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Photo by Curtis Galbraith
Provincials to GP

Grande Prairie to host 2022 Alberta men’s and women’s curling championships

Mar 24, 2021 | 1:46 PM

Two big Alberta curling events are coming to Grande Prairie in January.

The Boston Pizza Cup, which decides the men’s provincial champion, and the Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts, which will determine the women’s champion, are both set for January 3 to 9, 2022 at the downtown arena.

The winner of the men’s tournament will go on to represent Alberta at the 2022 Tim Horton’s Brier, while the women champion will serve as Team Alberta at the 2022 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

The 2022 Scotties is set for January 28 to February 6 in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The 2022 Brier goes March 4 to 13 in Lethbridge.

Curling Alberta says it wanted to make the championships “a bigger, flashier event” by combining the two and having them at the same time.

“Piloting a combined championship will offer many advantages. Most importantly, if the pandemic throws us yet another curveball as we approach January, we will be ready to pivot as needed if it means we can keep people healthy and the championships can proceed this upcoming season,” says Curling Alberta Executive Director Jill Richard in a news release.

Curling Alberta had hoped to host a combined event this year, but the pandemic scrubbed those plans.

“We are looking forward to hosting and organizing this wonderful event,” adds Grande Prairie Curling Centre President Keri Bruce. “The Peace Region boasts a hotbed of curlers and fans and we are thrilled that all levels of local government have offered their enthusiastic support.

“This event will be hugely welcomed by the community as we emerge from some trying times.”

Organizing Committee Chair Ray Mildenberger says “We are fortunate to have a strong foundation of supportive businesses and a great volunteer base from the host club, the Grande Prairie Curling Centre.

“We have a lot of experience hosting successful, high-profile events, as we did in for the 2006 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship, the 2015 Home Hardware Canada Cup and the 2016 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, and I’m confident we will make our community proud once again.”

Sportsnet will televise the semi-finals and finals on January 8 and 9.