They Sweep No More: Les Waddell - July 5, 2026

24 July 2026

Leslie Waddell, a Founding and Honorary HCC member, passed away July 5, 2026. Les was a longstanding member who freely volunteered his time making many significant contributions to the club. For several years on the Ice Team he helped make and maintain our ice. He and his best friend and wife of 54 years Judith assisted with various events, including teaching Little Rocks and delivery of the “Learn to Curl” program to beginners.

Les was the consummate gentleman, an avid reader and a gifted storyteller - a friend to all. He was a skilled curler who enjoyed the competitive side of the game as well as the social aspects. When his team played in the Ottawa Valley league, his first question wasn’t "who are we playing", it was "where are we going for lunch?” His welcoming personality made making friends easy for him. He will be sorely missed by his many friends and family.

Celebration of Life: Saturday, August 15, 2026, at the Kinburn Community Centre from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. All are welcome, just as Les would have wanted it.

Leslie Waddell Obituary and Celebration of Life Details

They Sweep No More: Tom Nishizaki - March 24, 2026

24 July 2026

Tom Nishizaki, a Founding and Honorary member, passed away March 24, 2026. He was a driving force in getting the Huntley Curling Club off the ground, making significant monetary donations, followed by many years of contributions to the Club, especially during the formative years when his technical expertise was in demand.

He was one of “the boys” along with Stewart Hitchcock and Wayne Coyne who put together many banquets using the famous HCC washing machine oven, as well as organizing and working Carp Fair breakfasts and helping with many other work projects. He made friends easily with his low-key manner and will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Philip Downey - June 28, 2025

09 July 2025

We are saddened to learn that Honourary Member Philip Downey passed away on June 28th, 2025. Phil was a member of the original organizing team that started the HCC, one of a few committed people who invested the time and money needed to begin the construction of the building. Phil served as President during a stressful time when our membership lagged, using his leadership and influence in the community to encourage and engage other local Carp community members and leaders to support the club. Under his stewardship the club grew with expansion to the club we have today.

Phil's energetic personality, his willingness to get involved and his leadership were a major factor in the early development and success of the club. Phil enjoyed both the competitive and social side of the game, a friend to many, a true ambassador for HCC.

He will be missed by his many friends and family.

Derick MacKenzie - May 6, 2025

08 May 2025

Derick "DMack" MacKenzie was a force. Whether on the ice or off the ice socializing and just playing cards, everyone around him knew he was there. As a curler, he was fiercely competitive and fully engaged in his role, supporting his team and preferring a win. Timely wit was a DNA sport for DMack and he was good at it. Even in the most dire situations or no situation at all, with a wry ear-to-ear grin and gregarious look, Derick took every advantage to poke around and make everyone around him laugh. Always fun to be around, Derick had a youthful passion for live music, especially new and modern genres. He was an avid participant of concerts and shows of artists that most of us have never heard of, even if it was Screamo. If he could crowd surf, he would.

Aside from Derick's curious bluster and presence, he was gentle, kind, giving of his time and a devoted family man. Derick was a relentless volunteer at the curling club and served on the Board as Building Director for many years. He was always on call to help the ice team install or remove ice and was often first on the scene to answer building alarms and do whatever was required at the time. He fixed, he cleaned, he painted, he constructed, he even cooked. Some of his favourite volunteering activities would have been setting up and working the BBQ tent during Carp Fair. For many years he was a big part of the 24-hr marathon cooking of the "dishwasher" beef and serving the participants of the Madhatter bonspiel.

All in all, Derick just wanted everyone to feel welcome, content and at home and his reward was to see us all smile and laugh. As a curling club, we were very lucky to have Derick as a member and as a friend, we couldn't ask for any better. He will be sorely missed. Derick passed away on May 6, 2025.