NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO CURLING COUNCIL
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The Ontario Curling Council, recognized Provincial Sport Organization for amateur curling in Ontario is hosting the Canada Winter Games Trials in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. at the Community First Curling Centre home of Soo Curlers’ Association from Jan. 3-6, 2019. The winners of the event will represent Ontario at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alta. from Feb. 15 to March 3, 2019.
67 teams, aged 17 and under participated in pre-qualification events in Orillia, Renfrew, Oshawa, St. Catharines, Orangeville, Capreol and Kakabeka Falls earlier in 2018, which qualified eight boys teams, and eight girls teams for the Canada Winter Games Trials in Sault Ste. Marie.
In the Canada Winter Games trials, teams will play a round robin from Thursday to Saturday. Semifinal action will take place on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2019 at 7 p.m., and finals will be Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019 at 9 a.m.
Opening ceremonies took place at 1 p.m. at the Community First Curling Centre on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Team Jacobs and Mayor Provenzano will be participating in the opening ceremonies.
Closing ceremonies will take place at the completion of the final on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019 at approximately 11:30 a.m. and MPP, Ross Romano will be in attendance to help with prize presentations.
Members of the public are welcome to come and watch the future of Ontario curling. Attendance is free.
Participating Teams
Men’s
- Team Del Conte – Hamilton Victoria Curling Club, Hamilton
- Team Harding – Fort William Curling Club, Thunder Bay
- Team Leung – Whitby Curling Club, Whitby
- Team Massey – Bayview Curling Club, Toronto
- Team Rooney – Dixie Curling Club, Toronto
- Team Hocevar – Dixie Curling Club, Toronto
- Team Inglis – RCMP Curling Club, Ottawa
- Team Hales – Community First Curling Centre, Sault Ste. Marie
Women’s
- Team Croisier – Idylwylde Golf and Country Club, Sudbury
- Team Deschenes – Manotick Curling Centre, Manotick
- Team Harris – York Curling Club, Newmarket
- Team Hebert – Port Arthur Curling Club, Thunder Bay
- Team Steele – Port Perry Curling Club, Port Perry
- Team Byers – Haliburton Curling Club, Haliburton
- Team Guilbault – Oshawa Curling Club, Oshawa
- Team Vivier – Navan Curling Club
About the Canada Winter Games
The Canada Winter Games were first held in 1967 in Quebec City as part of Canada’s Centennial celebrations. These games are held every two years, alternating between Canada Winter Games and Canada Summer Games. Provincial level athletes from ages 12 to 18 qualify through a regional selection process conducted by the Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs).
For many athletes, the Canada Winter Games are the high point of their athletic career and are often a stepping stone toward participating in Canada Games, Pan Am Games and the Olympic Games.
Featuring 19 sports, over 150 events and a major arts and cultural festival, the 2019 Canada Winter Games will welcome up to 3,600 athletes, managers and coaches and more than 20,000 visitors.
The 2019 Games will be the largest event ever hosted in Red Deer and central Alberta and one of the largest events to be hosted in Alberta in over three decades, since the 1988 Calgary Olympics.
Forecasted to generate a significant economic impact, the 2019 Games will provide a stage for Canada’s next generation of national, international and Olympic champions to compete. The 2019 Canada Winter Games is the 27th edition of the Canada Games and the third time the Canada Games have been hosted in Alberta. Previously, Alberta hosted the Canada Games in 1975 (Lethbridge) and 1995 (Grande Prairie).
Notable Curling Alumni – Historically, the Canada Winter Games has been an important stepping stone in an athletes’ development – 38 per cent of athletes at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics had previously competed at the Canada Winter Games including world champion and Olympian, Rachel Homan. Other notable curling athlete who have competed in the Canada Winter Games include; Kaitlyn Lawes, John Morris, Marc Kennedy and Mark Nichols.
About the Ontario Curling Council
Together, the Ontario Curling Council, CurlON and the Northern Ontario Curling Association represent the largest amateur curling organization in the world; approximately 55,000 athletes and 240 affiliated clubs in communities across the province. Curling is a lifelong sport with our participants ranging in age from 4-99. We are an inclusive, accessible sport – with equal opportunities for all.
The Ontario Curling Council has been making a concerted effort to improve and become a leading Provincial Sport Organization in the province and country. We are closely aligned with our National Sport Organization, Curling Canada and are considered a best practice organization in our sport. We are focused on strengthening our curling clubs through increased participation.
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