Rick Folk, Lindsay Sparkes, Deb Morrissey inducted into BC Curling Hall of Fame

Editor: Keith Parry
Date: 2026-10-14

Now the dust has settled on the frantic startup of curling season, we'd like to share this pretty amazing celebration we had for the three Canadian and World Champion curlers that call the Comox Valley home. Our friends at Curl BC launched the BC Curling Hall of Fame recently, and we had a nice start of the season ceremony for inaugural inductees Rick Folk, Lindsay Sparkes, and Deb Massullo (Morrissey). Curling Canada board chair Teri Palynchuk made the trip to honour the trio of amazing curlers! Below is emcee Adam Duncan's introduction speech. Congratulations to Rick, Lindsay, and Deb! Thanks to Teri and Adam and everyone who came out for the ceremony and to brush up to these legends!

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Ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, and members of the curling community, welcome to this special evening as we celebrate the induction of three true legends into the BC Curling Hall of Fame.
As the emcee tonight, I have the immense privilege of taking you on a journey through the lives and achievements of Rick Folk, Lindsay Sparkes, and Deborah Morrissey (nee Massullo). These three individuals represent the absolute pinnacle of our sport. They have carried the maple leaf on the world stage, stood atop podiums, and demonstrated what true grit and mastery on the ice look like. Even better, we get to call all three of them our neighbors right here in the beautiful Comox Valley.

Here are the stories of our three honorees.

Rick Folk

When you talk about icons in Canadian curling, the name Rick Folk commands instant reverence. Born on March 5, 1950, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Rick grew up in a province where curling is practically a religion. From the moment he first picked up a broom as a young boy, it was obvious that he had an innate feel for the ice and a sharp tactical mind. By 1970, he had already captured the Saskatchewan Junior Men's title, signaling to the rest of the country that a formidable new talent had arrived.

Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Rick built a reputation as one of the most versatile and clutch skips in the game. He proved his skill across multiple disciplines, claiming Canadian Mixed
Championships in 1974 and 1983. But it was in men's play that he truly forged his legacy. In 1980, skipping his famous Saskatoon rink with Ron Mills, Tom Wilson, and Jim Wilson, Rick won
the Brier in convincing fashion. That victory earned them the right to represent Canada at the Air Canada Silver Broom World Championship. At a time when Canadian dominance on the
international stage was facing fierce global competition, Rick’s team snapped an eight-year world championship drought for Canada, bringing home the gold medal and cementing their place in Canadian sports history.

After establishing himself as a Saskatchewan legend, Rick made the move west to British Columbia in the late 1980s. Many athletes might have settled into comfortable retirement after achieving
ultimate glory, but Rick was far from done. He set up shop in Kelowna and began dominating the BC curling scene, capturing provincial titles in 1989, 1993, 1994, and 1995. His 1994 season remains one of the most remarkable second acts in Canadian sport. 14 years after winning his first national title for Saskatchewan, Rick skipped his BC team of Pat Ryan, Bert Gretzinger, and Gerry Richard all the way to a Brier victory. He followed that up by capturing his second World Championship title, proving that true championship pedigree is timeless. Rick became one of the very few skips to win Briers and World Championships representing two different provinces.

Beyond his incredible shot-making and strategic brilliance, Rick also contributed to the literary canon of our sport, co-authoring classic curling instructional books that helped train generations of
swept-in enthusiasts.

Today, Rick calls the Comox Valley home. Whether enjoying a quieter pace of life on Vancouver Island or sharing his wisdom with local curlers, he remains a giant of the game. Ladies and
gentlemen, please join me in honoring a two-time World Champion, Brier legend, and now BC Curling Hall of Famer, Rick Folk!

Lindsay Sparkes

Our next inductee is a pioneer of women’s curling whose name is synonymous with excellence, grace, and relentless competitive drive. Lindsay Davie was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, in 1950. Raised in North Vancouver, she began curling at the North Shore Winter Club during an era when junior programs were just beginning to take root. Guided by early mentors and surrounding herself with talented teammates, Lindsay quickly blossomed into one of the most dominant skips in western Canada.

