2027 U SPORTS, Canadian Colleges Athletic Association curling championships in Calgary
|
A city with a rich history of hosting major curling championships will add to its legacy next year when Calgary plays host to the 2027 U SPORTS Canadian University and Canadian Colleges Athletic Association (CCAA) curling championships. Both events, operated in collaboration with Curling Canada, will be staged Feb. 22-26 at the Calgary Curling Club. “Calgary’s passion for curling is well-chronicled, as is the city’s ability to host top-calibre curling championships. We know the 2027 U SPORTS and Canadian Colleges Athletic Association championships will continue that trend,” said Nolan Thiessen, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada. “We place a high level of importance on these events for developing future High-Performance athletes and providing these athletes competitive opportunities during a busy time in their lives as they pursue their academic and athletic goals.” In recent years, no city in Canada has hosted more national and international events than Calgary, including the highly successful Calgary Bubble events in 2021, as well as the 2022 Pan Continental Championships and the 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. In March, Calgary will host the 2026 BKT World Women’s Curling Championship, presented by Pharmasave. “Calgary is thrilled to be welcoming the U SPORTS Canadian University and Canadian Colleges Athletic Association curling championships to our city for the first time in 2027. Curling is part of Calgary’s sporting DNA, from our strong grassroots programs to hosting the most elite competitions,” said Carson Ackroyd, Senior Vice President, Sales at Tourism Calgary. “This event is a natural fit for Calgary, supported by our proven track record of delivering an exceptional sport experience emphasized by our world-renowned hospitality for athletes and fans.” The championships, co-hosted by the University of Calgary and the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), and are being played in Calgary for the first time. “It is a thrill to bring the 2027 University Curling Championships to the Stampede City with our partners Curling Canada, the City of Calgary and the University of Calgary,” said Matthew Davies, U SPORTS Chief Sport Officer. “Calgary has an impressive record of hosting national and international curling championships, so we know that the City will provide the backdrop for a fantastic experience for U SPORTS student-athletes.” “The CCAA is excited to have a member institution involved in a hosting capacity for the first time since this collaboration with Curling Canada began,” added Brandon Stone, CCAA Chief Executive Officer. “SAIT has been an active host and participant at several CCAA Championships and will enhance the Association’s execution of this event with our partners in Calgary.” The University of Calgary Dinos will be the host school for the U SPORTS championships, and the school’s curling program has been rising steadily in recent years since it was elevated to varsity status in 2022. Historically, it was a University of Calgary skip, Brittany Gregor, who led Canada to a women’s gold medal at the 2007 Winter Universiade in Italy. “Along with our partners at SAIT and Tourism Calgary, we are excited for the opportunity to bring the 2026 curling championships to Calgary,” said Ben Matchett, Director of Athletics at the University of Calgary. “Our city has a strong tradition of hosting outstanding curling events, and we are thrilled that our student-athletes will have the opportunity to compete at the highest level right here at home.” At the 2025 U SPORTS Canadian University Championships in Lethbridge, Alta., Ontario’s Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks swept both the women’s (Team Emma Artichuk) and men’s (Team Kibo Mulima) gold medals. The SAIT Trojans, as the host school, will be competing to win their second national titles in each gender. The Trojans last won women’s gold in 1985 when Team Donna Badau prevailed in Saskatoon. A year later in Kamloops, B.C., SAIT’s Team Jay Peressini won the men’s title. “We’re excited to welcome varsity curling teams from across Canada to Calgary and we are pleased to be collaborating to showcase our city’s reputation as a world-class host for sport,” said Wade Kolmel, Director, Athletics & Recreation at SAIT. “Championship events like the upcoming Nationals provide student-athletes with the unique opportunity to balance competition, academics, and personal growth while striving for excellence. Having SAIT athletes compete in their home city will be the opportunity of a lifetime, and we’re proud to help make this possible for our students.” The 2025 CCAA Championships saw teams from the PACWEST Conference in B.C. (Team Emily Bowles) and the Mohawk College Mountaineers from Ontario (Team Jacob Jones) win the women’s and men’s titles respectively. “We’re excited to welcome the U SPORTS and CCAA Canadian curling championships back to Alberta and we know Calgary will once again step up and deliver a top-quality event,” said Jill Groves, Executive Director of Curling Alberta. “The student-athletes who will be competing at the Calgary Curling Club will enjoy a championship experience in every sense of the word, and I know they will put on a superb show for fans in attendance.” The Calgary Curling Club has hosted numerous national championships events in the past, including the 2011 and 1998 New Holland Canadian Under-20 Championships, the 2008 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship and the 2001 Canadian Senior Championships. The Calgary championships will mark the eighth time the U SPORTS and CCAA championships have been held simultaneously in partnership with Curling Canada. The 2026 U SPORTS and CCAA Championships are scheduled for Feb. 17-21 in Regina. -30-
For further information: Al Cameron Director, Communication & Media Relations Curling Canada Tel: 403-463-5500 Kyle Jahns Lead, Communication and Media Relations Curling Canada Tel: 204-803-8221
|
