Canmore to host 2021 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship

Canmore, Alta., is set to host its first-ever national curling championship this coming season. The Canmore Golf & Curling Club will host the 2021 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship from Nov. 7-14, 2021, it was announced today by Curling Canada.

Canada’s top four-player mixed teams will compete for the national championship in the beautiful Alberta town in the Rocky Mountains.

“Canmore will play as perfect hosts for the Canadian Mixed National Championship and will offer the best in both quality competition and sightseeing,” said Mitch Minken, Chair of Curling Canada’s Board of Governors. “This event is the perfect balance between athletic skill and embracing opportunities to interact and socialize with other curlers around the country in one of the most beautiful areas of Canada.”

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancellation of the championship originally scheduled at Canmore. However, the Alberta town accepted the offer to host the event this upcoming season. 

Since the 2005 edition, the event was named for the upcoming year (for example, the 2005 event took place in November 2004) due to a scheduling change. While the 2021 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship, originally scheduled to occur in November 2020 in Canmore, was cancelled, this upcoming event will retain the 2021 name to reflect the year the event is being hosted.

“The past year has been a difficult one and we’re looking forward to hosting an exceptional Canadian curling championship,” said host committee co-chair Dennis Graham. He organizes the event alongside co-chair and General Manager of the Canmore Golf and Curling Club Darren Cooke. “We’ll be working hard over the next 10 months to make it a memorable event for everyone involved.

“It is the first time Alberta has hosted the event since Calgary in 2008, where the hometown favourite Dean Ross claimed the gold-medal victory. Alberta hosted previous renditions of the Canadian Mixed in 2000 (Lethbridge, won by Alberta’s Kevin Koe), 1994 (Leduc, won by New Brunswick’s Grant Odishaw), 1992 (Grande Prairie, won by local Kurt Balderston) and 1976 (Lethbridge, won by B.C.’s Tony Eberts).

“We can’t wait to welcome Canada’s best mixed curling teams to our province next curling season,” said Jill Richard, Executive Director of Curling Alberta. “Alberta leads the way in mixed national titles and we hope to see another strong performance on home ice next November.”

The Canadian Mixed Championship made its debut in Toronto in 1964 and won a leading 11 times by Alberta — most recently by Edmonton’s Mick Lizmore at the 2016 Championship in Toronto. Saskatchewan is next with 10 titles. 

“Canmore has a rich and proud history of delivering a warm welcome to people from around the world,” said Canmore Mayor John Borrowman. “As the Cross Country Ski and Biathlon venue for the 1988 Winter Olympics, and subsequently hosting many local, National and International competitions and events since, our community members have captured and shared the exciting moments experienced during these occasions.”

Jean-Sébastien Roy and his team from Quebec are the reigning Canadian mixed champions after winning the 2020 event in Saguenay, Que. His team will represent Canada at the 2021 World Mixed Curling Championship, currently slated to run from Oct. 23-30.

The winner of the event in Canmore will wear the Maple Leaf at the 2022 World Mixed Curling Championship, scheduled for October 2022 in Aberdeen, Scotland.