The Province of B.C. is pleased to announce that Victoria has been chosen to host the 2017 Canadian Junior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships.

Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Peter Fassbender made the announcement this afternoon, in partnership with Curling Canada, at Esquimalt’s Archie Browning Sports Centre, the host of the week-long event.

This will be the first time Victoria has hosted the Canadian Juniors since 2004.

The B.C. government has committed $50,000 to help host the championships, which will bring some of the best junior curlers in Canada to the West Coast. The winning teams will then go on to represent Canada at the 2017 World Junior Curling Championships in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The Canadian Junior Curling Championships will run Jan. 21-29, 2017. TSN will provide live coverage of the men’s and women’s semifinals and finals.

Quotes:

Peter Fassbender, Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development –

“The sport of curling is one of Canada’s favourite pastimes. The recent staging of both the 2014 Tim Hortons Brier and the 2013 Ford World Men’s Curling Championships are a testament to British Columbia's ability to host these types of events. We look forward as hosts for this Victoria-based competition, to welcoming curling fans from across the country to this wonderful province and to once again make lasting, positive memories for all the athletes, coaches, judges, volunteers, their families and friends who will participate.”

Keith Dagg, co-chair of the Victoria host committee –

“We are totally excited about being awarded this national championship and want to thank Hugh MacDonald of Sporthost Victoria, Scott Braley of Curl BC and the Province of British Columbia. Without their help, our bid would not have happened or been successful.”

Quick Facts:

• The Canadian Junior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships were last held in B.C. in 2009 in Salmon Arm.
• British Columbia has recently hosted two major curling events: the 2013 Ford World Men’s Curling Championship (Victoria) and the 2014 Tim Hortons Brier (Kamloops).
• Victoria hosted the Scotties Canadian Women’s Championships in 2009 and the Ford Men’s World Championships in 2005.

Learn More:

Check out the provincial government’s role in supporting communities, sport, arts and culture through the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development at: www.gov.bc.ca/cscd