Cougars Secure Curl Manitoba Hall of Famer to Coach Curling

^{Cougars Venture Into Curling, Secure Curl Manitoba Hall Of Gamer To Coach}

(September 18^th, 2023) – Assiniboine Community College is introducing curling to the Cougars Athletics repertoire starting this fall, and have announced Maureen Bonar as coach of the men’s and women’s teams.

Originally from Deloraine, Manitoba, Bonar grew up playing many sports, but curling is where she excelled. She has extensive experience as a player having won multiple provincial championships as a junior in 1982 and the women’s division in 1983, 1993, 1996 and 2004. In 2015 her team won the Provincial Senior Women’s Curling Championship and Canadian Senior Women’s Curling Championship. They were the runner-up in 2016 at senior provincials but went on to win the 2016 World Senior Women’s Curling Championship. In 2009, Bonar was inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame as an individual in the curler category and again in the team category in 2016.

“I’m very excited to give back through coaching to the next generation of elite curlers,” said Bonar. “Being part of the curling program at ACC is truly an honour.”

Over the years, Bonar has given back to curling in many ways. She is a high performance instructor, has coached, organized leagues, did play-by-play announcing, and served as chairperson for various tournaments and bonspiels, including the 2002 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

“We are excited to bring curling to Cougars Athletics, to expand our outreach and provide more opportunities for our students,” said Cougars Athletics Manager, Lindsay McLaughlin. “Maureen is a great candidate to lead this program to success, bringing vast knowledge, experience and connection to the Westman curling community.”

The Cougars are resurrecting curling teams decades after strong showings at the Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) championships in the late 80’s. Between 1986 and 1989, the Cougars curling teams won two gold medals, three silver and two bronze at the national championships.

The CCAA voted to grant Manitoba a seed at curling nationals held in Fredericton, NB in March. Should multiple schools in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) enter curling teams, a play in tournament will be held to determine a provincial winner that will represent the province at nationals.

The teams will compete in a weekly league at the Brandon Curling Club and a selection of bonspiels to help prepare them for a shot at nationals.

Bonar is seeking 4-5 student athletes to train and compete for both the men’s and women’s Cougars curling teams under her guidance. If you’re a full time student at Assiniboine Community College, reach out to curling@assiniboine.net today to find out more!

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About Assiniboine Athletics

The Assiniboine Cougars teams compete in men’s and women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer, and men’s and women’s futsal (a variation of indoor soccer) in the Manitoba Colleges Athletic Conference (MCAC) with the winner competing for the Canadian College Athletics Association (CCAA) championship. The women’s hockey team play in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA).

About Assiniboine Community College
Assiniboine Community College has been providing exceptional learning experiences for more than 60 years, offering unparalleled learning environments and responding to the demands and requirements of the Manitoba labour market. Following the philosophy of “learn by doing,” programs combine theory with hands-on learning inside classrooms, labs, kitchens, shops, fields and the college’s Sustainable Greenhouse.

Assiniboine offers more than 60 certificate, diploma and post-graduate programs across a variety of disciplines including culinary arts and hospitality, business, agriculture and environment, health and human services, and trades and technology. The college also delivers apprenticeship programming in a range of skilled trades disciplines.

The college welcomed more than 3,700 full-time and 6,000 part-time students last year. With campuses in Brandon, Dauphin, Winnipeg and Portage la Prairie, Assiniboine provides comprehensive educational opportunities throughout Manitoba. The college also partners with many communities and organizations across the province to deliver customized education and training. Assiniboine’s annual provincial economic impact is $612 million. In the most recent survey of graduates, nine months after graduation, 94 per cent were employed, with 92 per cent remaining in Manitoba.

Assiniboine Community College campuses are located on the traditional territories of Treaty No. 1 and Treaty No. 2, the shared traditional lands of Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and Anishinabek/Ojibwe peoples, and the homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge their welcome to the students who seek knowledge here.

For more information, please contact:

Maureen Bonar

Cougars Curling Coach

curling@assiniboine.net
204.441.9884

Lindsay McLaughlin

Athletics Manager

Assiniboine Community College

cougars@assiniboine.net

204.725.8700 ext 6340