The 2020 BC Men鈥檚 and BC Women鈥檚 curling championships will sweep into Cranbrook next year.

The City of Cranbrook has been named the host community for the 2020 Scotties BC Women鈥檚 Curling Championship and the 2020 BC Men鈥檚 Curling Championship that will run from Jan. 28-Feb. 2 at Western Financial Place.

鈥淲e are very pleased that Curl BC has chosen us to host the 2020 Championships,鈥� said Mayor Lee Pratt in a press release.

鈥淭his gives us a great opportunity to showcase our community and surrounding area to all of the participants. The broadcast exposure also helps the audience see the many different amenities this area has to offer. We are looking forward to this event and promise a good time for all.鈥�

The event will be broadcast on CBC where the top eight women鈥檚 teams and the top 16 men鈥檚 teams in British Columbia will go head-to-head at the championships.

Cranbrook has had proven success hosting curling events in the past including the 2017 Grand Slam of Curling Tour Challenge and the Canada Cup in 2011.

鈥淚t is an honour and an event that we know our community will support,鈥� said Rick O鈥橬eill, president, Cranbrook Curling Centre.

The winning men鈥檚 team at the provincial championships will go on to compete at the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier, while the winning women鈥檚 team will compete at the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

鈥淭his is a fantastic opportunity for both the women and the en to compete on arena ice, and best practice for preparing the winners for the Scotties and Brier,鈥� said O鈥橬eill.

Not only will the best curlers be in the city, but it will also be a year to celebrate curling in the province.

鈥淭he year 2020 is a banner year for curling in the province because it is the 125 anniversary of curling in B.C.,鈥� said Scott Braley, CEO, Curl BC.

鈥淗aving a big event like this in the Kootenays, where the first curling club in B.C. was established, is an excellent way to celebrate.鈥�

Teams will qualify for the events through the BC Women鈥檚 and Men鈥檚 Curling Tours, as well as regional and open qualifying events. The defending champions from the previous year will also qualify is three out of the four players remain the same.

Rosters will be known in January 2020, with tickets going on sale in the fall. More information on men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 curling can be found at .

jessica.dempsey@cranbrooktownsman.com
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