JANUARY IS CURLING MONTH IN MANITOBA

JANUARY IS CURLING MONTH IN MANITOBA!
Posted 2009-01-20

JANUARY IS CURLING MONTH IN MANITOBA!Winnipeg, MB- January 2009 is officially Curling Month in Manitoba, as recently declared by Eric Robinson, Minister of Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport.

This special declaration comes just before the BDO Classic Canadian Open at the MTS Centre in support of the Children Hospital Foundation of Manitoba kicks off on Wednesday. Special banners have been installed outside the MTS Centre on Portage Avenue and in honour of Manitoba’s strong curling history, the Manitoba Curling Association, Sport Manitoba and The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba Inc encourage Manitobans to get out and support and participate in one of Canada’s premier winter sports. Manitoba is home to more than 53,000 curlers and is a sport many Manitobans enjoy, from young to old, whether on the ice or in the stands cheering their favorite curlers.

Curling truly is for Life!January was kicked off by Kaitlyn Lawes and Sam Good winning the 2009 MCA Women’s and Men’s Junior Curling Championships, held at Manitoba’s oldest club, the Granite from January 1-6. Competition continued with more than 50 teams involved in the 85th Annual MCA Women’s Bonspiel, January 16-18.

The feature of curling this month goes beyond just the Province of Manitoba as the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba along with True North Sports and Entertainment and Insight Sports bring the world’s best curlers to the MTS Centre.

From January 21-25 the BDO Classic Canadian Open, the third leg of the men's Capital One Grand Slam of Curling series will showcase 18 of the best world men’s curling teams. Manitobans can sit back at the MTS Centre and enjoy action-packed hard hitting curling with teams like Glenn Howard, Kevin Martin, Brad Gushue, Jeff Stoughton, Kerry Burtnyk, Randy Ferbey, Thomas Ulsrud from Norway and Pete Fenson from the United States, to name a few. Tickets for this event are available at Ticketmaster. Proceeds from this event support the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

The official Curling Month of January will wrap with one of the longest running Men’s Bonspiel when over 2,000 competitors take to the ice in the 121st Annual MCA Men’s Bonspiel. January 29-February 2. Manitobans continue to prove why Manitoba remains the curling capital of the world as they sweep and slide their way through more than 18 different clubs over the course of five days.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:Lesia Sianchuk Executive Director Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba Inc.Phone# 204-787-4061Shane RayExecutive DirectorManitoba Curling AssociationPhone# 204-925-5723