March 12, 2020 is a date that will live on in Prince George sports infamy.
On that day, the rug was pulled out from under the feet of organizers of the 2020 World Women’s Curling Championship. The curling ice at CN Centre was painted and pebbled, the teams had arrived, the beer was chilling in The Patch, and curling fans were getting set for a nine-day party, only to learn it was cancelled before the first stone was thrown.
It was all because of one uninvited guest who had yet to land in Prince George – the COVID-19 virus.
The province imposed a 250-person cap on public event crowd sizes and the decision to scrap the biggest curling event in the city’s history had to be made to ensure the curlers could get back to their home countries safely and limit risk of a localized outbreak of the virus. It was horrible news for the organizers on the host committee and volunteers who donated hundreds of hours of their time to make sure the city put on its best face for the world to see.
“Disappointment doesn't even begin to describe it,” Vonda Hofferd, a 2020 ice crew volunteer, said at the time. “An event like this is what brings a community together. It's a reunion of volunteers that volunteer at so many of the events that come to Prince George. It's curling we lose. It's the camaraderie we lose.
“If it was maybe a Scotties or maybe a Canadian, it wouldn't be quite as devastating because so many of our fans travel throughout Canada. But this was their opportunity to see China, Japan, Korea, Italy and Scotland, to get up close and personal with them. The majority of our fans are 60-plus and unless we bring something in the coming years this may be their only opportunity to see world curlers.”
That something is coming in March 19-27, 2022 when the city gets a chance for a do-over as host of the World Women’s Curling Championship.
Jen Rubadeau, the city’s civic events co-ordinator, is vice-chair of facilities for the 2022 organizing committee, and she’s keeping her fingers crossed the pandemic that’s flared up lately with the Omicron variant will be much less of a public threat by March.
“We’re beyond ecstatic that we can have this event back again,” said Rubadeau. “It’s like a strange pause button, and it will be our first large event since the pandemic. I think we all need this opportunity to get back together and have fun as a community and get back with our friends and families and get out and dust off the cowbells and cheer for some teams.
“We’re very optimistic that we will be able to run the event. Here in the north, we’re already at 50 per cent capacity, so hopefully it doesn’t tighten more than that and we can still have ourselves an incredible event. Even 3,000 people is still a lot of fun. We can bring a lot of energy to the building even with just half-capacity.”
The 2021 World Women’s Championship and other Curling Canada national events last spring were held in Calgary without spectators, and Rubadeau is confident they can pull off the tournament in Prince George safely with reduced capacities and other health protocols in place.
She remembers how hard it was to accept when she was told there would be no curling. “We were literally ready to rock, so it was very disappointing,” said Rubadeau. “There were a lot of tears.
“Before that, (COVID) seemed far away, like something that wouldn’t ever come here. We had practices in place. We were ready and then all of sudden, we couldn’t. The decision was made quickly and it left us reeling.”
The countries that have already qualified for the 13-team tournament are Canada, United States, Sweden, Scotland, Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Italy, Turkey, Japan and Korea. The final two spots will be determined at a world qualifying event in Finland, Jan. 17-22.
Many of those teams will have just competed in the Olympics in Beijing in February, right before they come to Prince George.
The Canadian representatives will be the winners of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Thunder Bay, Jan. 28-Feb. 6. Kerri Einarson was the skip of 2020 champions from Manitoba who were unable to play for the world title in Prince George that year.
Once all the teams are known, the competition draw schedule will be compiled and individual draw tickets will go on sale. Prices start as low as $20 for a single mid-week draw. A full tournament pass for all 25 draws will cost $389. Other ticket package options vary in price from $59 (daily midweek, three draws) to $99 (opening weekend, five draws) to $199 (final plus eight draws, March 25-27).
Group discount rates are available for parties of 10 or more.
The host committee has received $250,000 in funding from the province through its $30 million Fairs, Festivals and Events Recovery Fund.
TSN will broadcast the championship and all of Canada’s draws and playoffs on its national network for a total of 50 hours. World Curling Television will webcast all games for its more-than-250 member countries.
All but 30 of the 350 volunteers needed for the event are in place and the committee expects those positions (50-50 draws, setup/takedown crews, lounge workers) will be filled by January so they can go ahead and order their uniforms. Volunteers can apply through email.
“Volunteering is going to be a ton of fun and it’s going involve a group of incredible people and a little over half of them are coming back from 2020,” said Rubadeau. “Some of the volunteer positions still available are in The Patch, which is the social hub (in Kin 1 arena), and that’s a really fun component of the event. It runs every day and has live music and games and is the social watering hole.
“I encourage everyone to go to see at least one of the curling draws, but you can go to The Patch and be part of that excitement and energy without having to buy a ticket to the event. It’s open to the public and kids are allowed up until 9 or 10 p.m.”
