Best U18 curlers in Canada are in Timmins this week
The U18 Canadian Championship curling event has been a long time coming to Timmins.
Postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event is now officially underway and runs until Saturday (Feb. 11) at the McIntyre Community Centre.
Organizers said it is a dream come true.
"It’s just amazing, I can’t describe it any other way," said Steve Meunier, the president of the McIntyre Curling Club.
"We have nine sheets going at one time, so it’s both sides. It’s impressive because everything’s under one roof."
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Every province and the Northwest Territories are represented. There are a total of 42 teams competing. More than 170 athletes along with 42 coaches and many family members have descended on northern Ontario.
Organizers told CTV News this is the biggest curling event Timmins, Ont. has hosted. It's bringing more than $4 million to the local economy and is showcasing the future stars of Canadian curling.
“These are the best U18 curling athletes the country has to offer bar none," said Andrew Denny, a writer and editor for Curling Canada.
"They’ve earned their right to represent their province or their territory and they're here and it’s the best youth curling that you’re going to find.”
Whichever team wins this championship will be crowned the best of its age group in the country.
"In the near future you will see these young men and women playing in the Tournament of Hearts; the Brier,” said Meunier.
“This experience gives them what it would feel like if they were playing in those particular tournaments cause the ice is set up exactly in the same fashion."
A competitor from Edmonton, Alta said she's been playing since she was seven or eight years old.
"I hope to go to the Olympics you know become a professional, go all the way," said Allie Eiskiw.
Tourism Timmins is taking advantage of the opportunity to connect with people from all over the country and has a booth set up for the week.
Lacey Rigg with the City of Timmins is operating a tourism both at the McIntyre Community Centre during the U18 curling championships. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)"If I have an opportunity to talk to people who are interested in whether it’s snowshoeing or dogsledding, skiing, tubing, you know, I’ll do that so I’m going to continue pushing Timmins, to our great outdoors, and more and I hope people will come back in the summer," said Lacey Rigg, coordinator of meetings, conventions and sports tourism with the City of Timmins.
Organizers said they hope after showcasing their ability to host a sporting event of this size that they can bring in more and larger scale competitions in the future.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.
Colin Jost names one celebrity who is great at hosting 'Saturday Night Live'
Colin Jost, who co-anchors Saturday Night Live's 'Weekend Update,' revealed who he thinks is one of the best hosts on the show.
Nearly half of China's major cities are sinking, researchers say
Nearly half of China's major cities are suffering 'moderate to severe' levels of subsidence, putting millions at risk of flooding especially as sea levels rise.