Local curlers noticed that the Nanaimo Curling Centre was putting together a tremendous season, and Curl B.C. noticed it, too. The association announced that the Nanaimo club is Curling Centre of the Year for 2011-12.
It had been a decade since any NCC team won B.C. jackets, but this winter both Kesa Van Osch’s junior women’s team and Penny Shantz’s senior women’s team won provincial championships.
Two other Nanaimo curlers, Corrine Jensen and Ellis Tull, earned jackets as part of a mainland team at wheelchair curling provincials. Nanaimo also hosted its usual full slate of bonspiels as well as the B.C. mixed championships.
Curl B.C. announced, as well, that Nanaimo’s Kalia Van Osch is Junior Female Athlete of the Year, Jensen is Athlete of the Year in her division and Jim Newlands is Coach of the Year.
The awards will be presented June 9 in Richmond.