Her breakthrough came in the mid-1970s. Skipping her North Shore rink alongside Dawn Knowles, Robin Wilson, and Lorraine Bowles, Lindsay captured her first Canadian Women's Curling
Championship in 1976 after an intense playoƯ victory. She proved that was no fluke three years later in 1979 by taking home her second national crown as a skip.
While her achievements as a skip already ensured her status as a hall of famer, Lindsay possessed the rare humility and team-first mindset to adapt as the sport evolved. In the 1980s, she joined
forces with Linda Moore, stepping into the third position. What followed was one of the most historic runs in curling history.

In 1985, the Moore team—with Lindsay throwing third stones—went on an unbelievable winning streak. They stormed through provincials, went undefeated through the Scott Tournament of Hearts national championship, and carried that momentum all the way to the World Championship in Jönköping, Sweden, capturing the world title. That incredible 23-game win streak remains one of
the most legendary accomplishments in Canadian sports history.

Three years later, in 1988, Lindsay reached the apex of global sport. Curling was featured as a demonstration sport at the Winter Olympic Games in Calgary. Standing before home-country
crowds, Lindsay and her teammates wore the maple leaf with immense pride, winning the Olympic gold medal for Canada.

When her competitive playing days concluded, Lindsay transitioned into coaching and leadership, serving as a national team coach and leader for the Canadian Curling Association. In this role,
Lindsay brought her immense wealth of experience to Canada's top teams, working alongside legendary rinks—including serving as national team coach and leader during the era of Sandra
Schmirler's historic world and 1988/1998 championship runs. Following Sandra's tragic passing, Lindsay was also one of the foundational figures who helped establish the Sandra Schmirler
Foundation in 2001, carrying forward Sandra's legacy to support neonatal intensive care units across Canada.

Today, Lindsay resides right here in the Comox Valley, enjoying the island lifestyle while remaining a beloved figure in our sporting community. Ladies and gentlemen, let us raise a hand for an Olympic Gold medalist, World Champion, multiple-time Canadian champion, legendary coach, and new BC Curling Hall of Fame inductee, Lindsay Sparkes!

Deborah Morrissey (nee Massullo)

Our third inductee tonight represents the absolute best of British Columbia’s rich curling tradition, bringing passion, precision, and championship pedigree to every sheet of ice she stepped onto.
Born Deborah Massullo in Powell River, British Columbia, Deb grew up surrounded by the beauty of the Sunshine Coast and Vancouver Island. She picked up curling as a young girl, drawn to both the
chess-like strategy of the game and the camaraderie of the club house. Her natural talent and fierce work ethic were apparent early on, leading her to represent BC at the Canadian Junior Championships, where her team finished as runners-up and signaled the arrival of a special talent.

Deb’s defining moment on the national stage came during the historic 1986–87 season. Playing second for the legendary Pat Sanders rink out of Victoria, alongside third Georgina Hawkes and lead Louise Herlinveaux, Deb entered the provincial playdowns in Fort Nelson. To win the BC crown, they had to battle past the reigning world champion Linda Moore rink—a daunting task that Deb and her team accomplished with steady nerve and brilliant execution.

Advancing to the 1987 Scott Tournament of Hearts in Lethbridge, Alberta, the underdog BC team put on a clinical display of team dynamics and precision shot-making. Deb’s solid play in the front
end provided the foundation for the team's offense, helping them capture the Canadian Championship.

From Lethbridge, Deb and her teammates traveled to Chicago, Illinois, to represent Canada at the 1987 World Women’s Curling Championship. On the international stage, facing the finest teams in the world, Deb played with cool confidence. The Canadian team marched through the tournament, culminating in a thriller of a final match to capture the World Championship gold medal.

Deb’s victory in 1987 brought immense pride to British Columbia and showed young girls across the province that world-class excellence could be achieved right here at home. Her dedication to the sport, both on the ice and as a supportive teammate, exemplifies the true spirit of curling.

In the years following her world championship run, Deborah married, becoming Deborah Morrissey, and eventually settled down in the Comox Valley. She remains an integral part of our local
community, bringing that same warm spirit and champion’s grace to everything she does.

Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in celebrating a World Champion, Canadian champion, and a remarkably deserving inductee into the BC Curling Hall of Fame, Deborah Morrissey!