OCA Sponsor
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Curling Volunteers are the Best!
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April 27, 2012
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Every season hundreds of volunteers work hard for the sport of curling. During the last week, 5 of Ontario’s best have been recognized for their ongoing efforts.
Chris Innes received the 2012 Ontario Coaching Excellence Award, Grass Roots Coach. Chris is the curling coach of the Manotick Curling Club Little Rocks. Each weekend he willingly gives up his time to coach local children. A parent of two of those children has this to say in the nomination. “Many of the young curlers at the beginning of the season had not thrown a rock before and it is amazing to see the progress at the end of the season and more impressive is that most of the curlers come back year after year to be taught by Chris and become amazing curlers. Not only is he welcoming and knowledgeable of the game, he possesses special skills in teaching are children. His method of teaching is impeccable. The children are taught off ice and on ice this wonderful sport. In teaching our children, Chris ingrained four rules that needed to be followed: have fun, use safety on the ice, respect others and show good sportsmanship.”
Barry Macklin received The Syl Apps Volunteer Achievement Award from Sports Alliance Ontario. This award recognizes volunteers, nominated by Provincial Sport Organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to the establishment and/or ongoing development of groups, clubs, facilities, projects and/or special programs in the Province of Ontario. Barry had an outstanding career in the public recreation sector in Ontario and after he retired, his lengthy volunteer schedule had time to take shape. His interest in the sport of curling surfaced when he became a volunteer on-air reporter for CJCL 1430 doing updates from major curling events in Ontario. He sat on the OCA Volunteer Board for six years until 2009. Coaching the Mohawk College curling teams and officiating at occasional OCA provincial events were also of interest to Barry. As a Business of Curling Facilitator, he has delivered many business modules that Ontario clubs have used successfully in their daily operations. As a consultant to the Capital One Grand Slam Curling Series, he travels to the events around the country and offers advice to the corporate sponsors with the main goal to be a good corporate and community partner.
Linda Corcoran received the Award of Achievement from the Canadian Curling Association. This award recognizes individuals who have contributed significantly in one of four areas: builder, technical development, marketing and media. For 25 years, Linda Corcoran has worked as a Coach, Provincial Course Conductor, Master Learning Facilitator and Official in Ontario, including her efforts in guiding the transition of the National Coaching Certification Program. Currently, she is the Technical Director for the OCA. She has authored, co-authored or co-produced 13 books and publications, all aimed at improving the sport of curling in Canada.
Mike Shields received an Ontario Curling Association Achievement award. Mike has been a member at the York Curling Club for 30 years and an amazing volunteer. Mike has worked as the icemaker at York since 1994 but it is the thousand other things that Mike has done over the years that supported his nomination. From answering the phone, to helping the bar manager with the “heavy lifting”, to climbing up on the roof when it leaked, to babysitting a sensitive old ice plant, Mike has done it all.
Judy DiMillo also received an Ontario Curling Association Achievement award. As a member of Carleton Heights Curling Club Judy started curling seven years ago. Her enthusiasm for the game of curling seems boundless but more important selfless. Club executives are continually amazed by the amount of time Judy devotes to the club in general and in particular to the Day Ladies. Judy is always the first to volunteer, never waiting to be asked. She is genuinely concerned with and devoted to maintaining the sense of family that curling is known for.
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