U18 Curling Championships underway in Timmins

For the second time, the McIntyre Curling Club is hosting the Canadian U18 Curling Championships at the McIntyre Community Centre.

“Typically, you don’t see the turnaround of three years, but we know that we did such a successful job in 2023 that they just wanted to come back,” said Lacey Rigg, coordinator at Tourism Timmins.

“And we try to treat everybody (like) they’re in the Olympics so I think that’s really bringing the pride, too.”

Each province and territory has a team competing. Organizers said there are 21 male teams and 21 female teams and they’ve brought along their No. 1 fans, including adoring parents and friends.

“It’s been pretty good so far,” said David Hoyt, a player on Team Nunavut.

“We’ve had fun playing, even though we’ve lost our games, but it’s been fun playing against New Brunswick and Saskatoon, Sask., and PEI.”

“Motel rooms and hotel rooms are all full,” said Steve Meunier, president of the McIntyre Curling Club.

“The restaurants are seeing a lot of business, a lot of economic spinoff.”

Chance of a lifetime

Team Nunavut is particularly enjoying some food that’s unavailable at home.

“McDonald’s -- since we don’t have one up in Nunavut.”

For some curlers, this is a chance of a lifetime. Timmins curler Deanna Chilton is an alternate for one of the teams representing northern Ontario.

“You know it would have been really sweet to qualify for nationals and play here, but it didn’t happen but … I still got the wonderful opportunity to play on home ice,” Chilton said.

“So I’m super grateful for that, but I will still continue playing in the U20 division of curling.”

She said the life lessons learned from curling will stay with her for years to come.

“We’ve lost the provincial final, I think, for four years in a row now,” Chilton said.

“I think the resilience and just … the real meaning of determination is, really, it’s cemented in my brain, that you need to keep going when things get hard to achieve your goals.”

Curling Canada calls this event one of the world’s largest youth curling stages. Games continue throughout the week with the final game Feb. 14.