Canada Reveals Teams for 2025 World Wheelchair Curling Championships
Canada’s highly anticipated rosters for the 2025 World Wheelchair Curling Championship and the 2025 World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, set to take place in Stevenston, Scotland, have been officially unveiled.
The 2025 World Wheelchair Curling Championship will run from March 1-8, followed by the 2025 World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship from March 10-16.
2025 World Wheelchair Curling Championship Team:
- Jon Thurston (Dunsford, Ont.) – Fourth
- Gil Dash (Wolseley, Sask.) – Third & Skip
- Doug Dean (Thunder Bay, Ont.) – Second
- Collinda Joseph (Stittsville, Ont.) – Lead
- Chrissy Molnar (Trent Lakes, Ont.) – Fifth
The team will be supported by:
- Mick Lizmore (Head Coach)
- Kyle Paquette (Team Leader)
- Dr. Steven Macaluso (Physician)
- Alysia Patience (Physiotherapist)
The Canadian team will compete alongside 12 mixed-gender teams in Stevenston, aiming to build on the momentum of their back-to-back silver-medal performances at the 2023 (Richmond, B.C.) and 2024 (Gangneung, South Korea) World Wheelchair Curling Championships.
“We’re excited for what this year’s World Championships will bring,” said Head Coach Mick Lizmore. “Our lineup is a great mix of seasoned players with national and international experience, alongside some newer faces on the national program.”
Among those newer athletes is Doug Dean, who will be making his World Championship debut in Stevenston.
“It’s been a long journey to get here, so the announcement was met with a lot of excitement and relief,” Dean shared. “I’ve put in a lot of work and I’m feeling ready to compete.”
Dean also holds the distinction of becoming the first athlete from Northern Ontario to represent Canada at the World Wheelchair Curling Championship.
“It’s truly an honour to be here, and I’m proud to represent Northern Ontario,” he added. “I’m grateful to all those who came before me, paving the way for this opportunity.”
2025 World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship Team:
- Mark Ideson (London, Ont.) – First/Last
- Ina Forrest (Spallumcheen, B.C.) – Middle
This experienced duo will be supported by:
- Dana Ferguson (Head Coach)
- Kyle Turcotte (Team Leader)
- Dr. Gordon Ngo (Physician)
- Sari Shatil (Physiotherapist)
With the Milano Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games on the horizon, the 2025 World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship will play a critical role in determining the final qualification points for the event. While Canada’s mixed team has already secured a spot in the 2026 Paralympics, Ideson and Forrest will need to place highly in Stevenston to earn one of the eight mixed doubles spots for Milan-Cortina.
The pair has a long history together, with Ideson and Forrest having competed on Canada’s gold-medal-winning mixed team at the 2014 Sochi Games, and bronze-medal finishes in 2018 (Pyeongchang) and 2022 (Beijing). Forrest also won gold in Vancouver in 2010.
“We’ve developed a close bond over the last 12 years of playing together,” said Ideson. “We’ve really embraced the challenge of mixed doubles, and we feel well-prepared for what lies ahead.”
Head Coach Dana Ferguson is equally confident. “I’m excited to work with Mark and Ina, two of the most accomplished athletes in our sport. I have no doubt they’ll rise to the challenge and deliver a strong performance in mixed doubles.”
A Historic Venue:
Stevenston, Scotland, known for hosting a number of prestigious curling events, will provide a historic and inspiring backdrop for both championships. With their eyes set on top podium spots, Canada’s teams are ready to face the world’s best and aim for gold in both the World Wheelchair Curling Championship and the World Wheelchair Mixed Doubles Curling Championship.
