Curling legend Kevin Martin draws Order of Sport, joining loaded Class of 2025
'When it comes to an honour like the Order of Sport, you're in a group with all the athletes of all the different sports — and that means a lot,' said Martin
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Kevin Martin was forever on the mark during his legendary curling career.
He made and executed nearly all his calls …
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Curling legend Kevin Martin draws Order of Sport, joining loaded Class of 2025 Back to video
Both on and off the ice.
And for his curling success, he’s been named to receive the Order of Sport, Canada’s highest sporting honour.
“When it comes to an honour like the Order of Sport, you’re in a group with all the athletes of all the different sports — and that means a lot,” said Martin, of the announcement made Tuesday by Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. “But you don’t really worry about this stuff when you’re playing. All you do is get out there and try your best, and then wherever it all falls into place, it does.
“And then stuff like this happens at a later date, and you go, ‘Wow! That’s cool.’ Very big honour.”
Martin joins not only an elite club but an elite athletes class, as the 2025 inductees also include soccer legend Christine Sinclair, alpine skiing sensation Erik Guay, para-athletics performer Michelle Stilwell and softball superstar Darren Zack.
The two builders in the class of 2025 are philanthropist Martha Billes and hockey’s Ted Nolan.
“Definitely, you do not take it lightly,” said Martin of the call to order. “I’ve actually heard from quite a few of people already, which has been pretty nice. Mostly, it’s just a congratulations, which is fantastic to hear from a lot of people.”
The 58-year-old native of Killam, Alta., touched many others during his career — and still does as a major advocate for the sport he has helped grow.
“Between the junior curling and the events and the Grand Slam curling and the players association in the ’90s and all those various things that I got myself into all those years ago, that means a lot, because that’s off the ice,” Martin said. “That’s helping the game at a later date — growing the sport.
“Whereas winning is just yourself.”
And he won a lot.
At the provincial level, Martin skipped 12 rinks to Alberta titles, and he is a four-time Brier victor, advancing to win the world championship in 2008.
Twice, he represented Canada at the Olympics, winning the gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games.
Plus Martin has copped more grand-slam championships than any other curler.
“The obvious answer is the Olympic gold in 2010,” said Martin, when asked to list his most memorable achievements. “The 18th grand slam win meant a ton, too.
“And helping to get the grand slams started meant a ton. Like developing it and getting it going was important, because that was necessary for a sport to grow internationally.”
Of course, he’s not the only giant of this year’s CSHoF class.
Sinclair, from Burnaby, B.C., is the all-time leader for international goals scored by men or women with 190 in 331 appearances with the Canadian women’s team. She was an Olympic gold medallist in 2021 and twice a bronze medallist before retiring from the national team in 2023. Sinclair, 41, is now a co-owner of the Northern Super League’s Vancouver Rise FC.
Guay of Mont-Tremblant, Que., is a two-time world champion and the oldest to claim a world title when he took the super-G crown at age 35. He reached the podium 25 times on the World Cup circuit, and won five gold before he retired in 2018. Guay, 43, is an Alpine Canada board member.
Stilwell of Parksville, B.C., is a five-time Paralympic champion in wheelchair racing and also helped the women’s basketball team claim Paralympic gold in 2000. Stilwell, 50, served as an MLA in the B.C. government from 2013-20 and was elected vice-president of the Canadian Paralympic Committee this week.
Zack, of Garden River, Ont., is an Ojibwe softball pitcher who helped Canada win Pan American Games gold in 1991, ’95 and ’99, as well as a world championship in 1992. Zack, 64, struck out 150 batters in 10 straight wins for the Toronto Gators at the 1995 International Softball Congress.
“No question, it’s a great class,” Martin said. “Christine … yeah … she’s a large name in Canada. No question, the best in the business.
“Of course, I’m a big ball fan, and so that’s very cool to be on the same call as Darren.”
Nolan, also from Garden River, won the NHL’s coaching award in 1997 in his second season behind the bench of the Buffalo Sabres. He coached the Sabres for four seasons and the New York Islanders for two. Nolan, 67, and his sons established a First Nations hockey school and the Ted Nolan Foundation provides scholarships to First Nations women.
Billes, controlling owner of Canadian Tire Corporation, founded the company’s Jumpstart program that assists financially disadvantaged families with the costs associated with sport. Jumpstart is in its 20th year.
“Each year, we are inspired by the incredible number of nominations that come in from coast to coast to coast — submitted by students, families, communities and sport leaders — who truly understand the power of sport to transform lives,” said Cheryl Bernard, president and CEO of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. “The Class of 2025 is nothing short of extraordinary. Their achievements and impact extend well beyond the field of play. Their stories of resilience, leadership, and lasting legacy will continue to unite and inspire Canadians for generations to come.”
The class of 2025 will receive the Order of Sport at an induction gala Oct. 29 at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que.
The Sports Hall of Fame has inducted more than 750 Canadians, including three horses, since opening 70 years ago.
— With files from The Canadian Press
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