WESTVILLE ROAD, N.S.
It’s not often that the world’s best come to Pictou County.
But it’s happening Nov. 5-10, when the Pinty’s Grand Slam of Curling takes place at the Pictou County Wellness Centre.
Jim Nix and Donalda Buckingham, co-chairs of the event, have been working at this more than year, overseeing more than 250 volunteers to help bring it all together: everything from ticket takers, timekeepers, scorekeepers, statisticians, sponsorships, courtesy drivers, and other tasks that have to be carried out. Roughly 24 volunteers are part of the ice crew alone.
“We’ll need 60-70 people for each draw,” Nix said.
The event could pump as much as $2.5 million into the local economy.
A total of 14 of the Top 15 men’s teams in the world – as well as 15 of the Top 15 women’s teams – will be here, including Rachel Homan of Ottawa, a three-time Canadian champion who won the 2017 world title and Brad Gushue of St. John’s, a two-time Brier champion, the 2017 world champion and a gold medalist at the 2006 Olympics, who will headline the men’s Tier 1 competition.
“As soon as it was announced, we had people, booking (accommodations),” Buckingham said.
“I will expect to see a lot of people from around the Maritimes.”
In the neighbouring arena, Tier II competition will feature a number of local rinks from the Maritimes and Quebec; upwards of 62 teams will be in Pictou County next week.
There will also be live entertainment for the curlers and the patrons.
“We have nine different countries represented at the event. So, it’s pretty cool, and it’s going to be amazing,” Nix said.
The event is taking over the YMCA gymnasium, where hot meals will be served for lunch and dinner.
“We have a social house, and we have a caterer (who) put together a great menu with some real great east coast flavor to some of the meals,” said Nix. “You don’t have to leave the facility, really. Watch curling, watch some great entertainment and eat, and go to the next game.”
It also provides an opportunity to showcase Pictou County to curlers across Canada.
“Because of the Sportsnet coverage, we’re going to have millions of people across Canada looking at Pictou County, so we’re really delighted for that,” she added.
Opening night on Nov. 5 will see the admission fee dropped to $10 (taxes included), 40 percent of regular ticket prices, to entice people to come to the Pictou County Wellness Centre.
“We really want to fill the house on Tuesday night,” Buckingham said.
They hope to sell roughly 12,000 tickets by the time all is said and done.
The co-chairs are both veteran curlers themselves and can’t wait until the world’s best get at it. Each surface at the PCWC will have five curling rinks.
“There’s nothing more interesting to me than to watch five games at the same time, with the world’s best curlers,” Buckingham said.
“You never know where to put your eyes next, because there’s going to be shot-making everywhere.”
