Future Proofing Curling in Ontario
Ontario curling organizations working towards future-focused amalgamation
With an eye on alignment, efficiency and collaboration, Ontario’s three curling organizations are moving forward with a plan to become one provincial body.
The proposed amalgamation is focused on strengthening the administration of the sport, not altering the on-ice experience. For clubs, curlers, and competitors, day-to-day participation in curling will remain unchanged — including club operations, competition structures, and fees. Additionally, Northern Ontario and Ontario will continue to be represented separately at Curling Canada’s national championships, maintaining a long-standing tradition that dates to the 1927 Brier. Ontario is the last province or territory in the country to still have more than a single organization managing the sport for affiliated clubs and curlers, resulting in duplication of services and administrative effort.
What will change is how the sport is supported behind the scenes, with a more sustainable and consistent administrative framework that allows for enhanced services.
With this initiative, Curling Ontario, the Northern Ontario Curling Association and the Ontario Curling Council will work toward becoming one organization, guided by a shared philosophy: “To create alignment across the Ontario curling community in order to more efficiently and effectively administer, support, and grow the sport, ensuring consistent standards, enhanced collaboration, and better service to curlers at all levels.”
Today’s announcement follows an extensive review of the business case for the merger that will better allow the sport to be administered, and for all stakeholders, from the grassroots up to high-performance athletes, to be significantly better supported in Ontario at all levels.
Boards for all three organizations have approved the plan and agreed to move forward with proposing the merger to the membership. It will be a member-driven process, with club/member votes to follow in the coming weeks.
This proposed structure will strengthen curling development in Ontario in a number of ways:
- Streamlined support of affiliated clubs through resources and programs.
- Designated staff to focus on youth participation and programs (currently no staff people in Ontario have this responsibility).
- A stronger focus on program development with staff.
- Designated staff to support Northern Ontario clubs and competitions.
- A more sustainable provincial structure.
- Reduced duplication of governance, administration, communications.
- The ability to focus more resources on programs and services rather than overhead.
“This process has been guided by collaboration and a clear focus on protecting Northern Ontario’s interests,” said Laura Forget, NOCA Executive Director. “The proposed model strengthens services and sustainability while ensuring our athletes, clubs and regional voice remain fully represented.”
“This merger isn’t solely about structure—it’s about impact,” said Matt Allen, Curling Ontario Executive Director. “By uniting three organizations, we are aiming to strengthen the administration of our sport with a sharpened focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional programs, services, and benefits for everyone we serve.”
From Erin Jarvis, Manager of Programs and Operations – “For the Ontario Curling Council, this is about presenting a stronger, more unified voice for curling in Ontario. When we’re aligned as one provincial organization, we’re better positioned within the sport system to advocate for our clubs, athletes, and volunteers, and to ensure curling continues to receive recognition, support, and funding at the provincial level.”
It’s important to note that the plan has the support of Curling Canada.
“We know that with limited resources in the sport system, change is coming including integration and alignment at many levels,” said Nolan Thiessen, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada. “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. We will always work with all of our Member Associations in any effort to support curlers across the country, including re-thinking how we have traditionally done things to continue to improve the future of our game.
“Having both Northern Ontario and Ontario separately in our championships will remain intact, but unifying their administration and opening up resources to be better used towards supporting curlers and clubs in a more robust way is directly in alignment with our strategic objectives and we support these efforts.”
For more information about the proposed merger, we encourage you to review the following:
Curling Ontario and Northern Ontario Curling Association will each provide two virtual Town Halls, which will provide an opportunity to learn more about the merger and to ask any questions to the leadership teams.
Northern Ontario Curling Association will host a Special Meeting with club delegates on March 8th at 4:00 pm ET to approve the merger. More details will follow for those individuals. The Ontario Curling Council will conduct a similar meeting. Curling Ontario membership will not be required to approve the merger but will have a follow up Special Meeting to approve the revised Bylaws.
Ultimately, today’s announcement and the accompanying vision is about strengthening the sport of curling in our province. It is, and will continue to be, the result of a deliberate, thoughtful and inclusive process built on collaboration, respect and a shared purpose to continue moving our sport forward.
Contacts:
Matt Allen
Executive Director
Curling Ontario
matt@curlingontario.ca
Laura Forget
Executive Director
Northern Ontario Curling Association
laura.forget@curlnoca.ca