Hurry! Hurry Hard! Hurry, all the way to Prince George from February 28th to March 8th, 2020.
Those are the dates for the Canadian men’s curling championship, much better known as the Tim Hortons Brier.
The City of Prince George made its intentions public that they want to host, and have the credentials to host, the nation’s premiere curling event two years down the road.
Sure, curling participation has dwindled over the years, and yes, television seemingly has taken over the sport, but there is still something special about the Brier and its deep history, dating back to 1927.
It’s a 10-day spectacle and party atmosphere that brings out more fans and more casual observers than practically anything else the sport has to offer.
Many leads, seconds, thirds, and skips will emphatically suggest participating in the Brier, let alone winning it, would be, or is, the pinnacle of their career.
To many curlers, the Brier means more than a world championship because often the elite field at the Canadian Finals is superior to any field, anywhere, any time.
It undoubtedly has much more meaning and significance than any glorified cash event or Skins Game, no matter how many thousands of dollars are offered.
Perhaps competing in the Olympics is the only curling event that would surpass the Brier.
Prince George is ready to embrace this marquee event with more first class accommodation than ever, a wide variety of top notch restaurants, a first-class facility at the CN Centre, and an organizing committee prepared to meet every little detail to make it a success.
But topping the list, Prince George has thousands of residents I believe would step into the “hack” and deliver a memorable “draw to the button.”
.@CityofPG caps off official bid announcement for the 2020 #TimHortons Brier with a photo op full of donuts ??? | #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/vyRt6KrALx
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) January 25, 2018
The 2015 Canada Winter Games were a prime example of where countless volunteers, many of them not huge sports fans, gave their time and energy to make sure visitors were welcomed at every turn.
The guests left the City extremely complimentary of the hospitality.
In 1983 and 2000, Prince George hosted the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, (Canadian women’s curling championship) and in 2009, PG was the site for The Road to the Roar Pre-Trials.
There’s a myth with the popularity and growth of the Brier large cities land the championship nearly every year.
This is obviously not true since Kamloops hosted in 2014 and St. John’s, NewFoundland got it in 2017.
This year, Regina will play host, and in 2019 Brandon has the honour.
Cities have until June 30th, 2018 to submit their bid.
It is believed that St. Catharines, Ontario (population 133,000), Kingston, Ontario (123,000), and Moncton, New Brunswick (71,000) will also put their best foot forward to try and take it away from Prince George (74,000).
“I think what we have, and we’ve demonstrated in our community before, is a remarkable ability to get behind major events of all sorts,” said CN Centre Manager Glen Mikkelsen, Chair of the Prince George 2020 Brier Bid Committee.
.@CNCentre Manager Glen Mikkelsen says the bid begins by showing @CurlingCanada how badly @CityofPG wants to host “Canada’s Greatest Winter Party”; deposits of $20.20 available online | #CityOfPG pic.twitter.com/grlp5csPqH
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) January 25, 2018
Nearly every city likes to believe they are special, but when it comes to significant sporting events, Prince George has a history of coming up a winner.
Even if the Brier ends up going East in 2020 that doesn’t mean that PG should not be able to land this championship down the road, but for now the focus is squarely on getting the nod this time.
The decision will be announced this fall.
“2020 is the 100th anniversary of the first curling club in Prince George and the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of curling in BC and for the first time ever, we want to bring the Tim Hortons Brier to Northern BC,” said Mayor Lyn Hall.
I remember when Kamloops, Kelowna, and Prince George were the finalists for the 2015 Canada Winter Games and the general perception outside of PG was that it was a toss-up between Kamloops and Kelowna as to who would win the bid.
Well, we all know how that turned out.
Prince George is ready to “raise” the stakes, and let the Curling Canada know the perfect 20-20 vision is in our “House.”
WATCH:
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
North Korea has announced that it will send a group of citizens called the “cheering squad” to next month’s Winter Olympics. And many of them are expected to actually compete in a new event called the “400 Meter Defection.
*Conan O’Brien of TBS
North and South Korea will have teams competing at the Winter Olympics as a Unified Korea, such as their women’s hockey teams. The next sport to be consolidated will be the Summer Olympics in two years, as North Korea’s pole vaulting team is already in South Korea.
*Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver
Former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison for molesting patients. It was the first time gymnasts ever gave a judge a “10.”
*Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va., http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.ca/
Top three beers in the US are now Bud Light, Coors Light and Miller Lite. Only things getting less light are Americans.
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
After the White House released the results of President Trump’s physical, Sports Illustrated said that based on Trump’s size he would most likely play linebacker or tight end in the NFL. And based on his tweets he’s most likely a player who would be placed in the concussion protocol.
*Seth Meyers of Late Night
Pizza Hut says if either team beats the record for the fastest touchdown in the Super Bowl, it’s giving away free pizza to people in its loyalty program. The only downside is you have to tell people that you’re in the Pizza Hut loyalty program.
*Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Sports Centre showed an errant basketball grazing the head of a high-school ref and taking his toupee with it. The poor guy! He had the rug pulled out from over him?
*Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
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Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT.
He also is the 94.3 radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games.
His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com.
Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @Hartley_Miller