Yellowknife to host 2014 Canadian Seniors

The Canadian Curling Association (CCA) today announced that, for the first time, Yellowknife, Northwest Territories will host the 2014 Canadian Senior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships. The Canadian Seniors will be contested March 22-30, 2014 at the Yellowknife Curling Centre. “The Canadian Curling Association is quite pleased to be in the position of hosting our first ever national championship in the Northwest Territories. The CCA continues to provide opportunities for all of our Member Associations to host CCA-operated championships and we feel that the Canadian Seniors is an ideal fit for Yellowknife,” explained Greg Stremlaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Curling Association. “The Northwest Territories Curling Association (NWTCA) is pleased to play host to the rest of Canada for the 2014 Canadian Senior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships,” said Maureen Miller, President of NWTCA and also the host chair for the event. “We look forward to showcasing our diverse and unique Territory.” “The northern curling community is a diamond in the rough and I am excited to be the Chair of the first national event ever hosted in the Northwest Territories. I know the curlers from around the Territory and particularly Yellowknife will work hard between now and when the teams arrive to put on a first class event.” Added Steve Moss, President of the Yellowknife Curling Centre, “In 2014 Curling ROCKS! It’s sweeping the country. Such a spectacular opportunity to host some of the best curling teams in Canada in one of the top competitive curling events, all showcased at the Yellowknife Curling Centre. Our goal is that competitors remember this as one of their favourites ever!” The winners will represent Canada at the 2015 World Senior Curling Championships. Meanwhile, the 2012 Canadian Seniors are slated for Abbotsford, British Columbia, March 17-24, with the winners going to the 2013 World Seniors. Last season’s Canadian Senior champions, Manitoba’s Kelly Robertson and New Brunswick’s Heidi Hanlon, who won their respective titles in Digby, Nova Scotia, are off to Kastrup, Denmark for the 2012 World Seniors, April 14-21. Since the World Seniors began in 2002, Canada has won seven men’s and seven’s women’s titles, including a sweep last season in St. Paul, Minnesota by British Columbia’s Christine Jurgenson and Alberta’s Mark Johnson. The Canadian Senior Men’s Championship began in 1965 in Port Arthur, Ontario. Since then, Manitoba has won a leading 11 titles. The Canadian Senior Women’s Championship began in 1973 in Ottawa. Ontario has won a leading 10 crowns. The championships were conducted separately until being combined in 1985 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. For the 2014 Canadian Seniors, 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams will compete, including a team from host Northwest Territories in each. The other 11 provincial/territorial representatives of each gender will be determined by the results of the 2013 Canadian Seniors in Summerside, PEI, followed by a qualification round, March 20-21, 2014, just prior to the start of the championships, involving the four lowest-ranked men’s and women’s provincial/territorial entries from 2013, in order to qualify two men’s and two women’s teams for the competition.