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Grand Slam of Curling returns to northwestern Ontario

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The Fort William Gardens in Thunder Bay is set to host six days of elite curling competition in December.

16 men’s and 16 women’s teams from around the world will gather in northwestern Ontario for the Grand Slam of Curling (GSOC) Open. Thunder Bay last hosted in 2018 at the Tournament Centre.

“For us at the Grand Slam of Curling, returning to Thunder Bay was an easy decision. This is a community that truly understands and embraces elite sporting events,” said Nic Sulsky, CEO of The Curling Group. “The knowledge, the energy, and the appreciation for high-performance curling in this community make Thunder Bay a special stop for our athletes.”

The GSOC Open is the fourth stop on a five-event Canadian tour. It is scheduled for December 1-6, 2026. Curlers will arrive from the GSOC National in Sydney, Nova Scotia and depart to the GSOC Players’ Cup in Kingston, Ontario for the final event. More details regarding participating teams and full event schedules will be announced in the coming months.

“Sport tourism is a major economic and social contributor to Thunder Bay, and attracting more events to the city, particularly in the winter months, aligns with the new CEDC Strategic plan to grow Thunder Bay into a true year-round visitor destination,” said Paul Pepe, Thunder Bay’s Manager of Tourism. “The Grand Slam of Curling brings athletes from around to Thunder Bay and has a significant media element, generating global awareness of our community to other sport and leisure enthusiasts.”

Early-bird full-event and weekend passes for the GSOC Open are on sale today at purchase.thunderbay.ca.

Fort Frances curling club youth curlers Feb 2024 (3)

New curling body proposed for Ontario

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Ontario’s three curling organizations are proposing to become one.

Curling Ontario, the Northern Ontario Curling Association (NOCA) and the Ontario Curling Council (OCC) would become Curling Ontario.

Laura Forget, Executive Director of the Northern Ontario Curling Association, says the goal is to improve on the administration side of the sport and strengthen support to local clubs.

“By coming together, the three organizations will be reducing duplication behind the scenes and be able to put more energy and resources into supporting clubs and curlers, especially in smaller and northern communities,” says Forget.

“It’s really about what we’d be able to offer behind the scenes. So more professional support, shared resources, stronger governance, improved programming, youth development, and higher quality service is what we’re really looking to offer our clubs.”

The three organizations are currently operating with minimal staff.

Forget is the only paid person with NOCA.

She says no one will lose their job, and the combined staff of the new body will still be smaller than similar organizations in other provinces.

“This would allow us to use people more efficiently, reduce the duplication and redirect that increased capacity back to the clubs,” says Forget.

Northern Ontario has long had separate representation in national competitions despite not being a province.

Trevor Bonot in action at the 2022 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship. (Photo, Curling Canada/Melanie Johnson)

Men’s teams were first permitted to represent the region at the Brier in 1927.

Women’s teams from Northern Ontario did not earn a direct berth to the Tournament of Hearts until 2015.

Forget says that will not be taken away by the planned merger.

“We will continue to have our own team and representation at all national championships,” says Forget.

“Team Northern Ontario and the Moose are not going anywhere. That’s been made very clear in the proposal, and we have that in writing from Curling Canada.”

“We’ve got quite the brand. I’m sure if anyone has watched any of the national championships on TV, the moose call is very prominent, and it’s not going anywhere.”

NOCA and Curling Ontario are holding special town hall meetings to discuss the proposal and gather input from their member clubs.

Both will hold special meetings on March 8th for their club delegates to vote on the proposal.

The Ontario Curling Council’s by-laws do not require its members to approve the merger, but plans for a special meeting to approve the revision of its by-laws.

The plan has the support of Curling Canada, the national body.

“We know that with limited resources in the sport system, change is coming, including integration and alignment at many levels,” states Nolan Thiessen, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada, in a release.

“This discussion is exactly that type of forward thinking and proactive response. The talk of this merger shows that the Northern Ontario Curling Association, Curling Ontario and the Ontario Curling Council are prioritizing long-term vision, adaptability, and sustainable growth to provide better service to curlers and the sport of curling in Ontario.”

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Skip To Equip Cancelled Due To COVID-19

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Curlers will have to wait another year to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Bearskin Airlines Skip to Equip Classic in Sioux Lookout.

