Cotter, Barker of Kamloops to join B.C. Curling Hall of Fame

“Very proud of those the five Olympic trials because B.C. kind of gets that reputation a little bit of being soft – like, ‘You live in B.C., no wonder.’ But no one can take away the five Olympic trials because that’s all of Canada and it doesn’t matter where you live,” Cotter said.

Cotter – who coached Korea in mixed doubles at the 2018 Olympics – said reaching the 2025 mixed doubles trials playoffs with his daughter, Jaelyn, is a highlight.

“I know it’s cliche… but the challenges of what we had to get through to get there were off the charts, so it was pretty cool,” Cotter said.

He said it was an honour to coach Team Brown.

“It was awesome,” said Cotter, who was inducted to the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame in 2014. “All of them are very coachable people, just eager to learn. I actually curled with Brian Fisher (former Brown rink lead Sam Fisher’s father) as juniors, and Kenny Brown (former Brown rink skip Corryn Brown’s dad) was like an idol growing up. I was blessed that they asked.”

Cotter might have left Kamloops in 2023, but the Vernon resident makes one thing clear: “Kamloops is home and it always will be. It makes me think back to being seven years old, growing up around the curling club. Without that, the programs and access to the curling club, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

Cotter is chasing more Brier and Olympic trials appearances.

He recently formed a Vernon-based men’s team that includes third Jared Kolomaya of Kamloops.

“I definitely don’t have the burning desire like I used to,” Cotter said. “I think the last thing I want to do is start up a young B.C. men’s team, try to develop a professional team, especially here in the Interior. I sort of see phasing myself out of this team and replacing myself with another 25-year-old or something like that and then coming in maybe more in a coaching role.”

Barker’s dedication to curling has landed her all sorts of provincial, national and international recognition.

“This one is sort of an all-encompassing kind of award,” she said of the Hall of Fame nod. “It’s for the administration, it’s for the curling, it’s for the officiating. It just encompasses it all.”

The 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts chief umpire has helped — a lot — at every level imaginable, from 60-plus Masters events in diminutive B.C. towns such as Ashcroft to the Olympic Winter Games in South Korea.

She has plied her craft at three Olympics, 20 World championships (six as chief umpire), 20 Canadian championships (eight as chief umpire) and too many B.C. championships to count.

Barker said she looks back fondly on experiences all over the world and relationships established with curlers and officials.

“I think the three Olympics I did have to be the highlights, for sure,” Barker said. “You don’t ever apply to be an official at an event and to be invited to do those events was quite an honour.”

Barker is a life member of the Kamloops Curling Centre, the BC Ladies’ Curling Association and Curl BC. She earned the Sport BC Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2021 was inducted into the Governor General’s Curling Club.

A longtime administrator, she has served as president of the B.C. Ladies Curling Association, vice-president of Curl BC and as a director for Curling Canada and the Sandra Schmirler Foundation.

“It’s a real honour to go in with Jim because he’s such a gentleman,” Barker said. “We all know his curling accolades, but not as many people know what kind of a person Jim is.”

Curl BC paid tribute to Soligo in a social media post.

“A former Canadian champion, world silver medallist and Olympic bronze medallist, Melissa has also made an incredible impact off the ice,” the post reads. “From coaching South Korea’s national teams to leading Canada’s and BC’s wheelchair curling programs, she continues to shape the future of the sport as Curl BC’s high performance director, mentor coach and a respected commentator.”

by Marty Hastings

Cotter, Barker of Kamloops to join B.C. Curling Hall of Fame

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