Team Canada finds its stride in early-season international wheelchair curling competition

Curling season is in full swing for Canada’s National Wheelchair Curling Program, as Canadian athletes took on back-to-back international competitions this October.

Team Canada, represented by skip Mark Ideson (London, Ont.), third Jon Thurston (Dunsford, Ont.), second Ina Forrest (Spallumcheen, B.C.), lead Collinda Joseph (Ottawa), and alternate Gilbert Dash (Kipling, Sask.), took to the International Wheelchair Curling Tournament in Wetzikon, Switzerland, Oct. 16–19, followed by the Stirling Wheelchair Curling Invitational in Scotland, Oct. 21–24.

“It was valuable to get another opportunity to compete against international teams so early in the season,” said Thurston. “We certainly were working off some competitive rust at the beginning, but by the end of our week in Stirling, we were really finding our rhythm.”

Team Canada faced a 20-team field in Switzerland, one of the largest in the tournament’s history, and finished in ninth place; however, that placement didn’t fully reflect its performance. It was matched up against a Swiss team in its last game to finish in fifth, but an extra-end loss bumped its placement down.

Scotland’s tournament offered a smaller field and a chance for the Canadians to bounce back from its first overseas competition of the season. Their eventual silver-medal finish was a result of a last-rock loss to Team China, the reigning world champions. 

“Usually, we only get to see China once a year,” said Thurston. “We had a great game against them. They’re always a tough opponent, and our game came down to the last rock. Unfortunately, this time, they got the best of us.

“Between the two tournaments, I think we’ve seen eight of the nine opponents heading to Italy in March.”

The international competition in the lead-up to the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games is essential to get the team comfortable with each other again. The new lineup that has Ideson and Forrest back with the mixed four-player team after a season training for mixed doubles will be stronger than ever with such a busy schedule.

“These tournaments were a great opportunity to take on international competition early in the season to get in our best form,” said Mick Lizmore, National Wheelchair Head Coach. “It’s all about building momentum and refining strategy at this point in the quadrennial.”

With increasing confidence after a strong showing in Scotland, Team Canada now turns its attention to the International Wheelchair Curling Tournament in Prague, Czech Republic, Nov. 21–23.