The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Canadian Curling Association recently confirmed that World Financial Group will be the title sponsor of the 2010 Canadian Senior Men's and Women's Curling Championships. The World Financial Group Canadian Seniors will take place at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club, March 20-28, 2010. The company also has an option to renew its sponsorship agreement for the 2011 Canadian Seniors in Digby, Nova Scotia. It marks the first time since 1999 that the Seniors has enjoyed a title sponsor, when CIBC completed its five-year agreement. "We're pleased and encouraged that World Financial Group is making a significant, increased commitment to our sport, specifically to the rapidly-growing Seniors segment, following the announcement a month ago of its title sponsorship role for the 2011 and 2012 Continental Cup," said Greg Stremlaw, Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Curling Association. "World Financial Group is a major supporter of Canadian amateur and community sport, at both a national and grassroots community level." The winners of the 2010 World Financial Group Canadian Seniors will represent Canada at the 2011 World Seniors, at a site and date to be announced. Last year, Ontario (Bruce Delaney of Ottawa) and Nova Scotia (Colleen Pinkney of Truro) won the Canadian Seniors in Summerside, Prince Edward Island and will represent Canada at the 2010 World Seniors in Chelyabinsk, Russia, April 16-24. Manitoba and Ontario have each won 10 Canadian senior men's titles since the championship began in 1965 in Port Arthur, while Ontario has also won a leading 10 women's crowns since 1973 in Ottawa. The championships were conducted as separate events before being combined in 1985 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. In the past few years, such curling luminaries as Brier and world champions Al Hackner, Pat Ryan and Russ Howard have competed in the Canadian senior men's championship. Hackner won in 2006, while Ryan won the 2007 national title and 2008 world title. Howard was the 2008 and 2009 Canadian runner-up. The 2008 Canadian Senior champions, Eugene Hritzuk of Saskatchewan and Pat Sanders of British Columbia, a former Scotties and world champion, went on to win gold medals at the 2009 World Seniors in New Zealand. Since 2002 in Bismarck, North Dakota, when the World Seniors competition was unveiled, Canada has captured six men's and five women's crowns.
