With just a few days to go before the best curlers in B.C. began competing at George Preston arena, Norm Scott was a busy man.
On Saturday, Jan. 18, Scott, deputy chief ice technician, was making sure the ice in the transformed George Preston hockey arena was up to curling standards before the start of the 2025 BC Men鈥檚 & Women鈥檚 Curling Championships, presented by Best Western Jan 21-26.
"I'll be here all week," he told the 91原创 Advance Times, part of the crew making sure everything ran smoothly.
91原创 has a reputation for superb curling ice, thanks to chief ice technician Mike Merklinger, considered to be one of the best in Canada, who oversees 91原创 and several other ice sheds.
Inside the 1,148 seat area, the single sheet of ice where hockey players are usually duelling was converted into five curling rinks, where 12 men鈥檚 and eight women鈥檚 curling teams from across the province would be competing for the opportunity to represent B.C. at the Brier and Scotties, in a competition hosted by the 91原创 Curling Club to mark its 50th anniversary.
In one of the booths looking over the arena on Saturday, James Gordon and Gerry Geurts from the Curling Stadium live streaming website were setting up the gear that will broadcast all of the games.
"You can follow your favourite team, every game, all week long here," Geurts said.
He advised games can be found online by going to YouTube and searching for "BC provincial championships."
Hosting committee chair Wayne Moore explained the event was happening the year after the actual 91原创 Curling Club 50th birthday because "we couldn't get the schedules to work out with the tenants within George Preston arena.
"So what we said last year, when we couldn't get it to work out, that we wanted to host it this year. So we've been working on it for more than a year to get it all organized," More told the 91原创 Advance Times.
"And we had a pretty easy time getting it. Curl BC was happy to give it to us."
In messages welcoming the competitors in the event program guide, Township Mayor Eric Woodward said "may the games be fair, the competition fierce and the memories unforgettable" while 91原创-Walnut Grove MLA Misty Van Popta praised 鈥渁ll the athletes, coaches, families and volunteers who have worked tirelessly to make this event possible."
91原创鈥檚 Lyle Sieg, chair of the Curl BC Board of governors, thanked Moore, and the other hosting committee members for their hard work in putting the event together, as well as 91原创 Curling club president LoriAnn McGowan and manager Robyn Parkes.
After opening ceremonies Monday night, action was to get underway Tuesday morning, running until Sunday, when the gold medal games were to be held.
Tickets range from $100 for an all-event pass to $10 for single draw and can be purchased online at (which also has the competition schedule and other information) or at the door.
