KELOWNA, B.C. – UBCO Athletics and Recreation is excited to announce the addition of men's and women's curling to their competitive sport club model, in partnership with the Kelowna Curling Club.
 
The Heat curling teams, who are joining the department on a one-year trial basis, are being supported with legacy funding from the 2025 Montana's Brier as well as staff and coaching supporting from the Kelowna Curling Club.
 
As a result of this support, the Heat will be able to compete in the 2026 Canada West Curling Championships, set to be hosted in Edmonton from January 15-18.
 
"This is an exciting time for our department to be adding to our competitive sport club offerings for our student population," commented Layne McDougall, Interim Assistant Director of Operations and Planning. "Jock and the entire Kelowna Curling Club have stepped forward to provide this opportunity and we're grateful for their leadership and support to make this happen."
 
"I am so thrilled to see the UBCO curling program come to fruition," stated Jock Tyre, General Manager of the Kelowna Curling Club. "These teams are a culmination of our long-term plan to support under-25 curling in Kelowna and the Okanagan, and provide a pathway for youth curlers to stay involved in the sport. I want to say thank you to the UBCO Athletics and Recreation department, Students' Union Okanagan and the young athletes for helping to make this happen."
 
"I'm especially excited to see the talent that this will bring to B.C. and the Okanagan," added Tyre. "The student-athletes on this team will be expected to give back to junior curling here in Kelowna by assisting with the curling club's junior program and providing young curlers with a goal to strive for beyond junior will be the biggest and most important outcome of this program."
 
The Heat teams will be coached by individuals who will be familiar to those in the curling world.
 
Coaching the men's team will be former World Champion Gerry Richard, who played lead on Rick Folk's Kelowna rink that won the Brier and World titles in 1994. Gerry also coached B.C. curling legend Kelly Scott, who won back-to-back Scotties Tournament of Hearts titles in 2006 and 2007 as well as the World Championship in 2007.
 
Meanwhile, the women's team will be coached by Veronica Bernard, a former junior all-star skip in Ontario who curled for two years with the Brock Badgers in the OUA. She currently serves as the Member Services Coordinator with Curling Canada as well as the Youth Program Coordinator with the Kelowna Curling Club.
 
This foray into curling will mark the second time UBCO has fielded a program. Back in 2016, when the Kelowna Curling Club hosted the CIS (now U SPORTS) Championships, the Heat fielded a men's team skipped by Justin Nillson. The Heat tied for fourth at the national championship after finishing round robin play with a 2-5 record.
 
UBCO's schedule for the 2026 Canada West Championships will be announced at a later date.