Elite curlers in North Bay as city hosts provincial curling championships this week

It’s a busy week at the North Bay Granite Club, where top curlers are competing in the 2026 Men’s and Women’s Provincial Championships.

It’s a jam-packed week for the North Bay Granite Club.

Some of the top curlers from across northern Ontario are in the city for the 2026 men’s and women’s provincial championships -- with top-end talent throwing the stones.

Hoping to sweep the competition aside this week is Team Bonot from Thunder Bay.

“It’s great to be back in North Bay. Mike and I, my teammate, we played the mixed provincial here a few years ago and we had success,” said skip Trevor Bonot.

“So, it’s exciting to be back and playing another provincial championship here.”

Team Bonot is off to a flying start, winning its first match Tuesday.

“We got to play a U18 team last night that played really well,” Bonot said.

“They’re local and it’s exciting to see the new generation coming up.”

The curling competition runs from Jan. 6-11 with 23 teams fighting for glory. There are 16 men’s teams and seven women’s.

The competitive bonspiel features some of the top curling talent from the north, including last year’s champions -- Team Krista Scharff from the women’s tournament and Team John Epping on the men’s side.

Gerry Horgan is cheering for his two sons Tanner and Jacob on Team Epping.

“We’re here for the week. We’ve travelled all over the world for curling,” Horgan said while the matches went on behind him.

“What enticed me here from the beginning is it stops. It’s a real thinking sport.”

Winners from the competition qualify as the northern Ontario representatives for the national championships – known as the Brier and the Scotties, which are scheduled to take place later this year.

No dates have been scheduled for those competitions yet, as we’re so close to the Olympic games.

Since the Granite Club successfully bid to host the provincial tournament, more than 90 volunteers have been involved in all aspects from tournament scheduling, to preparing the ice.

“We’re very fortunate that we have so many wonderful people in our community,” said Laura Johnston, club general manager.

“Part of the North Bay Granite Club that want to be involved and want to help out and donate their time.”

The club is celebrating its 75th anniversary this season and couldn’t be more thrilled to welcome the best teams back.

“We’ve hosted two grand slams of curling here in the City of North Bay and then going back to 2018, we hosted the world women’s event here as well,” she said.

“So, we’re constantly trying to put bids in.”

The women’s and men’s champions are going to be crowned on Sunday.

For more information, including ticket prices, click here.