HISTORY OF NORTHERN ONTARIO CURLING ASSOCIATION (NOCA)
The Northern Ontario Curling Association (NOCA) was officially established on May 1, 2007, through the amalgamation of four regional organizations: the Northwestern Ontario Curling Association, the Northern Ontario Ladies Curling Association, the former Northern Ontario Curling Association, and the Temiskaming & Northern Ontario Curling Association. Prior to this, curling in the region was administered by the Northern Ontario Curling Federation.
The amalgamation created a single governing body dedicated to supporting, promoting and developing the sport of curling across Northern Ontario—from the Manitoba border to Moose Factory and east to Mattawa. The new Association was officially launched on June 2, 2007, in Sault Ste. Marie with the signing of its constitution, the unveiling of the NOCA logo, and the appointment of Leslie Kerr as the Association’s first Executive Director.
Northern Ontario occupies a unique place in Canadian curling. As a Member Association of Curling Canada through the Northern Ontario Curling Association (NOCA), it has long been recognized as its own competitive region by Curling Canada, sending separate men’s and women’s teams to national championships. Northern Ontario has been represented at the Montana’s Brier since its inception in 1927, and since 2015 has also earned its own entry at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, reflecting the region’s rich curling tradition and history.
For nearly two decades, NOCA served as the provincial sport organization for curling in Northern Ontario, supporting clubs, athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and championship events while advocating for the unique needs of the North.
On May 1, 2026, NOCA entered a new chapter in its history through a member-approved merger with Curling Ontario and the Ontario Curling Council. The merger created a unified provincial organization designed to strengthen services, increase organizational capacity, and provide greater support to clubs and participants across Ontario, while preserving Northern Ontario’s proud competitive identity and its separate representation at national championships. The merged organization has systems in place to ensure the northern voice is captured throughout the organization at all levels.
Today, this website remains home to the history and records of Northern Ontario curling and continues to serve as the hub for Northern Ontario championship competitions, celebrating the athletes, volunteers and clubs that have shaped the region’s proud curling legacy.