Preparations ongoing at the Sandman Centre ahead of the 2023 Scotties (image credit - CFJC Today)
SCOTTIES TOURNAMENT OF HEARTS

Kamloops joins exclusive list of curling hosts

Feb 14, 2023 | 4:18 PM

KAMLOOPS — The list of cities to host a Scotties, Brier, Canada Cup and both men’s and women’s world championship is short — extremely short. In fact, it is just one city long — Brandon, Manitoba. In a few short days, Kamloops will join that list of curling royalty.

“It goes to show how good of host we are in our city. It means a lot to me, I’ve been to the Scotties 20 times as a volunteer,” said Organizing Committee Vice-Chair Linda Bolton. “To actually see it in our own town and be on this side of the fence and to be welcoming teams. It’s very, very exciting.”

With the days dwindling before the first rock is thrown, crews were on scene Tuesday rigging up cameras, building a broadcast booth, and preparing the arena to welcome Canada’s best curlers to the Tournament Capital.

The hope is that the curlers on the ice will help inspire the next generation sitting in the stands.

“I think we will get a lot more families and people in general involved in curling. We had Curling 101 at the (Kamloops) Curling Club on Saturday and we had 75 brand new curlers participate. Pretty awesome,” added Bolton.

Bolton stated that the team consists of more than 300 volunteers that will be spread out between the Sandman Centre and the Curling Club, which will host the Scotties Patch, complete with concerts every night of the tourney. Other local business are also getting involved in the experience.

“We have an 8-ender program, a passport dining program that is going on in the city that you can find out about. Paint the town red, there is lots of business taking part in that. Everybody is getting on board, it’s quite impressive,” said Bolton.

The first draw, which sees both team Canada and Team B.C. on the ice, starts at 6:00 p.m. on Friday (Feb 17).