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.
For the first time in history, a national sport championship will be staged in Iqaluit, Nunavut, as the Canadian Curling AssociationÕs Canadian Mixed got underway on Saturday. The 46th edition of the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship, which is being presented by First Air, will be held November 8-15 at the Arniatok Arena and brings together 12 teams, representing the 10 provinces plus Northern Ontario and the Territories. The teams compete in a round robin concluding Friday, after which the first place team advances directly to the final on Saturday, November 15, while the second and third place teams meet in a semi-final to determine the other finalist. Among the skips competing in Iqaluit, which is located approximately 2,000 km north of Ottawa, is Nova ScotiaÕs Mark Dacey, who won the 2004 Nokia Brier in Saskatoon and subsequently finished third at the 2004 Ford Worlds in Gvle, Sweden. Dacey, along with wife Heather Smith-Dacey, who plays third, teamed to win the 2002 Canadian Mixed when it was held in Halifax. It was the second Mixed win for Smith-Dacey, a former Canadian junior champion (1991) who won her first Mixed title as third for New BrunswickÕs Grant Odishaw in 1994 in Leduc, Alberta. Other skips include OntarioÕs Wayne Tuck, who finished third to Dacey at the 2002 Canadian Mixed. Prince Edward IslandÕs Bill Hope, who skipped Ontario to victory at the 1968 Canadian Juniors, British ColumbiaÕs Greg Monkman, runner-up at the 1982 Brier, along with other provincial menÕs and/or junior champions such as New BrunswickÕs Scott Jones, Newfoundland and LabradorÕs Andrew Mercer, ManitobaÕs Sean Grassie and SaskatchewanÕs Darrell McKee. The participants also include Manitoba second Ross Derksen, who played third for skip David Hamblin on the 2002 Canadian and world junior menÕs championship team. In addition to a Canadian title, two players from the winning team will then represent Canada at the 2009 World Mixed Doubles Championship, slated for April 17-25, 2009 in Cortina dÕAmpezzo, Italy. ÒOn behalf of the Host Committee, I would like to add that we are looking forward to hosting teams from across Canada,Ó said Karen Costello, the 2009 Canadian Mixed chair. ÒIn partnership with our community sponsors, we hope to make their Iqaluit visit and the Championship a truly memorable experience for all participants and spectators.Ó 2009 Canadian Mixed Roster (Teams listed in order of skip, third, second and lead) Alberta Ð Saville Sports Centre, Edmonton Tom Appelman, Kalynn Park, Brandon Klassen, Rachel Pidherny British Columbia Ð Royal City CC, New Westminster Greg Monkman, Susan Allen, Randie Shen, Anita Cochrane Manitoba Ð Deer Lodge CC, Winnipeg Sean Grassie, Alli Nimik, Ross Derksen, Kendra Green New Brunswick Ð Beaver CC, Moncton Scott Jones, Sandy Comeau, Pierre Fraser, Stephanie Taylor Newfoundland and Labrador Ð Re/Max Centre, St. JohnÕs Andrew Mercer, Jillian Waite, Scott Davidge, Tiffany Cuthbert Northern Ontario Ð Soo Curlers Association, Sault Ste. Marie Ian Fisher, Lindsay Miners, Caleb Flaxey, Chris Fortin Nova Scotia - Mayflower CC, Halifax Mark Dacey, Heather Smith-Dacey, Dave Stephenson, Lisa Stephenson Ontario Ð Brantford Golf & Country Club, Brantford Wayne Tuck, Kimberly Tuck, Jake Higgs, Sara Jane Gatchell Prince Edward Island Ð Charlottetown CC, Charlottetown Bill Hope, Sandra Hope, Jeff Gallant, Shelley Ebbett Quebec Ð Thetford Mines Golf & Curling Club, Thetford Mines Simon Hebert, Nomie Audet-Verreault, Nicolas Marceau, Vicky Tremblay Saskatchewan - Nutana CC, Saskatoon Darrell McKee, Allison Gerhardt, Jason Jacobson, Amanda Jacobson Territories - Inuvik CC, Northwest Territories George Lennie, Donna Maring, Edgar Maring, Diane Baxter
