Tisdale will once again host a major curling championship.
The Affinity Credit Union Joint Senior Provincials will be held at the Tisdale Curling Rink Feb. 20 to 25.
“We were approached by CurlSask because we had hosted the [men’s] tankard last year and they approached us to see if we would entertain having it here,” said Bob Jackson, the chair of the organizing committee.
That was done in the early summer. The curling club met and decided to move ahead.
Jackson said the curling club was quite honoured to be asked.
“We’ve done a pretty good job with the last two that we’ve had here: the [women’s] Scotties [provincials] and the tankard last year. I think we’ll be fine.”
There will be 16 teams competing for the men’s and women’s senior curling title. Half will be men and half will be women.
The eight men’s teams will be selected through a northern qualifier in Unity and a southern qualifier in Melville Feb. 9 to 11. The eight women’s teams will be selected through three qualifying bonspiels: one in Saskatoon Dec. 8 to 10, one in Moose Jaw Jan. 19 to 21 and one in Yorkton Feb. 9 to 11.
The plan is for three draws each on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and two on Saturday and Sunday, with tiebreakers added in as necessary.
“Thursday evening, there’s going to be a banquet,” Jackson said. “It’s a prime rib, full course banquet with entertainment, a magician.”
The magician will be a name familiar to Tisdale residents: Chester McBain, who was once an economic development officer for the town.
There’s also plans to have a patch in the Tisdale RECplex’s Hanover room for those wanting to party. While the plans aren’t firmed up yet, the committee is looking at having it open on Friday and Saturday evening.
The committee is now trying to wrap up getting sponsorships from local business and getting some volunteers for the big week.
“We can never have too many,” Jackson said, who added those interested can contact him at 306-873-9227.
The chair also emphasized that for the provincials to be a success, people are going to have to show up to watch the proceedings.
