CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. – Kim Doland is one of P.E.I.'s greatest curlers and many consider her to be the best female curler ever from the province - winning 10 provincial women's curling championships.
She made her first trip to the nationals in 1983 then appeared again in 1985, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2012 and 2014. She skipped in seven of those appearances. Her best finish was fourth at the 1995 Scott Tournament of Hearts, playing third with Rebecca Jean (MacPhee) MacDonald as skip of the P.E.I. rink.
Born on April 12, 1958, in Charlottetown, Kim grew up in a curling family. The MacLeod family was active in the sport with both parents playing and teaching her the game. Kim says she had little help in getting her start.
“Mainly because of school is how I began,” she said. “I was introduced to curling through my parents. A family friend, Anne Hennessey, was looking for a new player and that was it.”
Her career started in 1974 at the Charlottetown Curling Club and that year she won her first of three Prince Edward Island Junior Women’s Curling Championships. Kim was the lead on the rink skipped by Gloria Basha with Janet Wood (third) and Hennessey (second). The Basha rink repeated in 1975 and in 1976 Kim played third on a rink skipped by Anne Merkinger. The Merkinger rink was the runners-up.
In 1980, Kim began her women’s curling career and she now holds the record for the most provincial women’s championship victories on P.E.I.
Kim’s first provincial victory was in 1983. The MacLeod rink consisted of Kim at skip, Cathy Dillon at third, Karen MacDonald at second and Kathie Burke at lead.
Kim married in 1984 and the same team (now the Dolan rink) repeated as Island champions in 1985. Kim won the provincial title again in 1987 – this time with teammates Karen Jones, Shelly Muzika, Nancy Cameron and Cathy Dillon as alternate/coach.
The 1988 Calgary Olympics introduced curling as a demonstration sport and Kim was invited to an elite Canadian camp, which would form teams that would move on to the Olympic trials. Kim was part of an Atlantic team (skipped by Nova Scotia’s Colleen Jones) that played in the trials.
Back surgery in 1990 put her on the sidelines for a few months, but she ended up winning the provincial title on a team that included Karen Jones (third), Muzika (second) and Janice MacCallum (lead).
With new teammates in 1992, she would again represent Prince Edward Island at the Scott Tournament of Hearts. This time her team included Susan MacInnis at third, second Julie Scales and lead Marion MacAulay.
In 1995, Kim decided she needed a change from skipping and joined the Rebecca Jean MacPhee rink at third along with Marion MacAulay at second and lead Lou Ann Henry. P.E.I. finished fourth at the Scott Tournament. The rink also repeated in 1997 and 1999.
The 1999 championship was special as Prince Edward Island was the host rink for the Scott Tournament of Hearts at the Charlottetown Civic Centre. Kim also chaired the host committee.
In 2012, 20 years after skipping her last team at the national championship, she returned and skipped Prince Edward Island once again. Her team included Rebecca Jean MacDonald (third), daughter Sinead Dolan (second) and Michala Robison and Nancy Cameron sharing the lead spot. They became only the 11th team in the women’s nationals to score a six-ender.
Kim’s last appearance in the Scotties came in 2014 as skip. The team included Rebecca Jean MacDonald at third, Sinead Dolan at second, Robison as lead and Jackie Reid as alternate.
Not only did she represent P.E.I. at the Scotties, but she also represented the Island four times as part of a mixed rink. John Fortier was skip in 1980 and 1981 while Bill Merlinger skipped the 1982 rink. Kim made history in 2005, becoming the first Island female skip to win the provincial mixed title.
Not done quite yet. In 2015, she won her first provincial senior championship with Susan McInnis, Sandy Matheson and Julie Scales.
Dolan goes down in P.E.I. curling history as one of its greatest players, one of its strongest builders and one of its biggest supporters for a game she has always loved.
– Compiled by Dave Holland, Queens County director for the P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame.
Need to know
A look at the P.E.I. Sports Hall of Fame 2017 induction ceremony.
When – Friday, Nov. 24. A reception will begin at 6 p.m., with the dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Where – Rodd Royalty.
Who – This year’s inductees are: Kim Dolan (curling), Ken (Trixie) Dunn (builder baseball/hockey), Debbie MacMurdo (builder figure skating) and the 1964-65 Saint Dunstan's Saints (hockey).
Tickets – The event is sold-out.
