PEI among three finalists for 2026 Scotties event?

By Bill McGuire
Public Relations Chair,
Cornwall Curling Club

There are indications that more good news about curling could be coming soon for Prince Edward Island.

The province was just awarded (on Feb. 29) the largest event on the Grand Slam of Curling’s event schedule, coming to UPEI in early October. 

The GSOC’s Hearing Life event will feature 32 men’s and 32 women’s teams from around the world who will compete in two tiers at UPEI’s twin ice surfaces Oct. 1-6, 2024. 

Next season will be a curling bonanza on PEI as Summerside has been recently awarded the Canadian junior curling championships and the national mixed doubles event.

Several speakers during the press conference at Charlottetown City Hall on Feb. 29 hinted there are two more international sports events coming to the capital city, with announcements expected in the coming weeks.

There were hints during the press conference that Charlottetown is in the running for the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. A source said the PEI capital is among the three finalists being considered for the event in two years time.

Charlottetown last hosted the Scotties in 2011.

Canadian curling legend Jennifer Jones, who has 17 GSOC titles, was in Charlottetown along with her Team Manitoba teammate Lauren Lenentine of Cornwall, to speak in support of the GSOC’s Hearing Life tour event.

Jones dropped hints that Charlottetown is a strong contender for the 2026 Scotties. 

“To experience the Scotties and the atmosphere in the building is just something that you can’t appreciate unless you’re there in person,” said Jones. “You might watch curling on TV, but until you’re actually in the venue, you really can’t appreciate it.”

“Scotties curlers will come to the boards, we’ll sign autographs . . . I’ve signed chests and heads . . .  we’ll sign like everything . . . well not quite everything,” joked Jones.

“But what I would say is that curling is growing and the Scotties final weekend in Calgary was sold out. I had friends and family that couldn’t get tickets and I know that this is going to rock here in Charlottetown.  

“So what I would say is buy your tickets soon. You’re not going to want to miss it. We will not disappoint.”

It was unclear if Jones was referring solely to the GSOC or also adding in the Scotties coming to PEI. But was enough to send more excited ripples through the crowd.

Rob Doherty, who curls out for Cornwall, is now working with Sportsnet and the GSOC tour in communications and public relations. He said he was extra happy to see the GSOC event come to his home province.

“Just selfishly, I have to say how excited I am to say the Grand Slam of Curling is coming to Charlottetown,” Doherty told the crowd at the city hall press conference.

“A lot has gone on behind the scenes. We will be looking for 150 volunteers from the community,” to help with the Hearing Life event which will see more than 256 curlers competing.

He said Early Bird Passes are now on sale at thegrandslamofcurling.com. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.

Doherty said the main MacLauchlan arena will hold over 1,500 curling fans for Tier 1 GSOC action in October while the arena next door would seat less than half that number.

Wayne Long, manager of Economic Growth and Attractions for the City of Charlottetown, said when you include coaches, families, visitors, plus Sportsnet production staff and event staff, you can expect a tremendous economic impact for the city and province, estimated at more than $3 million.

Long was in Calgary at the recent Scotties to talk with Jones and Lenentine about coming to Charlottetown in support of the GSOC stop. And perhaps more.

“I had the opportunity to share in some of Jennifer’s final stones at the Scotties and it’s something I’ll cherish for a long time,” said Long.

He said sports tourism is a growing economic booster for the city and province, especially in winter and shoulder seasons.

Long also noted that Canada’s Sport Tourism Congress takes place in a couple of weeks in Winnipeg where Bruce Donaldson, the former coach of the UPEI Panthers women’s hockey team and athletics department volunteer and official, has been named among the top three finalists for Volunteer of the Year in Canada.