About NSSCA
Our Vision
- To be recognized as a leader in promoting stick curling in Nova Scotia and Canada
- To be recognized as a progressive leader in stick curling in Canada.
- To partner with government, educational institutions and communities to promote and communicate a healthy and active lifestyle.
- To work cooperatively with NS Curling Association, Sport NS, Canadian Stick Curling Association, Curling Canada, curling clubs and stick curling leagues to ensure the best possible curling experience for both club and competitive stick curlers.
Our Mandate
To promote and develop stick curling within Nova Scotia.
To maintain a close association with the Nova Scotia Curling Association (NSCA).
To represent Nova Scotia’s interest on the Canadian Stick Curling Association’s (CSCA) Board of Directors.
Mandate focus areas
- Promote stick curling throughout all geographical areas of Nova Scotia
- Increase participation in stick curling through club, inter-club and competitive leagues.
- Develop and maintain a database of curling clubs, club contacts and individual stick curlers in Nova Scotia
- Determine playing rules / guidelines in conjunction with NSCA and CSCA
- Coordinate a provincial stick curling championship in conjunction with the NSCA including:
- Establish a championship hosting committee to develop minimum requirements and work with the host club
- Select competition dates
- Select a host club
- Determine format of play
- Ensure supervision of play and coordination of officials
- Determine draws and championship schedule
- Determine awards / prizes to be presented
- Seek championship sponsorship
- Work cooperatively with the other Maritime provincial stick associations in organizing the Maritime Stick Curling championship
Our Values
The NSSCA values include a commitment to
- excellence
- inclusiveness
- transparency
- accountability
- integrity
We will represent the interests of all Nova Scotia stick curlers and strive to expand our membership to include non-traditional groups. We will strive for gender and geographical representation on the Board to allow for balanced and informed discussion of issues. We will create, and maintain, a non-discriminatory environment where input from all members is encouraged and individuals are treated with respect and dignity at all times.
The NSSCA Board represents the membership, will conduct themselves in a transparent manner and will be accountable to those members. NSSCA is a non-profit organization and there will be full financial disclosure of its activities. The Board will strive to effectively communicate its plans, and the results to date accomplishing those plans, to the membership on an on-going basis.
The NSSCA will hold itself to the highest ethical standards in all of its dealings and in its interactions with members.
The NSSCA will always act in the best interest of the membership.
Board of DIRECTORS
Marilyn Neily
Chair
South Shore
Marilyn's BIO
Marilyn Neily, is a member of the Bridgewater Curling Club and comes to the NSSCA with an abundance of past experience working with amateur sport.
She is a former educator that moved into sport administration working with the Interprovincial/Territorial Sport and Recreation Council of Canada for more than a dozen years, and is a former Board member, Vice Chair and Chair of Curling Canada.
She has extensive experience working in a multicultural environment, bringing together various partners to further sport development.
This is a very exciting time for stick curling with an opportunity to build on its foundation and to work collaboratively with fellow board members to move the sport forward.
Vacant
Vice-Chair
Jim Russell
Treasurer
Metro
Jim's BIO
Jim Russell has curled continuously since 1962.
Was President of the Halifax Curling Club 1998-1999
Represented NS in the 2009 Masters National Championships and the 2016 Canada Games
Won the National Stick Curling Championship in 2017 with teammate Milt Larsen
Was runner-up in the 2018 Maritime Stick Curling Championship with teammate Milt Larsen
Joined the NSSCA Board in 2019
Patti Simpson
Secretary
Yarmouth
Patti's BIO
Patti began curling and joined the Yarmouth Curling Club in 1992. She served on the Executive Association and Board from 2010-2017. In 2012, she embraced Stick Curling and has competed at the Provincial, Maritime, and National levels for the past 8 years.
Patti presently serves as Regional Director, South West with the Nova Scotia Curling Association as well as Secretary, Nova Scotia Stick Curling Association.
Patti looks forward to working with other Board members in providing leadership to promote and develop excellence in Stick Curling.
Judy Power
At Large
Metro
Judy's BIO
Judy comes to the boards as a former Community Recreation Coordinator with the Halifax Regional Municipality with over thirty years experience working with community groups and organizations to provide access to various community recreation programs and services.
Judy is also a converted curler to the stick curling game as she has been a seven time finalist at the NS Scotties Provincial Curling Championship winning in 1990 with Heather Rankin and going on to the Canadian Scott Tournament of Hearts in Ottawa – finishing second to Alison Goring from Ontario.
Judy’s other interests include golf, gardening, and especially her beloved dog, Guinness, who is a Certified Therapy Dog with St John Ambulance as they visit many schools, retirement communities, and organizations throughout HRM.
Milt Larsen
At Large
Metro
Milt's BIO
Milt has over 50 years of curling experience. He made the move to skip in 2004, competing at Seniors, Masters and Grandmasters Provincial play downs and cash spiels.
