The Province is supporting the largest professional sporting event ever to be held in Cranbrook, when the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Tour Challenge comes to the city from Nov. 8-13.

Bill Bennett, MLA for Kootenay East announced that the event is being supported by a provincial investment of $25,000 through the Tourism Events Program (TEP) on behalf of Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour.

The Grand Slam of Curling features 30 world-class, Olympic level and promising new players on the men’s and 30 women’s teams in competition at Cranbrook’s Western Financial Place and Memorial Arena.

The games will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet, putting Cranbrook and area in a Canada-wide spotlight and encouraging more Canadians to visit the region. During the competition more than 100 athletes and thousands of spectators are expected in Cranbrook for the event providing a direct impact on the local economy.

The event is one part of a growing tourism sector that supports approximately 19,000 businesses and 127,500 employees in British Columbia.

Quotes:

Bill Bennett, MLA for Kootenay East –

“To have The Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Tour Challenge in Cranbrook is an incredible chance to showcase our beautiful city and region to the entire country. I’m eager to see the benefits to our tourism sector and the local economy. I hope that the Challenge encourages even more of these types of events to come to the Kootenay Rockies.”

Paul Heywood, events and marketing manager, Western Financial Place –

“With hotels almost at capacity, tickets selling briskly, and the TV crews setting up for the broadcast of the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Tour Challenge, the city itself is abuzz with excitement as we are all meeting new visitors daily who come from afar and nearby to take in the event. Thanks to the B.C. government for its support for through the Tourism Events Program.”

Quick Facts:

• Funding from the Tourism Events Program is designed to support the delivery of world-class events that can both increase the number of visitors to British Columbia, and increase global recognition for the province.
• The Province invests more than $98 million annually in the tourism industry across every region to grow and market the sector.
• In the first eight months of 2016, 3,990,574 international visitors came to B.C. – an 11.5% increase over January to August last year.
• In 2015, 4.9 million international visitors came to B.C. – an 8% increase compared to 2014.
• In 2014, the tourism industry generated $14.6 billion in revenue with a direct contribution to B.C.’s gross domestic product of $7.1 billion.

Learn More:

BC Jobs Plan: http://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/economy/tourism/

For more information on the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling Tour Challenge:  http://www.thegrandslamofcurling.com/

To learn more about the Tourism Events Program: http://www.destinationbc.ca/BC-Tourism-Industry/Municipal-and-Regional-District-Tax-Program/Tourism-Events-Program.aspx