2017 ANNUAL REPORT mission To encourage and facilitate message the growth and development of curling in co-operation FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER with our network of affiliates. OUR SUCCESSES IN 2016-17 AND THE EXCITEMENT Other podium results include Bryan Cochrane excellence. I learn from each of them constantly and ahead of us in the 2017-18 Olympic and Paralympic winning silver at the world senior men’s am grateful for what they bring to work every day. season offer reminders of what a privilege it is to serve championship and Kristen Streifel taking bronze It was a year of transition as three longtime national as Curling Canada’s chief executive officer. at the world junior women’s championship in staff members announced their departures — our And as I put pen to paper for this message, I do PyeongChang, South Korea. chief operating officer, Pat Ray, director of information vision so with a sense of confidence and optimism that our services and technology Glenn Van Gulik and In the year 2014 and beyond, organization is on solid footing — not just for the Season Of Champions comptroller Karen Wan. curling in Canada — from present but also that it’s in a wonderful position to Thanks to the continued hard work of our event staff All three were passionate in their devotion to our sport, make gains in all areas of our operations going forward. and our national staff, our Season of Champions events worked tirelessly for its improvement and will be missed. the grassroots to the We saw multiple benefits this year of collaboration. enjoyed a banner year, on and off the ice. We have since welcomed some key staff members highest levels of competitive For instance, our member associations worked But as always, there’s a desire to make them even who will take up the torch in their absence — Bill extremely hard with Curling Canada on a successful better, which is why our event model review team — Merklinger, executive director of corporate services; play — will be strong and campaign to convince this country’s major cable it includes our staff, board, member staff and boards director of information services and technology Justin vibrant. Curling clubs and television providers that their increased fees would — put in so many hours of hard work, assessing Perry; foundation manager Brodie Bazinet; financial hurt this country’s curling centres. We spoke with one those events from top to bottom, looking for not only services co-ordinator Casey Ohman and comptroller associations in Canada voice and they listened to our concerns. It showed efficiencies and best practices but also for ways to Stephanie Carbonette. will offer a wide variety of yet again that when we are all pulling in the same make them more appealing to the ticket-buying public. I have also enjoyed working with members of our direction, amazing things will happen. The results of their hard work will start to be unveiled board of governors under the leadership of chair Peter participation opportunities Here are some highlights from last season: during the 2017-18 season, and I’m confident you will Inch and thank them very much for their partnership in for all residents of their like what you see. serving our sport. communities. Opportunities International Events Also, we had some great news announced shortly For the first time since 2008, Canada’s men’s and after the 2016-17 season ended: New Holland has The Year Ahead to participate will reflect women’s teams — skipped by Brad Gushue and taken over the title sponsorship of the Canadian Junior We have so much to look forward to during the next the changing needs of Rachel Homan — won gold at their respective world Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships. 12 months, not the least of which will be cheering championships. These victories leave Canada as the for Canada’s teams at the Olympic Winter Games and the cultural mosaic and simultaneous holder of the world and Olympic men’s Youth Feeder Program Winter Paralympics in PyeongChang. lifestyles of Canadians, and women’s titles — a feat never before accomplished. It has long been a priority to establish national Additionally, we are looking to make more progress Canada’s Kelsey Rocque also won gold at the championships for younger curlers and that dream on our long-awaited — and much-needed — member and allow for a healthy Winter Universiade in Kazakhstan, as did Colleen came to fruition last April in Moncton, New Brunswick, registration system, the benefits of which to our sport cross-section of recreational Jones at the world senior women’s championship in with the inaugural edition of the Canadian Under-18 can’t be overstated. Lethbridge, Alberta. Boys and Girls Curling Championships. More than anything, I look forward to working with through competitive play. But it was a silver medal that may have been the It was an outstanding week of curling, which proved all of you on continuing to take our sport to exciting Furthermore, the management biggest news story, as Joanne Courtney and Reid beyond a doubt that our sport is in good hands as our new levels. Carruthers produced Canada’s best-ever finish at the young curlers work toward being our future Olympians. Thank you again for all of your hard work. practices of clubs, member world mixed doubles championship in Lethbridge and Go Canada Go! associations and Curling qualified our country for a berth in the first Olympic Comings And Goings mixed doubles competition. We can proudly boast that I have the privilege of working with some of the best Katherine Henderson Canada will parallel those we are now ranked first in the world in men’s, women’s people in Canada’s sporting sector. Our Curling Canada Chief Executive Officer of successful businesses and mixed doubles. staff is knowledgeable, passionate and committed to Curling Canada by always keeping the best interests of curlers in mind. 2 CURLING CANADA 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT CURLING CANADA 2016-17 ANNUAL REPORT 3 staff AND SUPPORT SERVICES message FROM THE CHAIR IT’S ONE OF THE UNIQUE PRIVILEGES the men, women and youth who give their time to the roaring National Office Staff of being chair of Curling Canada’s game to make it even better. board of governors that you get a yearly As I complete my year as chair, I look back on so many KATHERINE HENDERSON GORD McNABB opportunity to, in essence, pat ourselves amazing memories and experiences, and I know that I leave Chief executive officer General manager, event operations on the back. the position (but not the board; I still have 12 months to work I say “unique” because we are in the with our dedicated governors) feeling good about what we BRODIE BAZINET BILL MERKLINGER enviable position as a national sport accomplished together. Foundation manager Executive director, corporate services organization that we have so many I can’t say enough good things about the work done by my AL CAMERON CASEY OHMAN reasons to be proud of what we’ve vice-chair, Resby Coutts, and I know he will do a spectacular job Director, communication Financial co-ordinator accomplished over the past 12 months, both on and off the ice. as your chair for 2017-18, with able assistance from vice-chair and media relations As I reflect on the past season, I do so knowing that it was an Maureen Miller. GERRY PECKHAM absolute delight to be associated with such a group of professionals. To our outgoing governors, Shirley Osborne and Ron Hutton, STEPHANIE CARBONETTE Director, high performance I saw them perform on the ice, as Canada won gold medals at I say a sincere thank you for all you did on behalf of Curling Comptroller the Ford World Men’s and the World Women’s championships, Canada; your hard work for our sport was truly appreciated. JUSTIN PERRY and we ended the season ranked first in the world in men’s, At the same time, I bid a hearty welcome to our new governors, RACHEL DELANEY Director, information services women’s and mixed doubles curling. George Cooke and Brad Gibb. We all look forward to your input. Co-ordinator, development and technology I saw them perform at head office in Orleans, Ontario, as our While we’re closing the books on the 2016-17 season, we’re and championship services senior management team worked hard with our chief executive also looking forward to what should be an exciting 2017-18 HELEN RADFORD officer, Katherine Henderson, to make changes to the way we do campaign, which includes the Olympic Winter and Paralympic LOUISE DELORME Manager, program development, business in order to position ourselves to take significant strides Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. We’ll be waving the flag for Co-ordinator, national athlete services youth feeder system forward as an organization. our Team Canada representatives, and cheering loudly from afar. and coaching KAREN RYAN I saw them perform at our Season of Champions competitions As we do that, I’d ask all of you to also say a quiet cheer for all JACOB EWING Executive assistant and our other national championships, as local event staff worked the people behind the scenes — at our curling centres, our head Web application developer tirelessly to connect with their host communities to make sure the office, our event offices and with our national high-performance LOUISE SAUVÉ events left a lasting, positive legacy behind. team — who will have played a role in helping our teams get to DANNY LAMOUREUX Administrative assistant I saw them perform in our 14 member associations, all of that level.