Ken Thain Award Winners
Every year, the OVCA seeks to recognize one or more outstanding volunteers for their contribution to the growth and advancement of the game in the Ottawa Valley and Western Quebec.
You’ll find the Award’s policy and nomination form below. When the call is made, consider nominating one of your outstanding volunteers for the highest honour given in the OVCA.
Congratulations to all of the Ken Thain Award Winners, past and present!
Who was Ken Thain?
Ken was a very fine curler in his own right, and curled competitively out of the Granite Curling Club. Following some health issues in 1977, he took on the role of Secretary Manager of the Ottawa Valley Curling Association (OVCA).
He was very well respected and considered quite firm but fair. He served at a time when there was considerable acrimony among the parties to the now infamous Tripartite Agreement, i.e. the OVCA and the reluctant suitors–the Canadian Branch and then Ontario Curling Association (OCA).
Quiet and serious, Ken was a very personable and well liked individual, yet had no trouble standing up for the “right answer” on any and all issues. Quite organized, he conducted the Association's business efficiently and effectively and wore the “Green Jacket” proudly. He was someone to whom you could always turn to for an answer.
When he retired many people “in the system” felt there should be some sort of lasting recognition of his contribution to acknowledge his long, dedicated and meritorious service to the curling community. He agreed reluctantly to the award and very graciously accepted the first one off the press.
History of the Ken Thain Award
An award was given by the Ottawa Valley Curling Association in 1983 to Mr. Kenneth B. Thain in appreciation for his work over many years in an administrative capacity as schedule and draw chairman and as Secretary-Manager of the OVCA.
On his retirement from the latter position it was decided to honor him further by naming the award “The Ken Thain Award for Meritorious Service”. The Award in the form of a plaque was suitably re-worded and a pin was designed to go along with the plaque which the recipient could wear with pride.
The first recipient of this new award was Dr. V.K. Prest of City View Curling Club for his work with Junior and Little Rock curlers.
The Award should be given to a person who has contributed much to curling in an organizing or administrative way, either as a member of a curling club or association operating under the jurisdiction of the Ottawa Valley Curling Association.
The Award honours up to five people each curling season and should be presented at some official gathering of ‘the Association’.
Ken Thain Award Winners
* Deceased
2023-24 | Greg Mathieu | Granite Curling Club |
2023-24 | Peter Garneau | Carleton Heights Curling Club |
2023-24 | Judy DiMillo | Carleton Heights Curling Club |
2023-24 | Hayden Brown | Carleton Heights Curling Club |
2023-24 | Tom Sinclair | Ottawa Curling Club / OVCA Superspiel |
2022-23 | Stephanie Duggan | Royal Canadian Navy Curling Club |
2022-23 | Bernie Filiatrault | Lancaster Curling Club |
2022-23 | Brad Forden | Rideau Curling Club |
2022-23 | Rob Fry | Rideau Curling Club |
2022-23 | Denis Leduc | Curling des Collines |
2022-23 | Ron Whitehorn | Prescott Curling Club |
2021-22 | Pippa Sellers | RA Centre |
2021-22 | Rick Smith | Metcalfe Curling Club |
2021-22 | Janet Douma | Winchester Curling Club |
2020-21 | Jim Campbell | Russell Curling Club |
2020-21 | Paul Armstrong | RA Centre |
2020-21 | Richard Burroghs | Smith Falls Curling & Squash Club |
2020-21 | Ryan Wilkes | Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club |
2019-20 | Neil Dufour | Prescott Curling Club |
2019-20 | Lucy Ladouceur | Russell Curling Club |
2019-20 | David Johnson | Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club |
2019-20 | Ken Wyman | Smith Falls Curling & Squash Club |
2018-19 | Pierre & Helene Deslaurier | Royal Canadian Navy Curling Club |
2018-19 | David Murdoch | Perth Curling Club |
2018-19 | Chris Knight | Deep River Curling Club |
2017-18 | Margo Burgess | RA Centre |
2017-18 | Joe Pavia | Hogline ProShop |
2017-18 | Gerald Priestley | Eganville Curling Club |
2016-17 | Joan Semeniuk | RA Centre |
2016-17 | Colleen Martin | Richmond Curling Club |
2015-16 | Marc Bourguignon | RCMP |
2015-16 | Tersh Doe | Manotick Curling Club |
2015-16 | Kelly MacNaull | Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club |
2015-16 | Evans Harrison | Deep River Curling Club |
2015-16 | Ken Waterman | Royal Canadian Navy Curling Club |
2014-15 | Bill White | |
2014-15 | Kim Wilson | Lachute Curling Club |
2014-15 | Art McKay | Almonte Curling Club |
2014-15 | Ross Davie | Ottawa Hunt & Golf Club |
2014-15 | Rick & Margaret Lomore | Pembroke Curling Club |
2013-14 | Dianne Corless | Smith Falls Curling & Squash Club |
2013-14 | Jill Rivington | Huntley Curling Club |
2013-14 | Kevin Baker | Cornwall Curling Club |
2013-14 | Agnes McVeety | Smith Falls Curling & Squash Club |
2013-14 | Kim Canary | |
2012-13 | Anne Davis | Metcalfe Curling Club |
2012-13 | Dan Cogliati | Carleton Heights |
2012-13 | Bob Day | Perth Curling Club |
2012-13 | Doug Sears * | Ottawa Valley Curling Association |
2012-13 | Art Olson | Granite Curling Club |
2003-04 | Jim Young | |
2001-02 | Liz Armstrong | |
2000-01 | Marian Dupont | |
1998-99 | Glen Sage * | |
1996-97 | Bill Copping * | |
1993-94 | Earl Rigby * | |
1992-93 | Ken Murchison * | |
1991-92 | John C. Smithson * | |
1990-91 | Allan B. Reed * | |
1989-90 | Bernard Brunt * | |
1988-89 | W. F. Burt * | |
1987-88 | Al Merrikin * | |
1986-87 | Arthur Ward * | |
1983-84 | Dr. Vic Prest * | |
1982-83 | Ken Thain * |