Jennifer Jones enjoying mixed doubles event in capital

Article content

This week, the city of Fredericton has been hosting one of Canada’s greatest curlers.

Jennifer Jones has been competing in the 2024 Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championships in Fredericton alongside her husband Brent Laing. They are in the hunt to defend their title after winning in 2023.

Jones, the 49-year-old from Winnipeg, is competing after announcing her retirement from women’s curling a month ago at the national championship. But following a morning match earlier this week in Fredericton, she said she’ll be continuing to curl in mixed doubles alongside Laing.

It allows her to continue in the sport and when it comes to national events, permits interaction with many fans.

“I’ve had lots of people, even people here, just thanking me for years of curling, and I’ve come here a bunch of times, whether it’s for work or curling, and I’ve met a lot of people…..so lots of great memories from here,” said Jones. “It’s been a very emotional few weeks for me, but in a really great way.”

Jones and Laing were 3-3 to start the tournament as of Wednesday afternoon, defeating Team Wiseman/Smith on Monday, Team Weagle/Epping on Tuesday, and Team Gamble/Kalthoff on Wednesday.

When it comes to mixed doubles, Jones said they can’t miss many shots, and just have to grind away to pick up wins. She said she and Laing are going to focus on a few more events and see what they can do to qualify for the trials for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

Jones announced her women’s curling retirement in a post on Instagram, stating it will allow her to transition to other opportunities, and focus on her family, and be more present in her children’s lives.

“It’s been overwhelming, honestly, I never really kind of expected that reaction, and it’s just been really humbling and I’m super grateful,” said Jones, who narrowly lost 5-4 to Rachel Homan in the Canadian women’s final last month.

Over the years, Jones established herself as one of Canada’s most accomplished curlers.

Domestically, she’s won the Scotties Tournament of Hearts six times, twice for Team Canada in 2009 and 2010, and four times representing Manitoba in 2005, 2008, 2015, and in 2018. In total, she has 15 medals at the Scotties, including six gold, five silver, and four bronze.

Internationally, Jones won gold at the World Curling Championships twice along with a silver and a bronze. She also represented Canada twice at the Olympics, most recently at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, and at the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia, where she won gold.

She’s also won more Grand Slam of Curling events, 17, on the World Curling Tour than any other female skip.

The Canadian Mixed Doubles Curling Championships is the second-straight national curling tournament to take place in Fredericton. The U Sports Curling Championships, and the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association Curling Canada College Championships took place last week.

Rob Lister, co-chair of the host organizing committee, said Jones’ presence at the event drew a great deal of interest.

“To have her come to this event, and be able to showcase, and intermingle both here at the AUC (Aitken University Centre), and at the Capitol Winter club is good for the sport,” said Lister.