Jim Armstrong

After a successful career on the British Columbia Curling Team, Jim converted to wheelchair curling in 2007 when he started using a wheelchair as a result of knee and back injuries. Jim began curling in 1958 when he was only eight years old and since then he has accumulated a long record of medals and achievements. As an able body athlete, Jim has competed in the Canadian Brier six times, twice as a Skip and is the only curler to have won the Ross Harstone Award for Sportsmanship and Ability three times. This award was of great significance to Jim since it is an award voted on by his peers who hold great esteem for Jim and for all he has done for the sport.  He served as an on-ice official at various major championship and as president of the World Curling Players’ Association from 1997 to 1999.

Jim’s biggest achievement to date is skipping his team to the gold medal at the 2010 Paralympic Games. In 2009, Jim also skipped his team to win gold at the World Curling Championships that was held on home turf in Richmond, BC.  He is member of the Richmond Curling Club and is currently coached by Joe Rea.

Sadly, in September 2009, Jim lost his biggest fan and supporter when his wife Carleen passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.  Jim’s three children; Jody, Jayme and Greg, were cheering on  their father to a gold medal performance.

Jim has this view of his new found sport, "Wheelchair curling is a great game, a real roller derby of curling. Playing again has meant so much to me. I play and practice during the week with Darryl (Neighbour) and I am getting to know the others on my team. I wish I knew more about the teams we will be playing, and of course on any given day any team can win. But with the experience we have gained this year, and a year of seasoning for those on the team last year, we plan to at least be playing on the weekend."