The $30 million tribute to a curling icon

The Nova Scotia Curling Association has officially renamed the women's provincial championship trophy in honor of the late curling legend and cherished CBC broadcaster Colleen Jones. The announcement was made Sunday at the annual Nova Scotia Curling Celebration of Excellence awards held at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax.

The winner of the women's provincial championship will now hoist the Colleen Jones Memorial Trophy, a fitting tribute to a woman who dominaed the sport for decades and left an indelible mark on her home province.

Colleen Jones passed away on November 25, 2025, at age 65 after a three-year battle with cancer. Her career in curling spanned five decades, during which she won a record-tying six national titles, an unprecedented 16 Nova Scotia provincial championships, and competed in 21 Scotties Tournament of Hearts events.

A legacy that extends beyond the ice

Beyond her curling achievements, Jones enjoyed a remarkable 37-year career at CBC, where she became the first female sports anchor in Nova Scotia. She later hosted CBC Newsworld and covered ten Olympic Games for the network, returning to CBC Nova Scotia as a reporter in 2012 to share stories from her community.

Earlier this week, she was posthumously inducted into the CBC News Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Neptune Theatre in Halifax. Her legacy also includes being inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame in 2016 and being invested into the Order of Canada in 2024 by Governor General Mary Simon, recognizing both her athletic accomplishments and broadcast career.

What's next for the Colleen Jones Memorial Trophy?

The renaming of the provincial trophy ensures that her name will forever be associated with the championship she cherished. as her son Luke noted, it has been fulfilling to work with the association to build toward this announcement.

The Colleen Jones Memorial Trophy now stands as a permanent reminder of her passion for the sport and her home province. Hundreds of curlers, supporters, and family members gathered for the unveiling , cheering loudly as the trophy was revealed.

On each table, a pack of gum was placed as a nod to Jones, who famously chewed gum during her games. Her son, Luke Saunders, expressed his gratitude, saying, "Colleen loved home and loved playing in the provincial championships in Nova Scotia. She met lifelong friends on the ice, found her identity competing locally, and loved trying to win this trophy. This all feels really fitting. It's a nice touch and honour for my mom."

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The Nova Scotia Curling Association has not publicly disclosed the identity of the unnamed buyer who donated the funds to rename the trophy in honor of Colleen Jones.

However , the association has confirmed that the donation was made in recognition of Jones' contributions to the sport and her legacy as a curling icon in Nova Scotia.