Canada鈥檚 best curlers over 50 will be heading to Vernon in 14 months.
The Vernon Curling Club will play host to the 2023 Everest Canadian Senior Championships, as announced by the club, Tourism Vernon and the Sport and Culture Society of the North Okanagan on Thursday, Sept. 8.
鈥淭his puts us on the world stage,鈥� said Josh Welder, executive director of the society.
The championships will run Dec. 4-10, 2023 at the Vernon Curling Club and will feature 28 teams 鈥� 14 on both the men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 sides, representing Canada鈥檚 14 member associations.
鈥淲e received an outstanding bid from the Vernon Curling Club 鈥� and that made our decision very clear, and we know the athletes and their families will have an enjoyable experience,鈥� said Katherine Henderson, Curling Canada CEO. 鈥淭his is a highlighted event on the Curling Canada competitive calendar because it brings together old friends from past and renews competitive rivalries, and it reminds us that curling is truly a sport for all ages.鈥�
Making the announcement at the curling club Thursday afternoon, Welder said that based on past events, the economic impact of the championships can be expected to be in the range of $1-$1.5 million, with hotel bookings by Curling Canada to exceed 600 rooms.
Welder also lauded Dave Merklinger, the club鈥檚 general manager who helped secure the bid, as 鈥渙ne of the world鈥檚 best ice-makers.鈥�
The event will mark Vernon鈥檚 third time hosting the women鈥檚 championship and the second time hosting the men鈥檚 championship.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to continuing this tradition with our curling executive committee,鈥� said renowned Canadian curler Randy Ferbey. 鈥淢e and my fellow committee members Jennifer Jones and Cheryl Bernard are excited to promote the sport we love.鈥�
In 2008 Vernon hosted the World Women鈥檚 Curling Championship with Canada鈥檚 Team Jennifer Jones winning gold. The city also hosted the 1992 Canadian Junior Men鈥檚 and Women鈥檚 Championships when Quebec鈥檚 Team Michel Ferland claimed the men鈥檚 title and Saskatchewan鈥檚 Team Amber Holland won the women鈥檚 title.
鈥淥n behalf of the City of Vernon and council I am pleased to welcome all the athletes, their families and friends, and all the fans of great curling to our community,鈥� said Mayor Victor Cumming. 鈥淎ttracting events like the 2023 Everest Canadian Senior Curling Championships to Vernon is further confirmation that the city is an outstanding year-round travel destination.鈥�
The winners of the championships will go on to represent Canada at the 2024 World Senior Curling Championships, with the location and date of that event yet to be announced.
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