Swift Current bringing 2023 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship back to Saskatchewan

The best of Canada’s mixed curling teams will compete in Swift Current, Sask., at the 2023 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship, it was announced today by Curling Canada.

The Swift Current Curling Club will host the 59th edition of the Canadian Mixed, Nov. 5-11, 2023, and it’ll be the second straight year the championship will be hosted in Saskatchewan after Prince Albert stages the 2022 Canadian Mixed next month.

“It is no surprise that Saskatchewan is passionate about curling. That is one of the reasons why it makes sense to bring the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship back to the province for the second year in a row. Swift Current excels in hosting curling events – from local grassroots bonspiels to world-calibre championships – and the host committee in place for 2023 will make it a memorable experience for the 14 teams competing for the national title,” said Curling Canada CEO Katherine Henderson.

The 2023 Canadian Mixed Championship winner will represent Canada at the 2024 World Mixed Curling Championship (dates, location TBA by the World Curling Federation).

It will be the second time Swift Current has played host to the Canadian Mixed. In 1993, Nova Scotia won the mixed crown led by skip Scott Saunders and six-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion Colleen Jones at vice-skip.

“We are excited to be hosting the 2023 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship. With our history of hosting successful world and provincial championships, we know that we will, once again, host a very exciting and entertaining championship. Our dedicated volunteers look forward to welcoming the athletes from across Canada, their families and friends to the Swift Current Curling Club, the InnovationPlex, the City of Swift Current and the great Southwest,” said Host Committee Chair Melody Robertson.

It will mark the eighth time Saskatchewan hosts the event: in 1978 at Saskatoon (won by Saskatchewan’s Bernie Yuzdepski), in 1984 at Prince Albert (won by Saskatchewan’s Randy Woytowich), the 1993 event at Swift Current won by Saunders, in 1997 at Kindersley (won by Chris Johnson of Northern Ontario), in 2001 at Weyburn (won by Quebec’s Jean-Michel Ménard), in 2005 at Prince Albert (won by Newfoundland & Labrador’s Mark Nichols) and the upcoming 2022 event also staged in Prince Albert this November.

“CURLSASK is thrilled to bring the 2023 Canadian Mixed Championship to Swift Current, with the event being held in Saskatchewan on back-to-back years with the 2022 event held in Prince Albert. The Swift Current Curling Club has a history of hosting world-class events and will ensure curlers from across the country are welcomed with open arms to showcase the uniqueness a small prairie town has to offer,” said CURLSASK Executive Director Kellyn Geiger.

Swift Current has twice hosted the World Women’s Curling Championship. In 2010, Germany’s Andrea Schoepp claimed the world title, while Switzerland’s Binia Feltscher celebrated in Swift Current after winning in 2016.

“We are thrilled to welcome the 2023 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship,” states Swift Current Mayor Al Bridal. “It’s a great opportunity to showcase our beautiful city, extend our prairie hospitality and ignite the passion of our volunteers, spectators, and athletes alike. We anticipate a very exciting competition!”  

Teams representing Saskatchewan have won the Canadian Mixed 10 times, including most recently in 2015 by Swift Current’s own Max Kirkpatrick foursome. Other Saskatchewan wins came in 1967, 1968 and 1974 by Larry McGrath; in 1974 and 1983 by Rick Folk; in 1978 by Yuzdepski; in 1984 by Woytowich; in 1996 by Randy Bryden; and in 2012 by Jason Ackerman.

Alberta has won the event a leading 11 times. However, Quebec has all the momentum at the Canadian Mixed after winning the past two championships. 

Quebec’s Ménard won the 2021 Canadian Mixed in Canmore, Alta. His team will represent Canada at the 2022 World Mixed Curling Championship in Aberdeen, Scotland, from Oct. 15-22. 

The 2022 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship will run from Nov. 6-12 in Prince Albert.