Thunder Bay will host the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts
If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, try again – and the Thunder Bay, Ont., native will have that opportunity in 2025, it was announced today by Curling Canada.
After two previous pandemic-impacted attempts at holding a large-scale tournament, Thunder Bay will get its long-awaited opportunity to host the Scotties Tournament of Hearts with fans in attendance at the historic Fort William Gardens.
The 2025 Scotties, which will declare the Canadian women’s curling champion, will be held Feb. 14-23.
“I can’t say enough about the support and dedication of the City of Thunder Bay and the Northern Ontario curling community, because there was never a question in their minds about making this happen,” said Danny Lamoureux, Curling’s interim CEO. Canada. “I know how much events have affected them as they have during the pandemic, and I know they will give everything they can to have tremendous success at the 2025 Scotties.”
Thunder Bay was initially awarded the 2021 Scotties, but that event was moved to the Calgary Bubble in exchange for the right to host the 2022 Scotties.
But in early 2022, a spike in cases due to the Omicron variant forced the event to be held without fans in the building until the closing weekend when a few hundred volunteers, junior soccer players and family members were admitted to watch Team Canada. Skipped by Kerry Einarson, he won his third straight title by defeating Thunder Bay’s Christa McCarville in the gold medal match.
“Thunder City is thrilled that Curling Canada has shown its confidence in our local curling community to host this major national championship again in February 2025; this time with fans in the stands and with the anticipation of a sold-out draw at Historic Fort William Gardens,” said Thunder Bay Mayor Ken Bochkoff. “We have a proud history of hosting championship events and feel that the curling community and local businesses in Thunder Bay will get another opportunity to show what the city has to offer to the thousands of visitors expected to travel here during the 10 days of this major event.”
This will be the sixth time the Northern Ontario Curling Association has hosted the Canadian Women’s Curling Championship.
As well as the 1969, 1996 and 2022 championships (won by Saskatchewan’s Joyce McKee, Ontario’s Marilyn Budog and Team Einarson, respectively) in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie was the site of the 1978 Canadian Women’s Championship (won by Cathy Bidzarko of Manitoba) and the 2010 Scotties Championship (won by Jennifer Jones of Team Canada).
Heather Houston’s Thunder Bay won back-to-back Scotties titles in 1988 and 1989 – the only time a team representing the Northern Ontario Curling Association has won the Canadian Women’s Curling Championship.
The 44th edition of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts will be title sponsored by Kroger Products – the longest running sponsorship of women’s sports in Canada.
“Kruger Products is proud to be the longest-standing sponsor of women’s sports in Canada for over four decades!” “We are thrilled to be back in Thunder Bay and look forward to cheering on the country’s best players as they compete for the Team Canada title,” said Susan Irving, Marketing Director, Kroger Products. “As makers of Canada’s leading brands of Scotties Facial Tissues, Kashmiri and Purex Bath Tissues, and Paper Towels SpongeTowels, we are proud to be able to continue our sponsorship of such an important event and support Canadian women’s curling for the 44th year.
There will be an abundance of prizes and opportunities that will go to the winning team in Thunder Bay.
The 2025 Scotties champion will go on to represent Canada at the 2025 Women’s World Championship (host city, dates, World Curling Federation to be announced at a later date).
With a top-six finish at the 2025 World Championships, the winner of the 2025 Scotties will also qualify for the 2025 Canadian Curling Trials, where Canada’s four-player teams will be determined for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.
The 2025 Scotties winner will also return in 2026 as defending champion Team Canada.
“The opportunity to host the Scotties Tournament of Hearts for the second time is a testament to the quality of Thunder Bay’s winter sports tourism and event capacity,” said Jimmy Taylor, CEO of the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC). “This event attracts over 3,000 visitors to our community with an estimated economic impact of over $7 million, proving to be a significant return on investment. The CEDC Board of Directors and the CEDC Tourism Investment Committee unanimously approved the hosting fee of $400,000 to secure the opportunity to host this tournament prestigious once again and projected a positive image of Thunder Bay on the national stage.
“Sports tourism is a major economic and social contributor to Thunder Bay’s tourism sector and is an important pillar within our tourism strategy to be a true year-round destination,” added CEDC Tourism Director Paul Bibby. “Scotland’s return in 2025 is testament to our community’s excellent reputation for hosting world-class sports tourism events.”
Fort William Gardens opened in 1951 and seats just over 3,300. The building’s primary tenant is the Lakehead University Thunderwolves.
In addition to the Bodogs’ win at the 1996 Scotties, the 1960 Brier (won by Ernie Richardson of Saskatchewan), the 1976 Canadian Junior Women’s Championship (won by Colleen Rudd of Saskatchewan), and the 1991 Canadian Mixed Championship (won by Jeff Stoughton of Manitoba) on the field. Gardens.
Thunder Bay also hosted the 1956 and 1968 Canadian Junior Championships (won by Bob Hawkins of Saskatchewan and Bill Hope of Ontario, respectively), the 1969 Canadian Women’s Championship (won by Joyce Mackey of Saskatchewan), and the 1998 Men’s and Women’s World Junior Championships (swept by Canada’s John Morris and Melissa McClure), and the 2006 Canadian Men’s and Women’s Junior Championships (won by Charlie Thomas of Alberta and Mandy Selzer of Saskatchewan).
“It is a testament to the passion and dedication of the Thunder Bay curling community, as well as the City of Thunder Bay and its Community Economic Development Committee, that Curling Canada has expressed such confidence in bringing the Scots back in 2025,” said Laura Forget. Executive Director of the Northern Ontario Curling Association. “I can’t wait to be there and join curling fans from all over the country in what should be a great competition, on and off the ice.”
The first entry into the 2025 Scotties will be set for February 25 in Calgary, with the winner of the 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts will be determined that day, playing as Team Canada in Thunder Bay.
Ticket and volunteer information will be released in early 2024. Fans are encouraged Sign up for Curling Canada Collective To receive updates.
TSN/RDS2, the official broadcast partner of the Curling Canada Champions season, will televise all of the action from Thunder Bay.
