Sault Ste. Marie will not be hosting the 2017 Tim Hortons Brier curling tournament.
The city learned on Sept. 14 that St. John’s, Nfld., was named the host city. But officials and bid organizers are still calling the effort a success.
“It was an unbelievably difficult decision, and I can't say enough good things about the bid Sault Ste. Marie submitted,” said Pat Ray, acting CEO for Curling Canada, in a news release. “The city is definitely on our radar for a future Tim Hortons Brier, and we'd like to see another bid from Sault Ste. Marie in the very near future.”
Organizers said that, with two other major curling events happening in the province in a short timeframe — the 2016 Brier in Ottawa and the Olympic qualifier in 2017 — a third could compromise ticket sales. Sault Ste. Marie last hosted the Brier in 1990.
The local bid for the 2017 Brier, which was one of three known proposals from across Canada, was developed and submitted by Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Soo Curlers Association, and Tarentorus Sports Club. Response to an extensive marketing campaign, in which residents were urged to make $50 deposits on event tickets, was a big success.
“The level of support we received from the community was overwhelming, and that will no doubt have a positive impact on any future Brier bid we submit,” said Ian McMillan, executive director of Tourism Sault Ste. Marie, in the release.
“We thank the citizens of Sault Ste. Marie for showing their strong support, along with the mayor and council for their commitment, our tourism industry partners, and all levels of government and their funding agencies for working with us to help develop a very strong bid.”
Those who made ticket deposits will be refunded.
