Team Smith (Blind River)

Region 5

• Boys: Team Hong (North Bay) • Girls: Team Croisier (Idylwylde)

Region 6

• Boys: Team Duizer (Timmins) & Precision Auto (New Liskeard) • Girls: Marshall’s Pharmasave (Englehart)

Qualifiers

• East Boys: Branconnier & Rajala (Idylwylde) • West Boys: Riches (Fort Frances)

Three girls’ teams in total will advance from east (2) and west (1) qualifying events February 21-23. HOST SITE ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2021 MEN’S AND SCOTTIES PROVINCIAL

The Northern Ontario Curling Association is pleased to announce that Curling Kenora has been awarded the 2021 Men’s and Scotties Provincial Championship. The event will take place January 26- Curling Kenora, a partnership between the Northwestern Ontario City’s Curling Clubs,

31, 2021, at the Kenora announces a successful bid to host the 2021 Brier and Scotties qualifier. Recreation Centre.

“The Host Bid Committee awarded this event to Stasiuk, Presidents of the Kenora and Keewatin Curling Kenora after careful two curling clubs, comment Curling Clubs to bring the evaluation of all bids “The Keewatin and Kenora 2021 NOCA Men’s and received” states Karen Curling Clubs are thrilled to Scotties Provincial Saarimaki, NOCA be working with the Curling Championships to Kenora” Competitions and Host Bid Kenora Committee in states Josh Nelson, Tourism Committee Chair. “We are bringing the Northern & Recreation Division Lead, confident that Curling Ontario Curling Association City of Kenora. “This event Kenora will provide an Provincial Championships will have a positive excellent event building on back to the City of Kenora.” economic impact on our the success of the 2015 community and help us Travelers Men’s Provincial Szajewski notes “The expand our winter and sport Championship hosted by the inclusion of the Scotties tourism product.” event is an exciting addition Keewatin Curling Club at the Kenora Recreation Centre.” to the Championship that For more information, will increase the prestige contact: Curling Kenora is a joint and entertainment value of steering committee which the competition. We can’t Leslie Kerr partners the Keewatin and NOCA Executive Director wait to reintroduce the best Kenora Curling Clubs, and curlers in Northern Ontario 807-598-0051 the City of Kenora (Lake of to our great city and are [email protected] the Woods Development delighted to be a part of Joshua Szajewski Commission). The three sending Team Northern President, Keewatin CC organizations have a Ontario to the 2021 Scotties (807) 464-0148 detailed plan for this Tournament of Hearts and joshua.szajewski@keewatinc championship with a goal of .” urlingclub.com hosting more curling events, provincial or national, in “The Lake of the Woods Tracy Stasiuk future years. Development Commission is President, Kenora CC very excited to be 807-464-3764 Josh Szajewski and Tracy collaborating with both the

Kenora

and Keewatin Curling Clubs

FOLLOWFOLLOW && CHEER CHEER FOR FOR TEAM TEAM BONOT MCCARVILLE NOV. 4-10 CURLING.CA/2020SCOTTIES | #STOH2020 | #FEARTHEMOOSE

FOLLOWFOLLOW & CHEER & CHEER FOR FORTEAM TEAM BONOT JACOBS NOV. 4-10 CURLING.CA/2020BRIER | #BRIER2020 | #FEARTHEMOOSE

TO OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS

The Northern Ontario Curling Association’s Newsletter “NOCA News” is published once a month. Please email your stories, photos and news items to [email protected] by the first of any month.

Click the mailbox on the right to celebrate Curling in Northern Ontario and subscribe to our new monthly newsletter.

Click “Submit Your Event” on the left to share your bonspiel details with us and have them appear on our web calendar at curlnoca.ca/calendar in addition to posted on Facebook and Twitter.

Northern Ontario Curling Association Phone: 807-598-0051 P.O. Box 940 Fax: 888-622-8884 Atikokan, ON P0T 1C0 Email: [email protected]