The Okotoks curling community has hit a grand slam.
Okotoks will welcome the top men’s and women’s teams the roaring game has to offer next year as it was announced as the host of the 2016 Masters Grand Slam of Curling to be held Oct. 25-30 at the Pason Centennial Arena.
“It will bring together the 15 top men’s, 15 top women’s teams in the world. It will include Canadian, world and Olympic champions,” said Ron McLaren, chairman of the Okotoks Curling Club’s executive committee. “The Masters is one of the original Grand Slam events. It’s considered a very prestigious title in the world of curling and has been won by some of the best teams in the world.”
One such past champion was on hand for the announcement, 2003 Masters winner and 2010 Olympic and world champion curler Kevin Martin.
“I really appreciate Okotoks. I’ve been coming here for many years. It’s such a sporting town,” said Martin, now a broadcaster with Sportsnet. “The Grand Slam of Curling, it’s all about the growth of the game, that’s what it is.”
Next year will mark a season of unprecedented growth for the Grand Slam series with Okotoks on board as one of the biggest number of tour dates in the circuit’s history.
“Last year the Grand Slam of Curling property had five events, this year the Grand Slam property had seven events,” Martin added. “Next year, with Okotoks part of it, it will be the biggest curling property in the world with eight events and $2.5 million in prize money.
“That is a large deal in our sport.”
The event, co-hosted by the Town of Okotoks and Okotoks Curling Club, has been held in Canada since 2002 yet the 2016 Masters will mark the first time Alberta has hosted the Masters in the history of the Grand Slam.
“It’s so exciting for Okotoks to have this opportunity to showcase our community as a first-class sporting destination,” said Okotoks Town Councillor Ken Heemeryck. “And to be able to present such a prestigious event on a national scale.”
The event will be broadcast nationally on Sportsnet as part of the channel’s coverage of the Grand Slam of Curling.
“Through social media, internet, press, television coverage provided by Rogers Sportsnet, who own and operate the series, the event will bring great exposure to our area,” McLaren added. “We hope to work with local and regional businesses to ensure the event showcases our amazing community and what it has to offer.”
In the meantime, the executive committee featuring McLaren, Debbie Miller, Gail Giroux and Susan Lypkie is calling on volunteers to help tackle the challenge of hosting an event with such magnitude in the world of curling.
“The next 13 months is going to be extremely busy,” McLaren said. “We are looking for volunteers and business partners to make the 2016 Masters the most successful Grand Slam event ever held.”
Those interested in getting involved can email [email protected] or visit okotokscurling.com and find the Grand Slam volunteer link on the homepage.
