The Season of Champions Kicks Off Summer in Southern Saskatchewan

Everyone loves a parade – and that includes the volunteers for the 2012 Capital One Canada Cup of Curling heading to Moose Jaw November 28-December 2 in Mosaic Place, the city’s new state-of-the-art arena. The annual Moose Jaw Hometown Fair and Rodeo – an institution in the city for more than a century – started with the parade down Main Street, Thursday, June 21 and the Canada Cup crew manned one of the more than 50 floats that made the way from the top of the hill to the heart of downtown. “After a long spell of rainy weather, it was great to see the first day of summer bring us an ideal evening for the Hometown Parade,” said Derek Dejaegher, Director of the Paint the Town & Community Events Committee.  “Thanks to Ian Clothier, owner of BNC Truck and Trailer for providing the transportation and all the volunteers who helped create our giant rock… just to let everyone know that big-time curling is coming to our town.” The fair opened Friday, June 22 and continued through the weekend at the Moose Jaw Exhibition Grounds with all kinds of entertainment… including a midway, live music and professional rodeo competitions. The Canada Cup promoters also took a short trip south over the weekend to the town Gravelbourg for the 12th edition of the Summer Solstice Festival d’été, one of rural Saskatchewan’s largest and most diverse open-air musical events. Moose Jaw’s renowned curling coach Merv Fonger, and his wife Roberta, joined Dejaegher to promote the Cup in the community that has earned a reputation as a “Touch of Europe on the Prairies.” The multi-cultural festival featured an amazing array of international cuisine, children’s activities, workshops, art, dance and literature as well as a talented selection of musicians performing under the wide-open skies. “It’s great for us to get out to these events,” said Dejaegher.  “They share so many of the characteristics that come with championship curling – the sense of camaraderie between all the people, great music and, of course, lots of food and beverages.” The top 14 teams in the country – seven men’s and seven women’s – will compete for the Canada Cup with direct entry for the two winners to the Tim Hortons Roar of the Rings – the Canadian Curling Trials, scheduled for Winnipeg, December 1-8, 2013. “You Gotta Be There” to take part in the celebration of championship curling when the Capital One Canada Cup makes its debut in Moose Jaw to mark the first event on the Season of Champions calendar.  Tickets are available now just by clicking here.