Brad Gushue, Mark Nichols, Brett Gallant, and Geoff Walker win the 2020 Brier. (Supplied by TSN)

By David Opinko

City Council considering $1-million bid to host 2022 Brier

Jun 1, 2020 | 4:57 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Lethbridge Curling Club wants to host what members of city council referred to as the “Super Bowl of Curling” two years from now.

Executive Director Kirk Mearns asked for $1-million in cash and in-kind contributions.

“This is an investment into Lethbridge’s future. This is an investment that will help businesses that have been struggling and will have been struggling for the next little while.”

Approximately $400,000 of that would go to renting the ENMAX Centre and the Servus Sports Centre from March 4-13, 2022. That would include all of those facilities’ staff and resources.

The remaining money would go to Curling Canada, who would promise to book at least $250,000 worth of hotel rooms for athletes and guests.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

Some members of Lethbridge City Council had a tough time reconciling giving that amount of money during a time where many people and businesses are facing tough times financially and the city needs to prioritize its spending.

Councillors Belinda Crowson and Blaine Hyggen felt that there are simply too many unknowns at this point to be able to make this kind of contribution.

Councillor Mark Campbell, who introduced the motion, said the Curling Club is not looking for a cheque this week. It would have to be spent in time for the event in 2022.

Either way, Mearns feels the community would actually get more out of hosting the Brier than they would have to put into it.

This year’s competition was held in early March in Kingston, Ontario. It is estimated that the total economic impact of that event was anywhere between $10-million to $15-million.

Between hotels, restaurants, retail sales, tourism, and other factors, he says he has no reason to believe there could not be a similar economic benefit in Lethbridge.

“We can go to New West Theatre and say, ‘Hey, you know what guys? Put on a special show for 10 days while all these people are here for the Brier.’ We can go to the malls and we can go to the museums and the [Southern Alberta] Ethnic Association and say, ‘Hey, you got 10 days and we’ve got all of Canada [captivated], what do you guys want to do and how do you want to be part of it?'”

The Brier is televised on TSN with over 75 hours of live coverage over 10 days. The 2019 Brier reached more than 7.5-million viewers.

Mearns says that kind of national attention will be worth more than any dollar amount he could have asked for.

In the end, city council voted to have administrative staff work with the Brier Bid Committee to see how, or if, the City of Lethbridge could provide the necessary $1-million contribution.

Currently, there is $355,000 left in the city’s fund that can go towards putting on major events from 2019-2022.

Recommendations will be provided to council at their June 15 meeting, where a decision would presumably be made.

Bids to host the 2022 Brier need to be submitted by the end of June.