Women in Curling’s opening weekend at the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts leads with gender equity initiatives

Opening weekend at the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts will feature back-to-back initiatives supporting girls and women in curling. The Women in Curling Executive Council, as an extension of Curling Canada, is leading several great initiatives over the weekend, including the new Women in Curling Connect Conference, Coaches Rock: Project Confidence, and the Scotties Legends Reception.

Women in Curling initiatives focus on fostering greater female representation at all levels of curling. Opening weekend at the Scotties features several events that promote an equitable, inclusive, and empowering curling environment for female leaders and participants.

Women in Curling Connect Conference

The new Women in Curling Connect Conference, thanks in part to the generous support of the World Curling Development Assistance Programme, takes place on Sunday, Feb. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon ET at Valhalla Hotel and Conference Centre. The conference includes a morning of networking and mentorship to celebrate the achievements and aspirations of women in the curling community.

Six-time Scotties champion and Olympic gold medallist, Jill Officer (“From Club to Podium—Her Story”) will be the keynote speaker. In addition, Dr. Heather Mair (“Building Healthy Communities Through Sport”) and the Joy of Curling Panel (“Staying Connected to Your Sporting Community”) will also be featured.

Registration is open until Jan. 28, at $45 per person and includes a ticket to the 2 p.m. draw Sunday afternoon at the Scotties.

Coaches Rock: Project Confidence

On Saturday, Feb. 15, from 1:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. ET at the Port Arthur Curling Club, the Women in Curling Executive Council puts on Project Confidence as a part of their Coaches Rock initiative. The event is a free-entry, female-only event for female coaches to build coaching confidence.

Project Confidence was designed to create a safe and welcoming environment for female coaches who want to brush up on their coaching knowledge and skills. Information from a recent survey shows that female coaches lack confidence in their coaching skills, and Project Confidence provides a safe and inclusive space to combat that.

Under the supervision of female facilitators, coaches will learn about the latest skills, techniques, and analysis strategies in curling and how to teach athletes of all ages and levels.

Registration is open until Jan. 31, and open to local coaches and fans who are coaches and in attendance at the Scotties.

Scotties Legends Reception

On the Saturday evening of opening weekend, the Scotties Legends Reception will honour female curlers who have previously won provincial championships. The reception has become a tradition at the Scotties to celebrate and recognize the leadership and influence of local female curlers.

Northern Ontario female provincial champions will be honoured for their accomplishments, achievements, contributions to the game, and their role in inspiring future champions.

Women in Curling announces new council members

As a part of the rebranding of the Women in Curling Executive Council from the previously known Women in Curling Leaders’ Circle, under the leadership of the group’s founder and Chair, Elaine Dagg-Jackson, three new executive council members have been selected: Jolene Latimer (Brand and Communications), Laura Leitch (Participation), and Beth Iskiw (Personal and Professional Development).

Each council member played a key role in opening weekend’s initiatives to bring fans, curlers, and coaches together to support women in curling.

Additionally, a Girls Rock event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, for girls aged nine to 16 to try curling in a safe and welcoming environment.

Curling Canada will also celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day on Feb. 5, 2025, to recognize the positive impact of women and girls in sport. 

To learn more about Curling Canada’s Women in Curling initiative, click here.