A Spallumcheen resident is being recognized nationally for her accomplishments on the ice.
Ina Forrest has been named to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.
“It was a surprise to receive the call,” said Forrest.
“I was on my way home from our last training camp before going to the World Championship when Curling Canada called, and my first thought was I better play well at Worlds to be deserving of this. So, I am surprised and delighted to be considered, and also appreciative that I have had amazing teammates. I am but one part of a very collaborative curling effort.”
Since taking up wheelchair curling in 2004, Forrest has won three World Wheelchair Curling Championship gold medals and two Winter Paralympics Games gold medals, and been a member of Team Canada since 2007.
Forrest will attend her eighth consecutive World Wheelchair Championship, beginning Sunday in Lucerne, Switzerland.
She was an alternate for Team Canada in 2007, and has been in the lineup ever since, winning world gold medals in 2009, 2011 and 2013. Additionally, she helped Canada claim Paralympic gold in 2010 at Vancouver and 2014 at Sochi, Russia.
Others being inducted into the hall of fame are curlers Darryl Neighbour, Earle Morris and Pierre Charette and journalist Bob Weeks.
“All five of our 2016 inductees have made huge contributions to the sport of curling, on and off the ice, and their achievements deserve to be recognized,” said Scott Comfort, with Curling Canada’s awards and hall of fame committee.
The awards banquet is March 9 in Ottawa.