Colleen Jones: a Nova Scotia icon whose legacy reshaped Canadian curling

Colleen Jones, one of Canada’s most decorated curlers and a beloved CBC broadcaster, has died at age 65 after a battle with cancer. Her passing leaves a profound void in Canadian sport and Nova Scotia’s cultural fabric. Jones was more than a champion. She was a force who transformed curling, elevated women’s sport, and became a trusted voice in Canadian broadcasting.

Early beginnings and rapid rise

Born in Halifax in 1959, Jones stepped onto the ice at the Mayflower Curling Club when she was fourteen. She showed remarkable talent from the start. By nineteen, she had already claimed her first provincial women’s title. Her early success established a foundation for what would become one of curling’s most successful and enduring careers.

Her competitive edge, strategic thinking, and calm under pressure set her apart long before she became a national figure. Even in her teens, Jones carried the trademark focus that later defined her championship runs.

Dominating national and international curling

Jones became a household name in the early 1980s, but it was the 2000s that cemented her place among the sport’s greats. As skip of Team Nova Scotia, she captured six Scott Tournament of Hearts titles, including a record-setting four consecutive championships from 2001 to 2004. Few teams in any era have displayed such sustained excellence.

Her dominance extended beyond Canada’s borders. Jones led her rink to two World Women’s Curling Championship titles, in 2001 and 2004, putting Nova Scotia at the forefront of global curling. Even later in her career, she continued to excel, capturing the 2017 World Senior Curling Championship with an undefeated record.

Jones made 21 appearances at the national championships, a record that speaks not only to her skill but to her longevity and unwavering competitiveness. Her teams were known for discipline, resilience, and the unique camaraderie she fostered as a skip.

A broadcaster with national impact

Parallel to her athletic career, Jones built an impressive path in journalism. She joined CBC in the mid-1980s and became one of the broadcaster’s most recognizable personalities. She served as a weather presenter, reporter, and curling analyst, offering viewers warmth, clarity, and authority.

Jones covered Olympic curling events and major national championships, translating the intricacies of the sport for audiences with the same ease and expertise she brought as a skip. Her presence on television helped introduce curling to new audiences at a time when the sport was growing nationally.

Her dual identity as both champion and broadcaster made her a rare figure: someone who excelled in public life while remaining rooted in the community that shaped her.

Trailblazer, mentor, and inspiration

Jones’s influence extended far beyond the trophies. She altered how women’s curling was perceived in Canada and inspired generations of young athletes. Her teams demonstrated that Atlantic Canada could produce world-class talent, and her success helped elevate the sport’s profile nationally.

She served as a mentor to many emerging curlers and was known for her generosity with time, knowledge, and encouragement. Her leadership helped shape programs and expectations for female athletes at both provincial and national levels.

Recognition and honours

Over her career, Jones earned many accolades that reflect her impact. She was inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame and named to the Order of Canada in recognition of both her athletic contributions and her work in broadcasting. In Nova Scotia, she was repeatedly listed among the province’s greatest athletes, second only to icons like Sidney Crosby.

These honours underscored what many in the curling community had long known: her influence reached far beyond the rink.

A legacy that endures

Colleen Jones leaves behind a legacy defined by excellence, determination, and authenticity. She is remembered not only as a champion curler and respected journalist, but as a proud Nova Scotian whose achievements resonated across the country.

Her impact will continue to shape Canadian curling for decades. New athletes will model her grit, her strategic brilliance, and her commitment to team. Broadcasters will carry forward the standard she set for telling the stories of athletes with insight and respect.

Most of all, she will be remembered as someone who changed the sport she loved, elevated the province she represented, and inspired people far beyond the curling world.