Preparations are underway in Elmira for the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Curling Ontario Championship.
Crews have been busy converting the hockey rink as the athletes are set to hit the ice pad in just a few days.
Getting the slippery surface ready for a provincial curling championship is no easy feat, especially in a tight timeframe.
“We have just a little over 72 hours to get the ice turned from hockey ice to curling ice and being able to throw rocks on it,” explained Cory McLaughlin, an assistant ice technician at the Woolwich Memorial Centre.
Crews got started late on New Year’s Eve and have been working around the clock to ensure everything is ready to go for the first draw on Sunday.
“We put little bumps of ice on top of the flat surface and that’s called pebble,” said McLaughlin. “What that does is it lifts the rock up off the ice, to help reduce friction and make it easier to throw the rock down the ice. It also helps curl the rock, hence the name curling.”
He also shared how they achieve that bumpy surface.
“We walk backwards down the ice, waving [the hose] back and forth to break it into droplets. It flies pretty evenly across the ice and freezes in little droplets.”
Twenty-four teams will faceoff against each other in Elmira.
“12 women’s teams and 12 men’s teams, competing for the opportunity to represent Ontario and the Scotties [Tournament of Hearts], in the women’s case, and the Brier in the men’s case,” said Bill Barr, chair of the Curling Ontario Championship.
The Woolwich Memorial Centre has room for around 1,100 spectators.
“Kids under 12 are free, so it’s a great family event, if you want to bring your kids out and watch,” suggested Barr.
He hopes also the competition inspires the next generations of curlers.
“Historically, Olympic years have always boosted the sport and the interest in it,” Barr explained. “We’re really hoping to reap the benefits of this event as well.”
The tournament begins on Sunday and will wrap up on Jan. 11. Tickets can be purchased here.
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