Lethbridge will officially make a bid to host the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts. (Photo: LNN)

By Christian Oldale

City of Lethbridge approves funding to bid for 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts

May 28, 2024 | 2:13 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge will officially make a bid to host the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts.

Lethbridge City Council on Tuesday, May 28, 2024, voted unanimously to provide a letter of support, as well as $400,000 in cash and in-kind services, to support the Lethbridge Curling Club in the bid to host the event.

Mayor Blaine Hyggen says the region’s growing reputation as a curling hotspot in Canada helped make the push for a bid. He said, “As we witnessed with the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier, as well as all the other elite curling action held in Lethbridge, there would be significant social and economic benefits to hosting an event of this magnitude. Council is proud to help support this bid.”

The motion was brought to the Economic and Finance SPC meeting on Tuesday, May 7. At the meeting, Council voted to allocate proposed funding from the Municipal Revenue Stabilization Reserve (MRSR) for $330,000 and the Major Community Event Grant for $70,000.

The $400,000 total will only be paid if the bid for the tournament is successful, and all bids must be submitted by September of 2024. Curling Canada is anticipated to announce the host city in January 2025.

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Tourism Lethbridge CEO Erin Crane said, “The Lethbridge Curling Club’s passion and success in hosting events is a massive economic driver in our community. Without organizations like the Lethbridge Curling Club who host large-scale events like this, our community would not be as economically strong and diverse.”

If the bid is successful, 2026 will mark the third time Lethbridge would be the host of the Scotties Tournament of Hearts. The city previously held the tournament in 1987 and in 2007.

In addition, the 2022 Tim Hortons Brier was held at the ENMAX Centre, and it was announced earlier this year that the 2025 Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association/Curling Canada Championships and U SPORTS/Curling Canada University Championships will be in the city.

The event would be held from January 23 to February 1, 2026 at the ENMAX Centre, and feature the top 18 women’s curling teams from across Canada, including at least two from Alberta.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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