 Colleen Jones, alongside vice-skip Kim Kelly, second Mary-Anne Arsenault and lead Nancy Delahunt (Photo: Curling Canada/Andrew Klaver), won five Canadian championships between 1999-2004, creating one of the greatest curling dynasties in the women's game. By Meredith McCullum Colleen Jones passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, surrounded by her family, after a battle with cancer. Jones will forever be remembered as one of the greatest to grace the ice in Canadian Curling. She set new standards for female curlers, winning six Scotties, including four in a row from 2001-2004. Add on two World Championships in 2001 and 2004 and a World Senior Championship in 2017, and you've got just a fraction of her impressive curling resume. In an extra meaningful moment late in her career, Colleen coached Owen Purcell's team, with her son Luke Saunders playing third, to a playoff finish at the 2025 Montana's Brier, marking the first time a Nova Scotia team had made playoffs in 19 years. Jones joined CBC in 1986 as the first female sports anchor in Halifax. She went on to have a nearly 40-year career as a reporter and host, covering nine Olympics starting in 1988. But what Jones will be remembered for more than her illustrious curling success is her character off the ice. In his post to X on Tuesday announcing his mom's death, Saunders encouraged folks to "please think of your favourite Colleen Jones memory and cherish it," so here is mine. I moved to Halifax for university in 2023 where I quickly found my place in Nova Scotia's curling community. One time, my junior team needed a spare in our Wednesday night league. We sent a message to Jones and, to our surprise and delight, she said yes. During the game, her competitive fire showed, as she pushed us to play our best. She questioned a shot call, making sure we were thinking through every decision, pushing ourselves and learning, even in a league game. Her talent was evident, by far the best curler on the ice even years past her prime. She's far above the caliber of spare we would typically search for, and certainly didn't need to say yes, but that's just who she was. She was a deeply caring and endlessly passionate individual, and that never changed, even at the end of her life. In late September, just 2 months before her passing, I bartended at the Halifax Curling Club during its annual John Ross & Sons mixed doubles spiel, run by Jones, Luke Saunders and his fiance Marlee Powers. Jones was at the event making charcuterie boards for the teams, as usual. Jones checked with the curlers, making sure everyone had what they needed before and after their games. She was positive, cracking jokes and conversing with those around her. She was the same bright light she always had been, not letting the end of her life change her character or deter her from her love and passion for curling. Ahead of the women's evening draw at the Montana's Canadian Curling Trials on Tuesday, Curling Canada honoured Jones's life and legacy with a video tribute and a moment of silence, as her family joined the players on the ice to watch. Men's and women's players at the Trials spoke to her impact on the sport, following their games on Tuesday. "She was so passionate about the game," said Brad Gushue. "During the time when I was growing up, she was the biggest curler...and then when we became friends, it was cool to get to know her and learn from her." "She poured her entire soul into everything. Coaching, playing, just zest for life," said Rachel Homan. "We were at the Olympics together, she was a journalist. Just so many memories over the years, someone I looked up to very much." "I won juniors the same year she won women's in 2004," said Jill Brothers. "She was just a superstar to me." "She's my all time favourite curler, I just wanted to be like her," said Christina Black. "She was from Nova Scotia, and she was a champion. I was like I could do that. I want to do that. I want to be like her." An inspiration, a role model, an ambassador, a sister, a friend, a wife, a mother, a teammate, a curler, a champion. Colleen Jones will be missed, but her legacy will live forever. |
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Colleen Jones, alongside vice-skip Kim Kelly, second Mary-Anne Arsenault and lead Nancy Delahunt (Photo: Curling Canada/Andrew Klaver), won five Canadian championships between 1999-2004, creating one of the greatest curling dynasties in the women's game.
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