Thompson Rivers University alum Jim Cotter (CS ’01) is one of British Columbia’s most accomplished curlers. For more than three decades, he has excelled as both a player and coach — and he’s still active in the sport.
In 2014, Cotter entered the Kamloops Sports Hall of Fame following a silver medal winning performance at the Brier. In 2026, he learned he was being inducted into the BC Curling Hall of Fame.
“It’s a real honour and came as a huge surprise,” he says. “I’ve been fortunate to be surrounded by a lot of great people, including phenomenal teammates, and when you have that kind of support, it breeds success.”
For the Kamloops-born curler, the recognition provided an opportunity to reflect on a history in the sport that began when he was a preschooler and includes three BC High School Curling Championships, two BC Junior Championships, 10 Brier appearances, multiple Olympic Trials qualifications and decades of competing and coaching at the highest levels of the sport.
Growing up in the Kamloops neighbourhood of Brocklehurst, curling was woven into family life and some of his earliest memories are of accompanying his parents to the Kamloops Curling Club. He recalls hours spent watching elite curlers at major events, learning from some of the sport’s biggest names and cheering for local teams.
While many young athletes compete only with peers, Cotter played alongside his parents and sister in mixed leagues from a young age, often competing against adults.
“It was very cool to be a part of that,” says Cotter, adding that playing against more experienced players taught him early on the value in losing. “I’ve always been a firm believer, to get better, you’ve got to play teams that are better than you.”
His parents helped build junior curling in Kamloops, and at its peak, the program drew approximately 300 young curlers to the rink every Saturday morning.
Love for curling runs in the family
That foundation helped launch a curling career that exceeded anything he imagined as a child. Yet among his most meaningful experiences has been the opportunity to share the sport with his own family, including his wife, Bobbi, and children Jaelyn, Taylor and Emerson.
One of the most memorable chapters of Cotter’s career came alongside his eldest daughter, Jaelyn, when she was 15 years old. In 2016, the duo teamed up to help her gain experience as a skip, but the union quickly evolved into something much bigger. Father and daughter won the bonspiel and went on to take the provincial title. Their next goal was to earn a berth at the Canadian Mixed Doubles Olympic Trials.
“It was my greatest curling experience ever,” he says.
The achievement was special not only because he experienced it with Jaelyn, but also because they took on the tremendous feat of qualifying for the Olympic Trials together.
“We decided that if we were going to represent our country, we had to earn it. We entered the hardest events so we could play the best teams, teams that had won Olympic medals,” Cotter says, adding that qualifying came down to the very last game. Close on points, Jaelyn had to make the draw to win the game and she did it.
“For us to come out on top and qualify was through the roof!”
At the Olympic Trials, they continued to have success and made it through to the playoffs. While that’s where their shared Olympic journey ended, the memories they made together will stay with them forever.
Mentoring the next generation
Today, Cotter is increasingly focused on mentoring younger athletes and helping strengthen the future of curling in British Columbia. He continues to compete while working to develop the next generation of players.
Among the many lessons curling has taught him, one stands above the rest.
“Always bring the best version of yourself,” he says. “Win or lose, we’re all trying our hardest, so be a good teammate.”
It’s a lesson that extends beyond sport, into careers, families and friendships. And for a Hall of Fame athlete whose life has been shaped by all three, it may be the legacy he’s proudest to pass on.
