Joan Whalley –  Builder

A review of Joan Whalley’s career in the curling world is like reviewing the criteria for all the factors sought in choosing a BUILDER in our sport.

Starting with her association with the Deer Lodge Ladies Curling Club in 1948, she served on a variety of committees leading to the Presidency in 1959/60.

Her activities then moved onto the MLCA, where she worked as Chairperson of such committees as Year Book, Ice and Draw, Publicity, Social – and then as Vice-President on the Playdown Committee. Joan became MLCA President in 1966/67.

The National scene was her next area of interest, representing Manitoba in various capacities at the CLCA from 1966 to 1970. This included acting as General Chairperson of the 1967 CLCA Championship held in Winnipeg. In 1971, she was Junior Delegate and in 1972, Senior Delegate to the CLCA, which included activity on the Senior Ladies and Constitution Committees.

In 1973, Joan became 2^nd Vice-President of the CLCA and heavily involved with an area which ahs always been – and still remains, one of her great loves … the Promotion and Teaching of curling to Junior Girls. In 1975, Joan was elected President of the Canadian Ladies Curling Association.

This was not the end of her activity. In 1976m she served as CLCA Liaison on the Committee, which developed the Curl Canada Instructional program. For many years following, she worked actively as a coach, especially with Junior Girls.

Joan has been the recipient of many awards for her work, such as Honourary Life Membership of the Deer Lodge Ladies Curling Club and the Manitoba Ladies Curling Association. She was awarded a Special Medal, commemorating the Accession of the H.M. Queen Elizabeth II to the throne. 1981 was a memorable year, when she received the CLCA Appreciation Award for dedicated and outstanding service to Ladies curling, as well as being elected to both the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame and the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.

It is obvious the time has come for Joan Whalley to be inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame.

Joan was Inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Hame in 1990.

Last modified : Feb 20, 2006, 10:00 am