by Tom Sasvari
LITTLE CURRENT—The Little Current Curling Club will be hosting the 2024 Northern Ontario Curling Association (NOCA) men’s and women’s provincial curling championship.
“We got the bid,” stated Joe Cooper, chair of the organizing committee of the Little Current Curling Club, on Tuesday of last week. “For a small town to get something like this is incredible.”
Mr. Cooper read a letter from Laura Forget, competitions and development coordinator for the NOCA that reads in part, “We are pleased to inform you that Little Current was successful in its bid to host the 2024 Northern Ontario Curling Association men’s and women’s provincial curling championship.”
“Little Current hosted the men’s Northern Ontario provincial championship in 2018,” Ms. Forget told The Expositor. “It was a really successful event, and the teams that participated really enjoyed the atmosphere and playing in the Little Current arena. We really focus on athletes playing (the championships) in an arena, it is very important for our organization. Often our provincials are held in curling clubs, and the athletes then have to participate in the Brier (men’s nationals) and the Scotties (ladies’ nationals) where the ice is different because it is being played in an arena. The rocks and the way they curl are different. Before the nationals, by playing on arena ice it gives them an advantage.”
“A lot of the same committee is in place in Little Current from the 2018 provincials, and we expect they will put on a similar, or an even better show in 2024,” said Ms. Forget.
Ms. Forget pointed out there are six regions in Northern Ontario, and the venue for the provincials is rotated between the six. “This year we looked at bids from region four which includes Little Current, Sault Ste. Marie, Espanola and Elliot Lake. We received two bids to host the 2024 men’s and women’s provincials and Little Current was selected. We had several meetings, and the recommendation was made to the board to select Little Current. All the members of the board said yes.”
Mr. Cooper told The Expositor both the men’s and women’s events will take place January 23-28, 2024.
Al MacNevin, mayor of the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands (NEMI) said, “The last time the men’s provincials were held in Little Current it was really well done and everyone enjoyed it.”
“Yes, it is great to see the curling club getting ready to host something like this. It will be fun, and I am looking forward to it,” stated Mayor MacNevin. “I know the last time it was held in Little Current the arena was packed all the time; you don’t see that kind of curling talent in one place too often.”
“I remember it was the Tanner Horgan rink and the Brad Jacobs rink in the last game—they didn’t miss anything,” said Mayor MacNevin. “It is always great to see a major event taking place here.”
Mayor MacNevin said that the town will work with the organizers, noting the groups that support the event by giving up their dedicated ice time in the arena to allow the provincials to take place.
“We couldn’t put a bid in for the event without the town approval and support from the Little Current Minor Hockey Association (LCMHA), Manitoulin Panthers, and the figure skating club giving up their ice time in the arena to hold this event. Their support is very much appreciated,” said Mr. Cooper. “Everyone has been positive to us hosting the 2024 provincials.”
Mr. Cooper acknowledged, “there is a lot to do. We have to assemble our team and get advertising done and start contacting and working with potential sponsors. If we don’t have sponsorship the event will not be successful. We have to book a block of hotel rooms, thank goodness there is the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre and the new hotel being constructed in Little Current that is scheduled to open this year.” There is also food management for the event that will have to be tendered out, getting tickets printed for purchase and much more, he said.
“And we need a lot of volunteers to help out,” stated Mr. Cooper. “The last time we hosted the provincials we had about 100 volunteers on hand and we are going to need as many or more this time. There are about 300-400 active curlers on Manitoulin Island and their help and from other volunteers in 2018 was part of the reason the provincials were such a success.”
“We also had huge crowds at the last provincials we hosted,” said Mr. Cooper. “I remember going to the Little Current arena on a Friday morning, arriving at 9 am and the arena was already packed.”
“Absolutely, hosting the provincials provides a huge economic boost to the town and area,” said Mr. Cooper, noting that January is one of the slowest times of the year for business and that should be boosted with the provincials being held.
Ms. Forget pointed out in the 2023 NOCA provincial championships held in Kenora, a total of 10 men’s teams and seven women’s teams took part. This includes, “the Krista McCarville rink, which has been to the Scotties 10 times, and for the men’s, this year’s winner was the Tanner Horgan rink which made a run at the Brier championship, getting to the playoffs. There was a really strong field and we expect a really strong field in both for the 2024 provincials in Little Current.”
