There will be a spectacular backdrop greeting curlers who participate in the 2021 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship.
The nation’s best four-player teams will gather in Canmore, Alta., to decide the 2021 Canadian Mixed Championship, it was announced today by Curling Canada.
The championship is scheduled for Nov. 7-15, 2020, at the Canmore Golf and Curling Club, nestled in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains.
“Canmore will be a beautiful setting for the 2021 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship, and I know the organizers are ready to put on a great show,” said John Shea, Chair of Curling Canada’s Board of Governors. “The Canadian Mixed is an extremely popular event that combines athletic skill with the wonderful social aspects of our sport, and I know this will be a memorable event for players and fans alike.”
It will be the first time Canmore has played host to a Curling Canada championship, and the first time since the 2008 renewal in Calgary that the Canadian Mixed Championship has been played in Alberta. That year’s event was won by hometown favourite Dean Ross of Calgary.
Previous Canadian Mixed championships in Alberta were staged in 2000 in Lethbridge (won by Alberta’s Kevin Koe), 1994 at Leduc (won by New Brunswick’s Grant Odishaw), 1992 at Grande Prairie (won by local hopeful Kurt Balderston of Grande Prairie) and 1976 in Lethbridge (won by B.C.’s Tony Eberts).
“The Canadian Mixed Curling Championship is always a popular event that attracts many of our country’s top curlers, and we’re excited to see it back in Alberta,” said Jill Richard, Executive Director of Curling Alberta. “I know Alberta has a solid track record of success at the Canadian Mixed and I’m hoping home-ice advantage will pay off in Canmore!”
The Canadian Mixed Championship made its debut in Toronto in 1964 and has been 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.
The winner of the 2021 Canadian Mixed Championship will represent Canada at the 2021 World Mixed Curling Championship (dates, location TBA by the World Curling Federation).
“The Canmore Golf and Curling Club was very excited to get the news from Curling Canada that we will be hosting the 2021 Canadian Mixed Championship, said Darren Cooke, General Manager of the Canmore Golf and Curling Club. “We’ve been looking forward to welcoming a national curling championship to Canmore, and we’ll be hard at work over the next 12 months to make it an outstanding event that will send all players home with incredible memories.”
The 2020 Canadian Mixed Championship was played last month in Saguenay, Que., with Jean-Sébastien Roy’s Quebec team claiming gold