CANMORE – Curling Canada is sticking with Canmore as host of its 2021 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship.
Announced earlier this week, the national competition taking place between Nov. 7-14 at Canmore Golf & Curling Club (CGCC) will determine the Great White North’s top mixed four-player team at the 2022 World Mixed Curling Championship.
As the first Curling Canada championship being held in the mountain town, the local club is excited to be the host – again.
"We’re excited to have something to look forward to. Its been disappointing; all our bonspiels have been cancelled," said Dennis Graham, host committee co-chair, who's organizing the event alongside co-chair and general manager of CGCC, Darren Cooke.
"I think we’re all looking forward to being able to host some of the top players in Canada mixed and getting curling back on track like everything else."
We are thrilled to announce that Canmore will be hosting the 2021 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship this November!
— Tourism Canmore Kananaskis (@TourismCanmore) January 28, 2021
Read more about this exciting announcement here: https://t.co/1N7eGkiJyU#Canmore | #Kananaskis | @CurlingCanada | @CanmoreGolf pic.twitter.com/sKN2kTYBID
Come November, there will be 14 teams competing – one representing every province and territory. The games will be played on CGCC's four sheets of ice inside the venue that offers an in-house viewing area, granted health regulations allow spectators to watch in-person.
Television and streaming coverage will be determined by Curling Canada at a later date.
The club accepted Curling Canada’s offer to host after last year’s mixed championship, scheduled for November in Canmore, was cancelled due COVID-19.
Given the circumstances, hosting in 2021 will likely be a better fit for the club, explained Graham.
“It would have been an event that would have to be different than we originally hoped for,” said Graham. “A big part of curling is the social aspect and if we did host it, we were probably looking at an event with zero spectators … a year delay might actually work out better for us.
"What will hopefully happen with the economy is it’ll be a little bit of a boost during the off-season, bringing in teams and tourism here."
It’s not new for Canmore to host major events as its grown into a Mecca for sporting events locally and internationally.
“Canmore will play as perfect hosts for the Canadian Mixed National Championship and will offer the best in both quality competition and sightseeing,” said Mitch Minken, chair of Curling Canada’s board of governors in a press release.
“This event is the perfect balance between athletic skill and embracing opportunities to interact and socialize with other curlers around the country in one of the most beautiful areas of Canada.”
It will be the first time Alberta has hosted the mixed championship since Calgary in 2008.
The winning team will represent Canada at the World Mixed Curling Championship in October 2022 in Aberdeen, Scotland.
