Team Canada prepares for the 2025 World Wheelchair Curling Championships in Stevenston, Scotland

There are just over two weeks remaining until the 2025 World Wheelchair Curling Championship begins and just under a month until the 2025 World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship gets underway.

Team Canada will compete on the global stage in the 2025 World Wheelchair Curling Championship from March 1-8 and the 2025 World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship from March 10-16.

These championships will determine each nation’s final qualification points for the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games next March.

Both of Canada’s national teams have been busy preparing for their trips to Scotland with several training sessions, events, and camps throughout the year. The teams were announced in December, and the selected athletes have taken part in preparation camps for Stevenston twice since.

“We’ve had a great series of training camps in the lead up to this year’s World Championships,” said Mick Lizmore, Head Coach of the National Wheelchair Program. “On top of that, athletes and their home coaches have been working hard to prepare themselves for the rigours of the competition awaiting us.”

2025 World Wheelchair Curling Championship

Team Canada is among a field of 12 teams in the mixed team World Championship, with their first game set against Team U.S.A. Representing Canada are fourth Jon Thurston (Dunsford, Ont.), third/skip Gilbert Dash (Kipling, Sask.), second Douglas Dean (Thunder Bay, Ont.), lead Collinda Joseph (Stittsville, Ont.), and fifth Chrissy Molnar (Trent Lakes, Ont.).

Dean will be making his world-stage debut as the first athlete from Northern Ontario chosen to represent Canada at the World Wheelchair Curling Championship. With the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts being held in his hometown of Thunder Bay, Dean is receiving a well-deserved salute on Friday, Feb. 21, to wish him and the rest of the Canadian team well in Scotland.

“Preparations for the Worlds are progressing smoothly,” said Thurston. “We’ve spent meaningful time collaborating to enhance our team cohesion and define our roles within the new lineup. We’re excited to hit the ice in Scotland!”

While Canada’s mixed team has all but officially secured its place in the 2026 Paralympic Games, it will be looking to capture the gold medal in Scotland this year to improve its already impressive feat of back-to-back silver-medal finishes at the 2023 and 2024 World Wheelchair Curling Championships.

2025 World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship

Three days after the gold-medal game of the mixed team world championship, Canada’s Mixed Doubles team of Mark Ideson (London, Ont.) and Ina Forrest (Spallumcheen, B.C.), two experienced and decorated Canadian athletes, will take the ice. The team’s first game will be on March 11 against Team Thailand.

“Our final training camp before traveling to Scotland has been a great confidence builder,” said Ideson. “Mixed doubles is a high action discipline, with lots of rocks in play, and we’re certainly getting more comfortable with the chaos.”

The duo’s final standing in the competition will determine whether Canada qualifies for the 2026 Paralympics, aiming to be one of seven nations to clinch a spot in the Games, joining the host team from Italy.