With just a couple weeks remaining in Penticton’s bid to secure curling’s 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, another high-profile curling champion is throwing her weight behind the campaign.
Julie Skinner, who represented Canada and won a bronze medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, has come out publicly in support of Penticton’s effort. Skinner joins former world champion Kelly Scott of Kelowna in backing Penticton’s bid.
“For me, the Southern Okanagan will always be my home and I know Penticton will do an excellent job of hosting the premier event of women’s curling – the Scotties Tournament of Hearts,” Skinner said in a released statement.
Skinner, now retired, won the Canadian Junior Curling Championship in 1987, and became the world junior champion a year later. Skinner also skipped the B.C. team at the 1989 Scott Tournament of Hearts in Kelowna.
Penticton’s tournament bid organizers are trying to sell 1,000 event ticket deposits of $100 by mid-June to have their bid considered by Curling Canada (CC). Sydney, NS is the only other city vying to host the 2018 tournament and is also selling ticket deposits. The full-pass deposits demonstrate to CC levels of local tournament support. Full-event passes include access to every match as well as the party in the patch, entertainment, top-rated bands and other festivities.
“We are confident we will put on a first-class event at the South Okanagan Event Centre. But we need the public to get behind this bid with our champion curlers and purchase a full-event pass deposit," said Penticton host-committee co-chair Kim Kirkham. "We’re only about a third of the way there so far. We really need the community’s support.”
Kirkham says hosting the 2018 Scotties tournament of Hearts would bring a major economic boost to the region, and that curling fans across B.C., and even into Alberta and Saskatchewan, have been supportive so far. But Kirkham is calling on Okanagan residents to get behind the bid effort.
“We need to sell way more deposits if we are to succeed, and we know Okanagan residents and business communities can help support this bid,” said Kirkham.
The $100 deposit is refundable if Penticton is unsuccessful in its bid. If Penticton wins the bid, patrons who have made the $100 deposit would have to follow through and buy tickets for the tournament, or their deposit is forfeited.
“I was very fortunate to have started my curling career in the Southern Okanagan and have many fond memories of competing in the valley, especially at the 1989 Scotties held in Kelowna," said Skinner. "I’m very excited and proud to support Rock the Bid for Penticton 2018.”
Deposits can be made at the Valley First Box Office (at the SOEC) in Penticton, via phone at 1-877-SOEC-TIX (763-2849) or online at rockthebid.com.