New curling body proposed for Ontario
Ontario’s three curling organizations are proposing to become one.
Curling Ontario, the Northern Ontario Curling Association (NOCA) and the Ontario Curling Council (OCC) would become Curling Ontario.
Laura Forget, Executive Director of the Northern Ontario Curling Association, says the goal is to improve on the administration side of the sport and strengthen support to local clubs.
“By coming together, the three organizations will be reducing duplication behind the scenes and be able to put more energy and resources into supporting clubs and curlers, especially in smaller and northern communities,” says Forget.
“It’s really about what we’d be able to offer behind the scenes. So more professional support, shared resources, stronger governance, improved programming, youth development, and higher quality service is what we’re really looking to offer our clubs.”
The three organizations are currently operating with minimal staff.
Forget is the only paid person with NOCA.
She says no one will lose their job, and the combined staff of the new body will still be smaller than similar organizations in other provinces.
“This would allow us to use people more efficiently, reduce the duplication and redirect that increased capacity back to the clubs,” says Forget.
Northern Ontario has long had separate representation in national competitions despite not being a province.
Men’s teams were first permitted to represent the region at the Brier in 1927.
Women’s teams from Northern Ontario did not earn a direct berth to the Tournament of Hearts until 2015.
Forget says that will not be taken away by the planned merger.
“We will continue to have our own team and representation at all national championships,” says Forget.
“Team Northern Ontario and the Moose are not going anywhere. That’s been made very clear in the proposal, and we have that in writing from Curling Canada.”
“We’ve got quite the brand. I’m sure if anyone has watched any of the national championships on TV, the moose call is very prominent, and it’s not going anywhere.”
NOCA and Curling Ontario are holding special town hall meetings to discuss the proposal and gather input from their member clubs.
Both will hold special meetings on March 8th for their club delegates to vote on the proposal.
The Ontario Curling Council’s by-laws do not require its members to approve the merger, but plans for a special meeting to approve the revision of its by-laws.
The plan has the support of Curling Canada, the national body.
“We know that with limited resources in the sport system, change is coming, including integration and alignment at many levels,” states Nolan Thiessen, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada, in a release.
“This discussion is exactly that type of forward thinking and proactive response. The talk of this merger shows that the Northern Ontario Curling Association, Curling Ontario and the Ontario Curling Council are prioritizing long-term vision, adaptability, and sustainable growth to provide better service to curlers and the sport of curling in Ontario.”
