Jones’ mother cheering daughter on to the very end

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This article was published 23/02/2024 (591 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

CALGARY — It’s the bell that’s been heard around the world.

It started back in 1994 when a promising young curler from Winnipeg named Jennifer Jones was competing at the Canadian junior curling championship in Truro, N.S.

A few of the players’ dads went out on a booze run one day — as any good curling parent should — and while out, Jennifer’s father Larry came across a bell from a CN train and purchased it.

Eager to make some noise in the stands, his wife Carol suggested he put a handle on it.

One flick of the wrist and people will hear it from the parking lot.

“I ding it when there’s a reason to ding. It’s unfortunate for the peope in front of me, but I try to be (respectful),” said Carol, now 80, with a laugh.

Jennifer won the junior crown that year, but her mother never imagined she’d be ring-a-ding-dinging that thing for the next 30 years in rinks all over the world.

An Olympic gold medal, two world championships, and six Canadian crowns, Jennifer has given no shortage of reasons to “ding.”

Carol’s been there in person for most of Jennifer’s big achievements (she thinks she might’ve missed one of her now 18 appearances at women’s nationals, but isn’t 100 per cent sure), so, of course there was no way she was going to miss this week in Calgary to witness her daughter’s last hurrah at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Larry died in 2019, but his loving wife thinks he would’ve been overjoyed to see how Jennifer has been celebrated by competitors, teammates, fans, and everyone in between.

A few days before nationals kicked off, the 49-year-old skip announced to the world that this is her last dance in the women’s game (she plans to keep playing mixed doubles with her husband Brent Laing). Carol knew ahead of time, but once it was made public, it started to sink in.

In a way, it has felt like a retirement for her, too.

“That day, I was going to an appointment, and I got there early. I sat in my car and I cried for 10 minutes. Not because of extreme sadness, but just because it’s emotional. It’s kind of like losing somebody you love,” said Carol. “I didn’t call her. I did not verbally talk to her, I just sent a couple of heart emojis, that’s all I said. I knew I’d be talking to her later, I just wanted her to know that I knew, and I was thinking about her.”

There’s a lot she’ll miss. Seeing Jennifer become the face of women’s curling has been the thrill of a lifetime, but it’s the people she’s bonded with through the sport that has made it extra special.

Mid-interview, an older woman sitting in her walker nearby politely touched Carol — who was wearing a custom-made hoodie with “Jones” on the back — on the arm to ask her how she’s connected to the Manitoba rock thrower.

The woman happened to be at the WinSport Event Centre to cheer on the St. Vital Curling Club icon.

“I’m her mother,” Carol proudly said. “Give me a few minutes, I have a surprise for you.”

The celebrity’s mom later dug into her purse and pulled out an envelope of pictures autographed by Jennifer and handed one to the fan. She was thanked with a big hug.

“For me, I’m most proud of the person that (Jennifer) is,” said Carol.

The apple clearly doesn’t fall far from the tree.

Some of Carol’s favourite people she’s met thanks to curling made the trip with her. She became good friends with Cathy Marks, Nicole Berard, and Gail Cabana-Coldwell when they were volunteer drivers at the 2003 world men’s curling championship in Winnipeg and here they are, more than 20 years later, still going strong.

Marks, Berard, and Cabana-Coldwell were determined to lend their love and support this week. The group of four have been wearing black hoodies featuring a golden buffalo on the front with six stars to represent all of Jennifer’s Scotties wins.

There’s room to add a seventh, of course.

“It’s unbelievable what Carol does alone to support Jen so that Jen can be out chasing her dreams,” said Berard. “It’s actually mind blowing what Carol does. To be a part of it is special, it really is.”

The competitive curling circuit constantly takes Jennifer away from her current home in Horseshoe Valley, Ont. From late August to April, she doesn’t get many weekends with her daughters Isabella, 11, and seven-year-old Skyla.

Grandma Carol has become an expert at packing luggage as she travels back and forth from Winnipeg to Ontario numerous times throughout the season, staying weeks on end, to help with the girls.

“She’s the greatest grandma of all time. She retired when I had kids so she could watch the kids. She never ever wanted me to retire for any other reason other than myself,” said a teary-eyed Jennifer earlier this week.

“She’s 80 years old, and she’s still watching our kids. She drives them all around Ontario on the highway. Even to this day, she’s like, ‘If you still want to keep curling, I’m here for you.’ She’s amazing, the girls have such a connection with her. She’s the most spectacular person I’ve ever met and I think everybody who knows her will say the same thing.”

Heading into the final weekend, Carol will need to have her bell nearby. Jennifer is two wins away from ending her sensational Canadian career with the ultimate “ding.”

“Regardless of what happens in the next two days, my pride is overwhelming,” said Carol. “Everything else from now on is icing on the cake.”

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @TaylorAllen31