It’s the time of the year where many are focusing on winter sports and not just hockey, but Curling that is becoming far more popular over the past decade, given the success of the National teams.

Now we are hearing that the top 50-and-over (50+) curlers are sweeping into Chilliwack’s new facility for the 2019 Everest Canadian Senior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships.

The 2019 Everest Canadian Seniors will be played at the Chilliwack Curling and Community Centre early next spring (March 22-28) at the eight-sheet rink.

It is still in the final stages of construction and tentatively scheduled for opening in either October or November and for the curlers it’ll be an early Christmas gift.

Resby Coutts, Chair of Curling Canada’s Board of Governors mentioned “It’s truly exciting for our sport when we see new curling centers being built, and having the Everest Canadian Seniors as part of the opening season will make it a truly memorable event in Chilliwack.”

“I know there’s a great group of volunteers in place in Chilliwack who will make sure Canada’s elite senior players are welcomed with open arms.”

“The City of Chilliwack is proud to host the 2019 Everest Canadian Senior Curling Championships,” added Chilliwack Mayor Sharon Gaetz. “We look forward to welcoming many talented senior curlers from across Canada to our new Chilliwack Curling and Community Centre and showing them a little bit of what our wonderful city has to offer.”

It will be the first time Chilliwack has hosted the Everest Canadian Seniors, but the Fraser Valley city has stepped up in the past for Curling Canada events — in 1978 when Alberta’s Cathy King won the Canadian Junior Women’s Championship, and in 2006, when Team World prevailed in the World Financial Group Continental Cup.

It will be the fourth time the Everest Canadian Seniors have been staged in British Columbia since the men’s and women’s events were combined in 1985.

In 1987 at Prince George, Manitoba’s Norm Houck and Nova Scotia’s Verda Kemton won Canadian titles. Four years later in Victoria, it was Manitoba’s Jim Ursel and Northern Ontario’s Eila Brown coming out on top.

At the 2004 Canadian Seniors in Vernon, Newfoundland/Labrador’s Bas Buckle and Ontario’s Anne Dunn were crowned champions, and in 2012 in Abbotsford, Alberta’s Rob Armitage and Alberta’s Cathy King won national titles.

Prior to 1985, Quebec’s Jim Wilson won the Canadian Senior Men’s championship in 1981 in Nanaimo, and Don MacRae of the host province won in 1970 at Kamloops.

B.C.’s Flora Martin won the 1979 Canadian Senior Women’s championship at Vernon.

Scott Braley, Chief Executive Officer of Curl BC mentioned “We have a lot of curling fans and tremendous volunteers in the Chilliwack area, and with the excitement that accompanies the opening of the new Chilliwack Curling and Community Centre, I know it’s going to be a great show next March.”

It will be the fifth Canadian seniors with title sponsorship from Everest, a funeral planning and concierge service rolled into a life insurance plan.

“Chilliwack is at the forefront of propelling the sport of curling into the future with their new, state-of-the-art venue,” said Mark Duffy, President and CEO of Everest. “This is Everest’s fifth consecutive year sponsoring the Canadian Senior Curling Championships and we are extremely excited to be a part of the curling community across Canada. We are always looking for new and exciting ways to celebrate curling and the Seniors has always been an integral part of that journey. What better way to continue this tradition than in one of the most visually stunning towns in the country.”

The winner of the 2019 Everest Canadian Seniors will represent Canada at the 2020 World Senior Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships (dates, location TBD).

The Canadian Senior Men’s Championship began in 1965 in Port Arthur, Ont. Since then, Ontario and Manitoba each have won a leading 12 titles. The Canadian Senior Women’s Championship began in 1973 in Ottawa. Ontario has won a leading 10 crowns.

Claude Latulippe, Chair of the Chilliwack Organizing Committee mentioned “The Chilliwack Curling and Community Centre is looking forward to hosting the Everest Canadian Seniors Championships.” 

Claude continued “We plan to showcase our new eight-sheet curling facility, which will provide a venue worthy of the caliber of competition. At the same time, local talent will be entertaining during the week, ensuring a memorable time for all.”

I am hearing that Sydney will host the 2019 Scotties Tournament.