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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 *
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