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ASSINIBOIA - A bid that was right on the button. In a testament to their reputation for being phenomenal hosts to curling events, Curling Canada has announced that Assiniboia has been selected for the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in 2025. The event is set to take place Nov. 2-8 at the Assiniboia Curling Club, announced March 1 by Curling Canada. The official CC release states, “The Canadian four-player mixed championship always is an event to remember and we’re excited how Assiniboia will embrace it in 2025,” said Nolan Thiessen, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada. Kyle Jahns, Communications Coordinator for Curling Canada, adds,” Curling Canada hosts a bid process every year for its events. The bid placed by Assiniboia checked off all of the boxes we look for in a host committee: experience hosting curling championships and an enthusiastic curling community with support from both fans and businesses. We know Assiniboia will put an exceptional event for everyone involved and we are looking forward to 2025.” Host committee co-chairs, Harvey Hysiuk and Cheri Blackwell, say, “The host committee is very fortunate to have members from the curling club with event hosting experience of this magnitude. Planning is underway and we are excited to showcase Assiniboia and the surrounding communities in southern Saskatchewan. It is going to be seven great days of competition for curlers and curling fans alike.” Assiniboia will be the 61st edition of the Canadian Mixed Championships, and the 2025 event will be the third time in four years it has been stated in Saskatchewan. Prince Albert hosted in 2022 with Team Quebec, skipped by Felix Asselin, winning the championship, with Saskatchewan’s Shaun Meachem winning in Swift Current in 2023. This is the first time Assiniboia has been chosen to host a Curling Canada Championship event, but residents and those amongst curling circles in Saskatchewan say they are not surprised as past events have showcased not only ACC and committee capabilities but the amazing curling facility Assiniboia has to offer. Mayor Sharon Schauenberg exclaims, “The Town of Assiniboia is excited to welcome, with open arms, the 2025 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship to our community. Curling draws both young and old together in Saskatchewan winters, while spectators come out in droves to watch this Canadian pastime.” Another experienced host committee, along with Assiniboia Curling Club and the Prince of Wales Complex, are already planning a memorable, world-class event. Mayor Schauenberg affirms that the Heart of the Golden South, Assiniboia, are excited and readying to welcome athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators from all over Canada for this national event. The winning team of this 2025 event will go on to represent Canada at the 2026 World Mixed Curling Championship, with dates and location to be announced by World Curling. Assiniboia Curling Club President Brent Blackwell adds, “Over the past 23 years, the Assiniboia Curling Club has been host to many events staring with the National Masters Championships in 2001, when our new rink opened.” The most recent event hosted at the Prince of Wales Complex was the highly successful 2022 Viterra Provincial Women’s Curling Championships. The CC media release also quotes Executive Director of CURLSASK Steve Turner as saying, “Assiniboia has proved to be a remarkable host for major events in the past and I have every confidence that the 2025 Canadian Mixed Championship will be no exception.” The host committee also adds, “The town of Assiniboia was looking into a national event to host and Curling Canada offered this one. We found out just before Christmas and got the contract signed in January which is when we started to get our committee together. Everyone we asked was more than willing to come on the committee to help out which speaks to wonderful volunteers we have in this community. We love that these national events are getting back to its grassroots beginning in small town Saskatchewan.” In addition to Blackwell and Hysiuk co-chairing the committee, they are joined by volunteer committee members of Cathy Willis, Kim Eklund, Lane Jepson, Ron Lucas, Ryan Biletski, Al Karst, Tess Ariss, Lori Hildebrandt, Bill Lothian, Tyler Bamford, Amanda Duxbury, Howard Ellis, Brent Blackwell, Talsa Warken, Al Batty, Elan Grondin and Robyn Mattie who will serve as Curling Canada Liaison. The excitement felt in Assiniboia when another big-ticket event was announced rippled throughout curling communities throughout Saskatchewan.
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