The Scotties Tournament of Hearts will be held in Kingston, Ontario in 2013.
"It is a privilege to announce that the Canadian Curling Association is bringing this premier women's sporting event to Kingston," said Greg Stremlaw, CCA Chief Executive Officer. "We know that curlers and fans will enjoy the warm hospitality and generous spirit this community has to offer."
Kingston has not hosted a Canadian Curling Championship since 1957, when Alberta's Matt Baldwin team won the Macdonald Brier. The last time Ontario won the Canadian Women's title, was when Marilyn Bodogh skipped her team to victory for the second time, in 1996. In the history of the championship, which began in 1961, the province has won just five times. In addition to Bodogh, past champions include Heather Houston (another two-time winner) and Alison Goring.
The winner of the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts will automatically be part of Team North America at the 2014 Continental Cup and will earn an invitation to the 2013 Pre-Trials, the final opportunity for teams to earn berths in the Canadian Curling Trials. The winning team at the Trials will represent Canada at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
"The Scotties is the perfect event for the return of championship curling to this historical city – Canada's first Capital and UNESCO World Heritage destination," said Host Committee Chair, Ken Thompson. "This will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase and promote both the great sport of curling and the great city of Kingston!"
Kingston is located halfway between Montreal and Toronto and is a city steeped in history and tradition. It is the final resting place of Canada's first Prime Minister, Sir John A. Macdonald. The city is known as the 'fresh-water capital of North America' and is a major port for cruises to the famous Thousand Islands.
The 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts will be played at the K-Rock Centre from February 16–24 with over 60 hours of live television coverage provided by TSN, the CCA's broadcast partner.
