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
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
Documents reveal Ottawa's efforts to get Loblaw, Walmart on board with grocery code
It was evident to the federal government as early as last fall that Loblaw and Walmart might be holdouts to the grocery code of conduct, jeopardizing the project's success.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Improve balance and build core strength with this exercise
When it comes to cardiovascular fitness, you may tend to focus on activities that move you forward, such as walking, running and cycling.
'I just want to be safe': Ukrainian man in Canada faces limbo amid consular freeze
A recent decision to restrict consular services for fighting-aged Ukrainian men has made a Ukrainian man in Canada feel less certain of his next steps — and worried he could be pulled back to the war.
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.