The 2014 Tim Hortons BC Senior Curling Championships are less than a week away, and the Comox Valley Curling Centre is getting ready to host over 64 curlers and their families.
Plans for the opening ceremonies at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 18 are being finalized and Judy Francis, chair of the host committee, says Comox Valley Regional District chair Edwin Grieve and Courtenay mayor Larry Jangula will be giving a welcome address.
"The top 16 provincial teams teams will be led in by two pipers, so it should be quite impressive," Francis said. The pipers will also be present at the closing ceremonies following the finals at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 22.
With qualification events now over, the full lineup for the championships has been released.
Teams from Kelowna, Elkford, Smithers, Vancouver, Langley, White Rock, Victoria and Campbell River will compete in the men’s championship. Teams from Castlegar, Tsawwassen, Langley, New Westminster, Chilliwack, Parksville, Nanaimo and Summerland will compete in the women’s championship.
A senior men’s winner and a senior women’s winner will travel to Yellowknife from March 20-30 for nationals. This will be the first national curling event staged in the Northwest Territories.
To see the results of all the draws leading up to this event, visit www.playdowns.com and click on Curl BC. Visit www.curlbc.ca for more about Curl BC.
Organizers note the senior championships will have a significant economic impact in the region, with money being spent on lodging, meals, various activities and of course shopping for the entire week of competition.
Francis says over 60 volunteers are working hard to make sure this championship is the best ever. Many local sponsors have stepped up to assist with the costs of hosting the event and every effort is being made to acknowledge their contributions and promote them both locally and to our visitors and thank them for their support.
There will be three draws per day: 9:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. with the first draw at 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 18.
"There will not be any charge for admission, so why not grab a friend and come down to the rink and watch the best curling in B.C.?" Francis said. "The big screen TV will also be on to provide you with Olympic curling coverage as well – a true daily double. You might even win the big screen TV."