Veteran Kamloops curling umpire back home officiating the Scotties

KAMLOOPS — The 2023 Scotties Tournament of Hearts has brought Kamloops an elite level of curlers with the likes of Kerri Einarson and Jennifer Jones. When it comes to being an umpire, nobody has more experience than Dianne Barker. Officiating for more than 35 years has taught her a lot about the sport.

“I think every event that you do, you learn something,” said Barker. “Whether it’s from the other umpires or curlers, you learn from your mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes — I’ve made mistakes. But you learn from them and hopefully don’t make that mistake again.”

“You just make a different one next time,” she added, laughing.

Through her experience as an umpire in the Winter Olympics and the Scotties, Barker’s knowledge of the game is well appreciated by the Brett Waldroff, who is the Executive Chief Umpire for Curling Canada.

“To me, she is the best umpire we have in Canada because she has this knowledge based on the experience of so many Canadian championships, so many world championships and the Olympics, as well,” said Waldroff.

Barker has officiated many Briers, including the one in 2014 when Kamloops last played host. She gives a ton of credit to the city for giving her the opportunities she’s received throughout the years.

“In a big city, sometimes you’re not noticed. In a smaller city, you get the opportunities and then you get sort of identified because you’ve had the opportunity to do it.”

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts will conclude on Sunday (Feb.26).