On December 11th, Jayne Curtis, long-time manager of the Gananoque Curling Club, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Builder category from the Ontario Curling Association. Dave Hutchison, OCA Director, was on hand to present the award. In his remarks, Dave noted “I have known Jayne and the Clare family for many years, and can’t think of a more deserving person for this honour. In fact, when we read the nomination from the GCC board, all we could say was ‘Yup, this one’s a no-brainer!’. I’d also like you all to know that Jayne’s dad Grover Clare won this award in 2009. It’s the first time in the history of the OCA that a father-daughter pair have been honoured in this way.
Also on hand was GCC president Jim Palmer, who added, “We have always seen Jayne as the heart of this club, and her working in making this facility an important part of the Gananoque community is legendary. However, it was her amazing accomplishments during this pandemic that prompted us to nominate her at this time. Jayne, and her strong staff, helped us not just survive COVID, but thrive during these challenging times. As we said in her nomination, it’s appropriate Jayne should win a lifetime achievement award, because curling has literally been her life”.
In accepting the plague, Jayne thanked her sisters, Joanne and Sandy, who have been a huge part of the club’s success over the years. “I can’t tell you how much it means that you’ve awarded me the same honour as you did our dad. I know he’s looking down and smiling.” She then called her husband Steve to the podium, adding that without his support and love she would never have been able to accomplish what she has with the club. “Steve is often ‘voluntold’ to lend a hand!”
