Skip to content

Tim Hortons Brier not coming to Kelowna

The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted Curling Canada to move to hub model, similar to the NHL playoffs
23505487_web1_IMG_6278
Mayor Colin Basran at the announcement of the 2021 Tim Horton’s Brier to be hosted in Kelowna on Nov. 21. (Contributed)

The 2021 Tim Hortons Brier will no longer be held in Kelowna due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Curling Canada made the announcement on Tuesday, Dec. 1, that all its 2021 Season of Champions events will be held in a hub in Calgary, Alta., similar to the way the NHL hosted the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This means the Brier, which was scheduled to take place at Prospera Place March 6–14, 2021, will not be coming to Kelowna.

READ MORE: B.C.’s COVID-19 infection count climbs back up to 656

Fredericton, N.B., Oakville, Ont., Thunder Bay, Ont., and Ottawa. Ont. will also be missing out on major curling events.

Curling Canada noted that all cities that were meant to host events this year have agreed to host Curling Canada championships in the future.

This marks the second major sports championship Kelowna has lost out on due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In May, the city was to host the Canadian Hockey League’s Memorial Cup tournament, Canadian junior hockey’s largest cross-country event. In late April it was announced the tournament would not be going ahead. The city plans to make a bid to host the tournament in 2023.

READ MORE: 52 positive COVID-19 cases now associated with LNG Canada site outbreak in Kitimat

READ MORE: Central Okanagan MLA’s take on new roles

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: michael.rodriguez@kelownacapnews.com


@michaelrdrguez
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.