This years event has been cancelled due to the uncertainty around large gatherings and sporting events during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Organizers also realize that many of their generous patrons and sponsors have suffered financial burdens and temporary closures in recent months.

Officials say it may seem early to make a decision, but a lot of work starts happening this time of year with ticket sales and the recruitment of donations, stressing this isn’t the year to ask local businesses for support.

Planning is already underway for next year with the theme of “Coming Together Again.”

Over the past nine years, the fundraising event has raised over $600,000 for local health services in Sioux Lookout.

-Almost $400,000 has been raised for the diagnostic imaging department in the areas of mammography, ultrasound and operating room c-arm.
-Another $150,000 has been raised for long term care.
-Last year $80,000 was raised for the hospital-wide replacement of IV pumps which was expected to take three years to complete.

Organizers are hoping to hold a fun event in November for curlers across the region to get together.

 

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OFSAA Championships Cancelled

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There will be no All-Ontario High School championships for Hockey or Curling.

The four finals have been cancelled due to the Coronavirus.

The Fort Frances Muskies were scheduled to compete in Girls and Boys Hockey as well as Girls Curling.

The St. Ignatius Falcons in Thunder Bay were the NWOSSA representatives for Boys Curling.

All events were scheduled to begin after the March break in various Southern Ontario communities.

OFSAA officials stress they don’t take the decision lightly, noting the health and safety of student-athletes, coaches, volunteers and their families is their first priority.

https://twitter.com/OFSAA/status/1238514522018713602

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Bonspiel Champs; Registration Open For New Season

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The Brown rink has captured the 2020 Dryden Skins Curling Bonspiel.

The year end event was recently held at the Memorial Arena, with a windup dinner at the Royal Canadian Legion.

The team of Stewart Brown, Wade Meeks, Doug Hammond and Wayne Grandmont won the Bonspiel.

Eleven rinks were in competition.

Meantime, the Dryden Curling League is getting an early jump on new season.

14 teams competed this year.

Organizers are now accepting registrations for next year and there is room for four more teams.

Play runs from mid-October to the end of February.

To sign-up, call Trevor Szmon at 216-6950.

 

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Scotties Tickets On Sale Today

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Ticket packages for next year’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay go on sale today (Friday) at 9:00am central.

Spokesperson Diane Imrie says they will be starting with full event packages only and 2,000 tickets will be available.

They sell for $395.

Imrie says single tickets will not be available until later this Fall,

Imrie stresses she believes tickets for the National Women’s Curling Championship will sell fairly quickly, noting additional tickets may be released later this year.

If you are in Thunder Bay, tickets are available at the Fort William Gardens Box Office or you can visit https://www.curling.ca/2021scotties/tickets/

(Photo Credit: curlnoca.ca)

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Kenora Selected To Host Curling Playdowns

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The City of Kenora has landed a premier curling event.

The Northern Ontario Curling Association Playdowns will be held at the Kenora Recreation Centre in 2021.

It’s a qualifier for the Men’s and Women’s Provincial championships.

The Scotties Tournament of Hearts is being held in Thunder Bay that year, while the Tim Hortons Brier is in Kelowna, B.C.

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Thunder Bay Selected To Host 2021 Scotties

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A huge win for curling fans across Northwestern Ontario.

Curling Canada has selected Thunder Bay as the host site for the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

The women’s championship will be held February 20th to 28th at the Fort William Gardens.

Officials with the Fort William, Kakabeka Falls, and Port Arthur Curling Clubs spearheaded the bid.

The $400,000 to help pay to host the tournament would be coming from the City of Thunder Bay hotel tax.

The tournament would also force the Thunder Bay North Stars and the Lakehead Thunderwolves Men’s hockey team to find another arena for their games.

1996 was the last time Thunder Bay hosted the Scotties, when the Marilyn Bodogh rink of Ontario won the top prize.

The last time a Lakehead rink hoisted the trophy was in 1989 in Kelowna, British Columbia.

That’s when the Heather Houston team, consisting of teammates Lorraine Lang, Diane Adams and Tracy Kennedy, was victorious.

Tickets for the event will be going on sale in a month.

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