The City of Kamloops has been named the host community for both the 2021 BC Men’s and BC Women’s curling championships. The two events will be held at the same time from Jan. 26 – Jan. 31, 2021, at the Olympic Ice at McArthur Island Sport & Event Centre.

The events will feature the top women’s and men’s teams in BC as part of the 2021 Scotties BC Women’s Curling Championship, presented by Best Western, and the 2021 BC Men’s Curling Championship.

The timing could not be more perfect for the curling community in Kamloops as it comes when the defending champions for both the women and men have strong Kamloops connections.

Nine-time BC Men’s Champion Jim Cotter was born and raised in Kamloops – and he is due to return as defending champion in Kamloops in 2021. Team Brown from Kamloops were also crowned BC Scotties champions and are also due to return to next year’s provincials as defending champions. The team of Corryn Brown, Erin Pincott, Dezaray Hawes and Ashley Klymchuk are competing in the national Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, this week.

“Kamloops has always been a strong supporter of curling, and we’re excited to bring a major curling event back to the Tournament Capital,” said mayor of Kamloops Ken Christian. “Kamloops is a proud event host with top notch facilities and welcoming and capable volunteers.”

The winning men’s team from next year’s Kamloops event will go on to compete at the 2021 Tim Hortons Brier happening in Kelowna. The winning women’s team will compete at the 2021 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, taking place in Thunder Bay, ON.

The host committee will be comprised of volunteers from the Kamloops Curling Club and the McArthur Island Curling Club led by co-chairs from each club.

Rob Nordin, the manager of Kamloops Curling Club, said he was looking forward to the event. “We have started putting a committee together from a large talent pool that has been part of numerous curling events in Kamloops and it’s exciting knowing that we have already have Team Brown and Jim Cotter returning as defending champions.  These two things will ensure a fantastic event.”

McArthur Island Curling Club manager Andrew McDiarmid said: “The decision to hold the 2021 BC Men’s and Women’s Curling Championships at the McArthur Island Sports Center was wonderful news for the McArthur Island Curling Club. We look forward to working with the Kamloops Curling Club, Curl BC, and the City of Kamloops to help host what is sure to be an exciting event!”

Scott Braley, Curl BC CEO, said: “We are looking forward to working with the Kamloops Curling Club, the McArthur Island Curling Club, the dedicated curling volunteers in the community and the City of Kamloops to showcase the top curling athletes in the province. Staging the men’s provincial championship in this region ahead of the Brier in Kelowna will create even more buzz for that event so we look forward to another fantastic year for curling in BC.”

Teams will qualify for the events through the BC Women’s and Men’s Curling Tours and through qualifying events. The defending champions from last year’s events in Cranbrook will qualify as long as three out of four players from the teams remain the same.

The full rosters will be known in January 2021.