Legendary Curler and Broadcast Journalist Colleen Jones Passes Away at 65
November 25, 2025 – Nova Scotia icon remembered for groundbreaking achievements in sports and media
Colleen Jones, who built an extraordinary legacy as both a champion athlete and pioneering journalist, has passed away following her fight with cancer. She was 65 years old.
A Curling Career for the Ages
Jones established herself as one of Canada’s most decorated curlers, capturing world championship titles in 2001 and 2004. Her dominance on the national stage was equally impressive, securing six Canadian women’s championships throughout her career.
Her presence at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts became legendary—she competed in 21 editions of the national championship and holds the record for most games played in the tournament’s history. Later in her curling journey, she led Canada to victory at the 2017 world senior women’s championship.
Jones began her competitive curling journey early, winning her first of 16 provincial titles in 1979 at just 19 years old, also earning silver at the Canada Games that year. Three years later, she became the youngest skip to ever claim a Canadian women’s championship.
Her athletic achievements earned her induction into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame in 2016, following her 2011 induction into the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame alongside teammates Nancy Delahunt, Mary-Anne Arsenault, and Kim Kelly. She was inducted again individually this past June.
Breaking Barriers in Broadcasting
Jones joined CBC in 1986, becoming Halifax’s first female sports anchor—a groundbreaking achievement in what was then a predominantly male industry. She spent nearly four decades with the broadcaster, retiring in 2023 after bringing countless stories of remarkable Canadians into homes across the country.
Throughout her broadcasting tenure, Jones covered 10 Olympic Games, reporting from cities ranging from Atlanta to Pyeongchang. She often noted that her reputation as an athlete helped her gain acceptance in the sports journalism field.
Jones received the Order of Canada in 2022, recognizing her role in opening doors for women in both athletics and media.
A Life Philosophy Shaped by Experience
After surviving a severe bout of bacterial meningitis in 2010, Jones adopted a philosophy centered on gratitude and living fully in the present moment.
In her 2015 memoir, “Throwing Rocks at Houses: My Life in and out of Curling,” she wrote about the importance of pursuing happiness without delay and appreciating each day, acknowledging that the future is uncertain.
Jones spoke passionately about the expanding opportunities for women in athletics, expressing satisfaction at witnessing the growth of women’s basketball, hockey, and soccer in recent years.
“Women can dream these dreams, too, of building a career through sport,” she reflected in a recent interview.
Continuing Her Legacy
Even after retiring from broadcasting, Jones remained deeply involved in curling, coaching her son’s team at the Brier—the Canadian men’s championship—earlier this year.
She expressed joy at the opportunity, noting it fulfilled a longtime aspiration to participate in the prestigious tournament.
Jones died on Tuesday morning at her home in Maders Cove, overlooking the ocean, with her family by her side, according to a statement from her son Luke.
She leaves behind her husband Scott Saunders, sons Zach and Luke, and one grandson.
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