It’s safe to say curling was Janette Phillips’ lifelong passion, given the countless volunteer hours and endless energy the Winnipegger devoted to growing the sport for future generations.
For 50-plus years, the Fort Garry Curling Club was a home away from home, where her tireless efforts as a builder of the game were rooted.
It wasn’t unusual to find her there doing volunteer work late into winter evenings or even in the summer months when curling was on a break.
Supplied It wasn’t unusual to find Janette at the Fort Garry Curling Club doing volunteer work late into winter evenings or even in the summer months when curling was on a break. ‘She was a volunteer extraordinaire,’ says longtime friend Carol Fraser. 
“She was a volunteer extraordinaire,” said longtime friend Carol Fraser. “The Fort Garry was exceptionally lucky, because they had her.”
Among her many board roles or accolades in Manitoba’s close-knit curling scene, Phillips continues to draw praise for co-ordinating the Fort Garry’s junior program and encouraging young people to take up the game.
“She wanted the kids to excel in the sport. If they stayed interested, then curling would excel,” said Fraser, a former manager of Winnipeg’s Heather Curling Club.
Phillips served as a mentor to friend Marge Winters and other women at a time when curling boards of directors were mostly made up of men.
“She was on those boards for years. Just getting on those boards was difficult,” said Winters, who met Phillips about 20 years ago when they served together with the Manitoba Ladies Curling Association.
Friends said Phillips had the kind of volunteer resumé that could have warranted a nomination as a builder in the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame.
“She just had this incredible drive,” said Winters. “She took the sport seriously and delved into what could make it better.”
Phillips, an honorary life member of Curl Manitoba and a recipient of its volunteer award, died at Seven Oaks General Hospital on Aug. 11. She was 81.
She remained involved in curling as long as she could. Health issues disrupted her ability to volunteer in her later years, which was very tough on her, friends said.
Supplied For 50-plus years, the Fort Garry Curling Club was a home away from home, where Janette’s tireless efforts as a builder of the game were rooted. 
Born in Swan Lake on Oct. 26, 1941, Phillips grew up on a family farm, where her chores included feeding chickens, milking cows and helping in the garden.
After her family moved to Miami in 1957, she graduated from high school and settled in Winnipeg, where she worked at the Manitoba legislature from 1960 to 1997.
She enrolled in business classes in the evenings to advance her career, and eventually oversaw a branch of Manitoba’s social services during her decades as a civil servant, according to an obituary.
Phillips, who never married and didn’t have children, was remembered as a caring aunt who never missed sending birthday cards to her nieces and nephews.
Some of her vacation time was spent entertaining them in Winnipeg, taking them to sporting events and the planetarium.
In her spare time, Phillips enjoyed going to symphony concerts, meeting friends for brunch on Sundays and planting and arranging flowers.
She was a keen follower of Britain’s Royal Family and an avid traveller.
Sports were a big part of her social life. She was a catcher in a women’s softball league and also tried her hand at golf, but nothing drew her in like curling.
Many of her lasting friendships were formed as a player and volunteer.
Supplied Janette Phillips, who died in August at the age of 81, drew praise for co-ordinating the Fort Garry’s junior program and encouraging young curlers. 
Phillips and Jean Watt became friends when the former joined the Fort Garry’s business girls league. Phillips was its secretary at the time.
Watt was one of the friends Phillips would meet for monthly or regular suppers or lunches, where there was a lot of talk about curling, family, friends and goings-on in the world.
“She was very kind-hearted. She thought there was good in everybody,” said Watt. “She was loyal in everything she did.”
Phillips helped Watt learn the ropes when she took over as secretary of the business league.
“She did an awful lot for the curling world,” said Watt. “She wanted to grow the sport. She wanted it to succeed.”
As they got on in years, their regular dinners became weekly phone calls. Curling was still a main talking point. So, too, were TV show recommendations.
Fraser met Phillips about 25 years ago while attending curling meetings. They bonded while grabbing a bite to eat after meetings.
Phillips was always ready to lend advice, and she was just as willing to lean on her peers for support. She and Fraser shared their expertise and supported each other while running events or clubs.
Phillips gravitated toward volunteering while curling in the business girls league at the Fort Garry, which used to be located on Main Street near Mayfair Avenue. The club, which is nearing its 100th anniversary, has been located at 696 Archibald St. since 1997.
Supplied Given the countless volunteer hours and endless energy Janette (left) devoted to growing the sport for future generations, it’s safe to say her lifelong passion was curling.
Phillips served on the board of directors and worked on a variety of committees, including membership and fundraising.
She became president of the Fort Garry’s business girls and the club itself, later receiving honorary life memberships for both.
“I think it was more of a home than her home, quite frankly,” said Fraser. “She had energy. Morning to night, she was on the go.”
Phillips also served as president of the Winnipeg Curling Club Association.
She was a delegate for the Manitoba Ladies Curling Association, which involved volunteering for city zones and provincial championships.
Winters said Phillips was very knowledgeable about the sport and a strong supporter of its integrity.
“She loved seeing the game being played right,” said Winters.
Phillips’ passion was the Fort Garry’s junior program, which she co-ordinated for many years. Her preparations for a new season began months in advance to ensure the program had a full roster.
She did everything she could to ensure the experience was fun and meaningful for the young curlers, said Fraser.
Supplied Janette Phillips in 2010.
At competitions, she made sure all the kids had a trophy or prize, because she wanted everyone to feel a sense of accomplishment.
She organized Christmas parties and year-end banquets for the children. Winters and Phillips worked together on a junior curling jamboree that was held every spring break.
Some of the kids who took part became some of the country’s elite curlers.
“She was a pretty amazing woman,” said Winters. “She loved the sport. You have to love it to put that amount of time and energy into it.”
Chris Kitching
Reporter
As a general assignment reporter, Chris covers a little bit of everything for the Free Press.
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