Whether it’s behind the mic or behind the rock arch, Colleen Jones has always been a trailblazer.

For more than 40 years, Jones has broken new ground for women in sports and broadcasting with her ability to adapt, survive and pivot — it has allowed her to become a champion on and off the ice.

The six-time national champion and two-time world champion were announced Thursday as one of 99 new people appointed to the Order of Canada, one of the country’s highest civilian honors.

“I was shocked. Really shocked. Wasn’t expecting it to come,” Jones said from his home in Halifax where he works as a reporter for CBC. “I love curling in general because I think it speaks to what power curling can bring to other Canadians. The power of the sport. I just do what I do. Only in hindsight do you realize you carved a small path.”

Another Nova Scotia athlete – NHL star Sidney Crosby – was also named to the Order on Thursday.

Jones, 63, grew up in Halifax as one of nine children. They were a kinky family and throwing rocks started early in Jones’ life.

In 1979, at just 19 years old, she won her first of 16 provincial titles, as well as a silver medal at that year’s Canadian Olympics.

When she was 22, Jones became the youngest jumper to win a Scotties Tournament of Hearts title when she, along with her sisters Barbara and Monica and Kay Smith, emerged victorious in the 1982 event at Regina.

Victory would elude Jones for nearly two decades after that first win, especially as she shifted her priorities from nesting to a career, and eventually motherhood.

Jones became a reporter and broadcaster with CBC in 1986 and two years later joined veterans Don Wittman and Don Duguid on CBC Sports’ curling broadcasts.

“I think you always have a case of nervousness and self-confidence. And then you start to learn the magic of dealing with that nervousness in broadcasting and curling. The microphone was probably shaking when I walked in to do the broadcast with Wittman and Duguid, who to my mind are legends. They were so friendly and guiding me. It really inspires me,” said Jones.

Jones said the audience was not very welcoming at first.

“It was a really hostile environment for a woman to be on kinky national broadcasts at that time with Don and Don,” Jones said. “People were on the fence about it and curlers were really excited about the way it’s always been done so when they took me, in no small way either, there was resistance.”

Undeterred, Jones remained on the air through 1997 and also reported on sports and other news. He has reported for CBC at a number of Olympics and has also co-hosted That Curling Show with CBC Sports reporter Devin Heroux.

“To be honest, the support I got from CBC to go out into the world and pursue my dreams has been amazing. They opened up a lot of avenues for me. It was huge.”

WATCH | Curling Show with Colleen Jones and Devin Heroux:

That Curling Show: What’s happening to grassroots curling across the country

Devin Heroux and Colleen Jones discuss why so many historic curling clubs have closed in Canada with former GM of the Granite Curling Club in Saskatoon, Steve Turner. Granite Curling Club announced it would be closing its doors after 93 years.

Jones had two sons, Zach and Luke, with husband Scott Saunders, and when her children were older, she returned to curling in a meaningful way.

“I have a strong family support system. Scott has always supported me. Without him in my corner none of this would have happened. Same with my siblings. I snuggled up with my sisters my whole life. And my teammates. They always raised me me no matter what. You never do any of this alone,” said Jones.

In 1999, Jones teamed with Kim Kelly, Mary-Anne Arsenault and Nancy Delahunt, and 17 years after winning her first national title, Jones led the Nova Scotia foursome to glory once again. The team went on to win five national championships in six years, including four in a row with Scotland.

The time span between national championships is a record.

“The 17-year gap between wins really feeds into the idea that if you stick around, good things can happen,” said Jones. “I think that’s what our team represents – possibility. We were never picked to win. We are older, I think I am 39. We are career women. We are mothers. And we bring it all together. It represents a different image about who can win and how they can win.”

Jones added two world titles and also won two Canadian mixed championships and one world senior championship.

He’s won some sort of national or world championship title in four different decades.

“I try to focus on the trifecta of motherhood, career, and curls and try not to mess it up. I never lose focus on that. Those are my three things.”

Jones continued to curl, mostly competing with Luke in the mixed doubles bonspiel.

“To this day people say ‘if you can do it, I can do it,'” Jones said. “In everything I’ve done in my life, there’s been a critique of performance from broadcasting to curling to motherhood: What did I do right? What can I learn? And the driving force of all of this is if you do what you love , that is easy.”

Crosby, widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players ever, has won three Stanley Cups and two Olympic gold medals as a member of Team Canada. He famously scored the OT winner at the Vancouver Olympics in 2010.

In 2018, Cole Harbour, a NS native was named Nova Scotia’s greatest athlete of all time by the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame. Jones was just behind Crosby in second.

“He was an incredible role model in every aspect of his life,” said Jones.

“He was alone in another class. Everyone in the province respected him a lot. Perfection in every area. He replied in many ways. I knew Sidney since he was young because my son played against him. While he set his record as a rookie youth player, he did without egos.”