ORLEANS, Ont. — The Canadian women's curling championship will return to Nova Scotia in 2019, its first appearance in the province in over 25 years.
Sydney, N.S., was named Scotties Tournament of Hearts host on Friday by Curling Canada. The annual competition will be played Feb. 16-24, 2019 at Centre 200.
"The curling fans of Sydney made it crystal clear that they want the Scotties in their city based on their overwhelming response to the ticket drive during the bidding process," Curling Canada board chair Resby Coutts said in a release.
"We've always known there is genuine passion for the sport of curling in Nova Scotia, and we're excited to see what will unfold in 2019."
It will be the first time the Scotties has been played in the Cape Breton region of Nova Scotia. Centre 200, which opened in 1987, has a seating capacity of about 5,000.
It's the home arena for the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
"Sydney and Cape Breton Island residents are looking forward to sharing our world-renowned music, culture, food and hospitality as we host the Scotties in February of 2019," said Cape Breton Regional Municipality Mayor Cecil Clarke. "We welcome Canada's top curlers, their families and fans to one of the top island destinations in the world."
Halifax hosted the women's playdowns in 1992, when Manitoba's Connie Laliberte was victorious. The Nova Scotia capital also served as host in 1977 (won by Alberta's Myrna McQuarrie) and 1965 (won by Manitoba's Peggy Casselman).
The 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts is scheduled for Jan. 27-Feb. 4 in Penticton, B.C.
The Canadian Press
