
Canadian Olympic gold medalist Kevin Martin of Killam, Alberta will receive the Order of Canada. Martin skipped Canada to Olympic gold in men’s curling at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, and a silver medal at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.
In the gold medal game of the Olympic Winter Games 14 years ago, Canada defeated Norway’s Thomas Ulsrud 6-3 in the final. It was a perfect Olympic Winter Games for Team Canada, as they won all 11 games. Martin won alongside third John Morris of Winnipeg, Manitoba, second Marc Kennedy of St. Albert, Alberta, and lead Ben Hebert of Regina, Saskatchewan,
Martin also won the gold medal at the 2008 World Men’s Curling Championship in Fargo, North Dakota. In the final, Canada defeated Scotland 6-3. Martin also won four Briers–in 1991 in Hamilton, Ontario; in 1997 and 2009 in Calgary, Alberta, and in 2008 in Winnipeg.
At the turn of the century, Martin played a key role in the formation of the World Curling Tour. Since his retirement, Martin has stayed active with the Tour as an analyst for Rogers Sportsnet. Off the ice, Martin owns a curling store in Edmonton, Alberta.
Two more Canadians connected to the sports world are also being honoured with the Order of Canada. They are football player Laurent Duvernay-Tardif of Mont-Saint-Hilaire, Quebec and sports broadcaster Scott Oake of Winnipeg.