Laura Walker appointed to Curling Canada Board of Governors

Laura Walker will join Curling Canada’s Board of Governors, it was announced today.

Walker, a former Canadian mixed doubles champion and bronze medal-winning captain at the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, based in Edmonton, has attended board meetings in recent months as an observer representing the Curling Canada Athletes’ Council.

Beginning this week, with the approval of the Athletes’ Council and Curling Canada Board of Directors, Walker will have full governor status until the next Curling Canada Annual General Meeting in September 2024 .

“This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring athletes’ voices are heard at the board level,” said Michael Szajewski, chair of Curling Canada’s board of governors. “Laura has already demonstrated her commitment to our shared ambitions to grow our sport and make it more welcoming for all, and we look forward to having her with us on the board in this new capacity.”

Walker is a member of the Athlete Council which also includes Shannon Birchard, Brendan Bottcher, Karlee Burgess, Matt Dunstone, Brett Gallant, Jacques Gauthier, EJ Harnden, John Morris, Jocelyn Peterman, Jon Thurston and Sarah Wilkes.

She will be the first full-fledged athlete governor of Curling Canada. The process for determining future athlete representatives on the Board of Directors will be determined in consultation with Member Associations and the Athletes’ Council, and will be in place prior to the 2024 Annual General Meeting.

“The athlete’s voice is essential when guiding the direction and policy development of a national sport organization,” Walker said. “I look forward to this opportunity to collaborate with my fellow governors and continue to work together on behalf of our sport.