NOCA hires technical coordinator for curling development

NEWS RELEASE

NORTHERN ONTARIO CURLING ASSOCIATION

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NOCA Names Henderson as Technical Coordinator

September 2, 2008 - The Northern Ontario Curling Association (NOCA) is pleased to announce that Richard (Dick) Henderson of Thunder Bay has been hired as the organization’s first Technical Coordinator. In this new role Mr. Henderson will be responsible for organizing curling courses and camps in Northern Ontario in addition to assisting with the promotion and development of curling.

“I am very energized with the thought of working with the many talented coaches, instructors, and athletes in Northern Ontario,” states Mr. Henderson. “The challenge of delivering programs and organizing partners through the vast geographical boundaries of Northern Ontario is significant. I welcome this challenge and am thrilled to be part of this new direction for curling in Northern Ontario.”

Dick brings a vast amount of experience to this position having coached at the local, provincial, national, and international levels. Dick recently returned from Germany where he served as National Coach with the German Curling Federation from 2002 to 2007. Dick is a N.C.C.P. Level III certified coach who has been extensively involved in curling development in Northern Ontario as a Learning Facilitator for Curl Ontario and an instructor at many youth and high performance camps. His 30 years as a school teacher will also be an asset in his new position.

“We are very excited to have Dick on the NOCA team,” says NOCA President Al Gemmell. “Dick brings a wealth of experience to the position, and under his leadership, curling development will flourish in Northern Ontario.”

The NOCA was officially formed in June 2007 to serve as one strong governing body for curling in Northern Ontario for the area stretching from the Manitoba border to Moose Factory to Mattawa. The NOCA will unveil details about a number of development initiatives in the coming weeks. Thanks to funding from the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion, these include “Let’s Go Curling Weekends” and various coaching courses across the North as well as a High Performance Camp for Bantam age athletes.

Dick Henderson will be based in Thunder Bay and may be contacted at [email protected], or 807-621-4259.

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