Suzanne Bertrand

Team: Curling

Year Received: 1988

Bio: Suzanne started her curling career in Saskatchewan at the age of 12.  In 1967 she moved North to the Yukon to begin her teaching career.  In 1981 she began as a curling volunteer at the old Whitehorse Curling Club as an assistant instructor in the junior curling afterschool program.There are  hundreds of young curlers who have been touched by Suzanne. In 1985 Suzanne obtained her Level 1 NCCP certification, in 1987 her Level 2, in 1994 her level 3 NCCP certification and at the time of her death she had only 4 courses left to receive her level 4 NCCP Certification. She was also a certified Level 2 course conductor and a Master Learning Facilitator for curling.

Her career as a curling coach began in 1987 and saw her take teams to the junior nationals again in 1988, 89, 96 & 97. These teams consisted of her daughter Michele and in 1988 and 89 her daughter in law, Dawn. In 1988 her team won bronze at the juniors, this team consisted of her daughter Michele and daughter in law Dawn.

In 1997 her team was recognized as Team of the Year by the YCA. In 1999 she was recognized nationally with the 3M Coach of the year award. In 2004 she received the Volunteer of the Year award from the City of Whitehorse, a well deserved award for her tireless hours spent volunteering for curling programs, coaching and countless hours heading up bingo volunteers for the Whitehorse Curling Club. In 2005 CCA recognized Suzanne with a Volunteer of the Year Award for Canada. In 1995, 1999 and 2003 Suzanne coached teams at Canada Winter Games, also in 1999 Suzanne again took up the reins of coaching and coached a men’s rink at the Brier. In 2000 and 2003 she coached her son Chad’s rink to brier success again. During this time Suzanne also coached Yukon teams at various Arctic Winter Games with one of the teams winning a gold ulu in 1988.