He has been a stick curler for 7 years.
With team mate Jim Russell, they won Canadian Stick Curling Open Championship in 2017.
He is utilizing his coaching experience and is providing instruction at stick curling clinics.
Joan MacKinnon
At Large
Metro
Joan's BIO
Joan began curling at 12 years of age and has been fortunate to participate in five Canadian Championships. She represented PEI at a Canadian Junior Championship and then teamed up with her sister to play at a Canada Games. After she completed her education Joan moved to Halifax and went on to represent NS at two Scott Tournament of Hearts placing third in one of the championships. She also represented NS at a Canadian Mixed Championship just missing the playoffs.
After stepping back from curling for 15+ years due to a knee injury and a family to raise, Joan reluctantly tried stick curling as she was a die-hard conventional curler. To her surprise the competitive edge is still there no matter the delivery of a curling rock. It’s great to be back at the curling club and meeting new people from all over the province.
Joan has volunteered on many committees over the years in and outside the curling community.
Anne Blandford
At Large
Eastern
Anne's BIO
Anne is a member of the Bluenose Curling Club and recently returned to their board as the Curling Director. As a recently retired social worker she brings to NSSCA many years of board experience at the local, provincial and national level. While she still plays the four person game she joined the club’s stick curling league 3 years ago once she was retired and able to play in the day leagues. She currently stick curls in the Bluenose in house league as well as the Pictou County League and the Provincial League. She has competed at both the Provincial and Maritime level.
Anne says she loves the pace, challenge and comradery of the stick curling game as well as the fact that it enables curlers with varying abilities to be able to enjoy curling longer. She is looking forward to being part of such a committed working board and looks forward to the opportunity to hopefully bring stick curling opportunities to more people across NS.
Bruce Lohnes
At Large
Northern
Bruce's BIO
Retired in 2013 from Dept Natural Resources
Past President of Truro CC (2004)
Served on many Board positions for NS Curling and Truro CC.
Men’s Curling Championship (Brier) – Gold (2004), Silver (2003), Bronze (2006)
Started Stick Curling in 2023.
Gary Burton
At Large
Eastern
Gary's BIO
Active volunteer at Bluenose CC, including executive positions
Started and ran Pictou County Inter-club stick curling league
Chair of NS Stick Curling provincial championship for two years
Moved to Sydney in 2024
Started Sydney CC stick curling league in 2025
Successfully hosted the first ever stick curling bonspiel at Sydney CC
Serving second term on the NSSCA board
Education
STICK CURLING
SAFETY FOR STICK CURLERS
DELIVERY
- How to Use a Delivery Stick In Nova Scotia we teach that the rock handle should be placed at 11:00 and 1:00 o’clock. You can try both approaches and decide which works best for you.
- Using a Delivery Stick Solution Guide
Strategy
Clinics – Nova Scotia
- Clinic Plan
a) Outline
b) Content
c) Participant Takeaway
Other Interesting
- Curler Outreach Program Videos
- Watch Why You Want A Stick Curling League (YouTube)
- Watch Open Final (YouTube): Resby Coutts, Norm Magnusson – Fort Rouge Curling Club, Manitoba vs Darren and Darrel Beach, Highland Curling Club, Regina
- Watch Women’s Final (YouTube): Betty Mattson, Audrey Dorey – Wolfville Curling Club, Nova Scotia vsEtta Reid, Elaine Hughes, Cornwall Curling Club, PEI
WELLNESS
General seniors wellness
Sleep
- Do Seniors Need Less Sleep?
- Sleep Tips for Older Adults
- A Good Night’s Sleep
- What causes sleep disorders in older adults?
Falls
Nutrition
Exercise
-
Physical activity tips for older adults (65 years and older)
- Active Life Choices for Older Adults
- Video: The Secret to Sticking To Your Exercise Routine
Rehabilitation
Clinics
The NSSCA mandate includes growing participation in stick curling in Nova Scotia. With the support of NSCA and Sport NS the NSSCA embarked on a three-year plan that by the end of the 2023-2024 season has accomplished:
- 20+ basic skills clinics offered across all Nova Scotia geographic areas, including three clinics in Cape Breton.
- 40 trained instructors distributed across the province.
- Development of an Advanced Strategy / Theory clinic
- 100+ delivery sticks donated to clubs for use in their Learn to Curl programs and to support stick league play
- View photographs from previous clinics.
TO ARRANGE A STICK CURLING CLINIC
To send an e-mail to the clinic committee chair please use the contact form below:
Funding was received from the Government of Canada to offer stick curling skills clinics and training expertise to rural Nova Scotia curling clubs during the 2025-2026 curling season.
Approximately fifty delivery sticks will be left as part of these clinics to support infrastructure needs of these rural curling clubs.
Stick Curling Rules
Below are the stick curling rules revised for the 2024-2025 curling season.
Contact NS Stick Curling
