A Legacy That Still Brings Tears and Inspiration

For anyone who grew up curling in Atlantic Canada, Colleen Jones wasn’t just a name—you felt her presence long before you ever stepped onto the ice. She was the heartbeat of East Coast curling, the example every young athlete silently measured themselves against. Her determination was unmatched, her pride unmistakable, and her spirit so powerful it lifted everyone around her. Even now, as we reflect on her journey and the mark she left on Canadian sport, the emotions rise unexpectedly. There’s a heaviness in knowing that people like Colleen—people who carry entire communities on their shoulders—come around only once in a lifetime. Her influence shaped not just her own achievements, but the hopes of those who stood at the boards watching her, dreaming of one day carving their own path because she showed them they could.

A Champion Whose Strength Reached Far Beyond the Ice

What made Colleen special wasn’t only her victories—though they were many. It was the way she represented Atlantic Canada with a fierce, unwavering pride that made every curler from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland feel like they belonged on the national stage. She competed with a fire that lit something in others. She made the sport feel human, brave, and accessible. Young curlers watched her and believed for the first time that someone from “the East” could rise to the very top of Canadian curling. Her courage became their courage. Her strength became their foundation. And her example became the guiding force that pushed entire generations to dream bigger, skate harder, and never shrink themselves to fit into someone else’s expectations. Across arenas, communities, and decades, her name still carries weight—not because she demanded it, but because she earned it.

A Lasting Influence That Time Will Never Dim

Team Gushue, along with countless curlers across Canada, continue to honor the path she blazed. Their words echo what so many feel: gratitude, respect, and deep emotion for all she stood for. Colleen’s legacy reaches far beyond medals, trophies, or televised matches—it lives in the hearts of every young athlete who picked up a broom because they saw her do it first. It lives in the pride of Atlantic Canada, in the laughter shared in curling clubs, and in the quiet moments when someone whispers, “If she could do it… maybe I can too.” Her impact is woven into the fabric of Canadian curling, into the spirit of determination, humility, and fearlessness she embodied so beautifully. While time moves forward and seasons change, her influence remains—steady, strong, and undimmed. And so today, with full hearts, we say: Rest easy in your legacy, Colleen. Thank you for blazing the trail, for showing us the way, and for leaving a mark that will guide generations to come.