Taina Smiley

Mission Staff:
Women’s curling coach

Province: Alberta

Previous Games:
N/A

Her Sports Debut:
She started playing curling in High Prairie, Alberta with her parents in a school league when she was in middle school at 12 years old. Then, she started coaching when her daughter was in junior curling.

Her First International Competition:
World Deaf Curling Championship 2017 in Sochi, Russia was her first international experience. It was Deaf worlds with the Canadian Ladies team. It was a wonderful experience, connecting with other countries and cultures.  Bringing home the Bronze medal was the icing on the cake!

Her Goal for the 2019 Winter Deaflympics:
Representing Canada well, and bringing home a gold medal!

Her Biggest Accomplishment in Her Sports Career:
Her biggest achievement in her career is watching the team develop and evolve into the great team that they are now; Working hard on all parts of the game, and making tough decisions to make the team work.

More About Taina Smiley: 
She only loves curling!

Her Motto:
“You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them” Michael Jordan

In the news:

• Thunder Curlers Claim CCAA 2018-19 National Title (March 20, 2019)
• Thunder Open Curling Season in Red Deer for Bonspiel #1 (November 26, 2018)
• Makichuk delivers bonspiel win (November 10, 2017)
• Local curlers abound at provincial championships (January 31, 2014)
• Edmonton’s Sweeting claims final spot in national curling finals (November 10, 2013)
• Sochi 2014: Val Sweeting rink earns Canadian Olympic trials berth (November 10, 2013)