City lands 2013 world sr. curling

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN

mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

24 Apr 2012 08:16AM

(Excerpts from the article published in the Fredericton Daily Gleaner on April 24, 2012. The link for the full article apears at the end of this entry)

The World Curling Federation and the Canadian Curling Association announced Monday that the City of Fredericton will host the 2013 world senior men’s and women’s curling championships and world mixed doubles.

All three world championships will take place at the new Grant•Harvey Centre, April 13-20, 2013. Approximately 30 teams are expected to compete for global honours in mixed doubles, while almost 40 teams will seek to capture the senior men’s and senior women’s world titles.

The federation, the association and the city hammered out an agreement to host the events even before the finishing touches are in place on the new $29.5-million Grant•Harvey Centre.

The indoor ice hockey arena should be completed by June with a grand opening later in the summer or early fall. The arena boasts an Olympic ice oval with 500 bench-style seats and NHL-scale ice with 1,500 seats.

Host committee executive director is 2000 Brier runner-up Wayne Tallon, with both the Fredericton Curling Club and Capital Winter Club acting as co-chairs and host clubs.

“We are delighted to be returning to New Brunswick for two events which will run side by side in 2013 — the world mixed doubles curling championship and the world senior curling championships,” said World Curling Federation president Kate Caithness.

“Following on from the success of the 2009 Ford world men’s curling championship in Moncton, the World Curling Federation is looking forward to being able to showcase the discipline of mixed doubles curling in Canada and, at the same time, offer a world-class senior curling championship event for curling fans to enjoy.”

This will mark the first time that Canada will host the world mixed doubles, which began in 2008 in Vierumaki, Finland. However, Canada has previously staged the world seniors in 2003 in Winnipeg and 2007 in Edmonton, since the championships officially began in 2002 in Bismarck, North Dakota.

“We are pleased to be able to partner with the World Curling Federation and the City of Fredericton on hosting these major world curling championships,” said Greg Stremlaw, chief executive officer of the Canadian Curling Association.

“We can’t wait to showcase the newly built Grant•Harvey Centre,” said Mayor Brad Woodside. “Our community embraces events like this, and I am sure that the athletes, the Canadian Curling Association and the World Curling Federation will be treated to some of the finest hospitality our hotels, restaurants, attractions and residents have to offer.”

Fredericton has hosted the 1975 Brier, 1988 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, 1965 Canadian junior men’s, 1985 Canadian junior women’s, 2005 Canadian juniors (men and women) and the 1980 Canadian senior women’s.

For the 2013 world seniors, Canada’s colours will be worn by Alberta’s Cathy King of Edmonton and Rob Armitage of Red Deer, Alta., winners of the Canadian seniors in Abbotsford, B.C. in March.

http://www.telegraphjournal.com/tjonline/thedailygleanerfrederictonsports/10122744-266/2013-canada-canadian-championships.html.csp