Thunder Bay selected to host 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
National women's curling playdowns had last been hosted in the city in 1996
The country's national women's curling championship will be heading back to Thunder Bay for the first time in 25 years.
Curling Canada on Tuesday announced the northwestern Ontario city will host the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts at the Fort William Gardens.
The annual event had last been held in Thunder Bay in 1996, when the Ontario team skipped by Marilyn Bodogh won the title. The city had also hosted the national women's curling championship in 1969.
"Thunder Bay is very proud that Curling Canada has selected our city to host this major national curling championship," said Mayor Bill Mauro.
The event is scheduled to be held from Feb. 19-28, 2021. The winner of the event represents Canada at the 2021 world championship in Switzerland.
"We're excited to welcome Canada's curling community and the thousands of spectators to Thunder Bay in 2021 that will add to our rich curling history," Tourism Thunder Bay manager Paul Pepe said. "The event is anticipated to generate millions of dollars in economic impact for our city and further solidify our national reputation as a leader in sport tourism development."
The announcement, hosted by Curling Canada, had a number of former curling champions, and hopeful curling competitors for the 2021 Scotties take part in the official event.
"Every single year our goal is to get to the Scotties, and once we get there, we want to win it so bad," said Krista McCarville, the skip for Team McCarville, based in Thunder Bay.
"We want to win the Scotties to come back as Team Canada. It would be the most amazing dream in the world to come and play in my home city as Team Canada."
McCarville has been to the Scotties starting in 2006, with seven appearances at the national event since then.
Lorraine Lang, who was part of Heather Houston's team in 1988 and 1989 which won the Scotties, and also has coached the McCarville team in the past, said it's time for Thunder Bay to host the event once again.
"The last Scotties that was held in Thunder Bay, Marilyn Bodogh was the champion. And that was like a home team. But, it was Ontario," said Lang, referring to the fact there was no Northern Ontario team at the Scotties until 2015.
"So, on behalf of my team, I'd just like to say we're ready for another Northern Ontario women's team to win the Scotties," she said to a room full of applause.
Thunder Bay's Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) said for each dollar the city invests in the event, it expects to receive an $18 return.
The CEDC said it used part of the new Municipal Accomodation Tax to help provide the $400,000 guarantee needed by Curling Canada to host the event.
Some of the figures quoted by the commission include 5,000 visitors coming to the city, with a total of 47,000 attendees. Higher airport traffic is also anticipated during the event, along with a substantial impact on the food and beverage and hospitality industries, as well as other attractions.
The total estimated economic impact will be in the $7 million rage.
Organizers said ticket information about the event will be announced next month. Opportunities for volunteers will also be posted around the same time.