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20 Scholarships Awarded!
Curling Canada announces $50,000 in scholarship funding to 20 student-athletes in 2024
The For the Love of Curling Scholarships have been awarded annually since 2014 to young competitors and champions to assist them in achieving excellence in the sport from the provincial/territorial level to international competition while balancing their academic studies.
The Fran Todd All Heart Scholarships, new this year, are for young curling student-athletes who best demonstrate volunteer and community leadership through sport. The scholarships support these young leaders in creating meaningful change through curling and reward compassionate young curlers by supporting their dreams.
“We’re entering a new era of support for young curlers of all passions and pursuits. While reviewing scholarship applications over the years, it has been clear that many young curlers are eager to share their love of curling to better their communities. By offering a record-setting number of scholarships this year, we can truly recognize and support the pillars of the curling community,” said Brodie Bazinet, Curling Canada’s Senior Manager of Philanthropy & Youth Impacts.
The Scholarship selection panel chose 20 recipients, 10 for each scholarship stream, who will each receive a $2,500 scholarship. It adds up to a $50,000 contribution to the future of the sport, with $283,300 awarded since 2014 to 139 deserving young curling champions, leaders, and community builders.
Of the 20 recipients, the Governor General’s Curling Club – an honourary society under the patronage of the Governor General since 1874 – selected two deserving applicants to receive scholarships financially supported by donations from its members.
2024 For the Love of Curling Scholarship recipients
| Morgan Deschiffart | Lacombe, Alta. | Lacombe Curling Club | Red Deer Polytechnic | Bachelor of Science, Biological Sciences |
| Matthew Duizer | Toronto | Guelph Curling | Toronto Metropolitan University | RTA: Sport Media |
| Owain Fisher | North River, N.S. | Truro Curling Club | Dalhousie University | Agricultural Business |
| Maria Fitzgerald | Halifax | Halifax Curling Club | Saint Mary’s University | Psychology |
| Amber Gargul* | Beaconsfield, Que. | Pointe-Claire Curling Club | Concordia University | Mechanical Engineering |
| Alyssa Nedohin | Sherwood Park, Alta. | Sherwood Park Curling Club | MacEwan University | Bachelor of Science |
| Sitaye Penney | Portugal Cove-St. Philips, N.L. | RE/MAX Centre, St. John’s Curling Club | Memorial University | Kinesiology |
| Simon Perry | Portugal Cove-St. Philips, N.L. | RE/MAX Centre, St. John’s Curling Club | Memorial University | Bachelor of Science, General Studies |
| Caylee Smith | Ammon, N.B. | Curl Moncton | Acadia University | Bachelor of Science, Biology |
| Justine Toner | Sudbury, Ont. | Northern Credit Union Community Centre | Queen’s University | Nursing |
* Awarded by the Governor General’s Curling Club
2024 Fran Todd All Heart Scholarship recipients:
| Lisa Brisson | Thessalon, Ont. | Thessalon Curling Club | Algoma University | Biology |
| Alex Duncan-Wu | Coquitlam, B.C. | Royal City Curling Club | University of British Columbia | Bachelor of Arts |
| Amy Franchuk | Edmonton | Granite Curling Club | University of Alberta | Bachelor of Computing Science, Artificial Intelligence |
| Chantel Hoag | Gravelbourg, Sask. | Caledonian Curling Club | University of Regina | Kinesiology and Health Studies |
| Kaamraan Islam | Kingston, Ont. | Cataraqui Golf & Country Club | Queen’s University | Doctor of Medicine |
| Jayden King | Courtland, Ont. | Tillsonburg Curling Club | University of Guelph | Masters of Science, Human Health & Nutritional Science |
| Julia Markle | St. George, Ont. | Brant Curling Club | Brock University | Business Communications & Labour Studies |
| Nathan Poklar* | Oakbank, Man. | Charleswood Curling Club | University of Ottawa | Political Science & Juris Doctor in French Immersion |
| Nicole Sun | Calgary | WCS Curling | Queen’s University | Commerce |
| Tori Zemmelink | Fordwich, Ont. | Guelph Curling Club | Wilfrid Laurier University | Bachelor of Education |
* Awarded by the Governor General’s Curling Club
The Governor General’s Curling Club has been steadfast in its support of student-athlete curlers. With the scholarships awarded to Amber Gargul and Nathan Poklar, The Governor General’s Curling Club has invested $12,500 to deserving recipients through Curling Canada’s scholarship programs.
“The Governor General’s Curling Club is proud to extend our support of these vital scholarship programs to student-athletes who are bettering the sport and their communities,” said Governor General’s Curling Club selection panel member Wil Thurlow. “We are pleased to continue investing in the future of the sport and play a role in assisting some well-deserving student-athletes.”
Gargul and Poklar will be honoured by the Governor General’s Curling Club at its annual general meeting and dinner at the Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club on Sept. 9.
A 10-person selection panel determined the 20 scholarship recipients. The panel included: Nolan Thiessen (Curling Canada CEO), Bobby Ray (Curling Canada Senior Manager, Club Development & Membership Services), Brodie Bazinet (Curling Canada Senior Manager, Philanthropy & Youth Impacts), Michael Szajewski (Curling Canada Board of Governors Chair), Jennifer Howard (Curling Canada Board of Governors), Fran Todd (Former BoG and curling leadership volunteer), Donna Krotz (leadership representative), Wil Robertson (previous scholar), Jackson Dubinsky (previous scholar), Sophie Blades (previous scholar) and Wil Thurlow (Governor General’s Curling Club).
Curling Canada’s For the Love of Curling philanthropic program, introduced during the 2013-14 season to help develop and grow youth and junior curling across Canada, received more than $819,00 in donations and grants last season. Programs such as The Egg Farmers Rocks & Rings presented by Curling Canada, Girls Rock and the Scholarship Programs are only made possible thanks to the generous support of Canada’s curling community.