News Releases

Culture, Heritage, Tourism and Sport Minister Eric Robinson today hosted a reception at the Legislative Building to congratulate Manitoba curlers.

 

“Our province is extremely proud of all the curling teams who represented Manitoba and Canada on the world stage,” said Robinson. “The success of our teams at the national and international levels affirms the strength of curling in Manitoba and indicates just how good you have to be to represent this province in one of our most acclaimed sports.”

 

Participants included the provincial teams for mixed, junior men’s, men’s and women’s senior, and master categories, as well as the Kerry Burtnyk rink which represented Manitoba at the 2008 Tim Horton’s Brier, the world junior women’s bronze medallists led by Kaitlyn Lawes and the world women’s curling champion Jennifer Jones rink.                                                        

 

Manitoba has a long curling history which includes the Manitoba Curling Association’s men’s bonspiel which has been operating for 120 years and is still the biggest annual bonspiel in the world, drawing over 400 teams.

 

Robinson noted that Manitoba’s status as a leader in the world of curling was further enhanced by hosting the 2008 Tim Hortons Brier in Winnipeg in March. 

 

Manitoba will host the first world deaf curling championships in April 2009.

 

In February the minister proclaimed Learn to Curl Month in celebration of Manitoba’s curling heritage. More than 7,000 students and educators learned about curling and over 2,600 students participated in Learn to Curl clinics.

 

Last Sunday at the Curling Hall of Fame awards, the 2008 Canadian and world women's champion Jones rink received provincial gold medallions and the 2008 Canadian junior women's bronze-winning Lawes rink received provincial silver medallions for their achievements.

 

The minister made special mention of the individual and personal success of each of the nine provincial teams including: