According to Devin Heroux of CBC Sports on Tuesday, Ottawa has been named the host city of the 2021 World Men’s Curling Championship from April 3 to April 11. Due to the fact there was no World Men’s Curling Championship in Glasgow, Scotland in 2020 because of coronavirus, the 2021 World Men’s Curling Championship has added meaning. That is because the top six teams qualify directly for the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing.
Team Canada will be represented by the 2021 Brier champion. The 2021 Tim Hortons Brier will take place in Kelowna, British Columbia from March 6 to March 14.
This will have been the fourth time the province of Ontario will have hosted the World Men’s Curling Championship. London hosted in 1981. Toronto was the host in 1986 and Hamilton was the host in 1996. Ed Lukowich of Calgary, Alberta won the 1986 World Men’s Curling Championship as Canada defeated Scotland 4-3 in the gold medal game. Jeff Stoughton of Winnipeg, Manitoba won the 1996 World Men’s Curling Championship as Canada defeated Scotland 6-2 in the gold medal game.
The 2020 Women’s World Curling Championships were to take place in Prince George, British Columbia, but were cancelled because of coronavirus. The 2020 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championships were also originally scheduled for British Columbia, with Kelowna the host site. However that event was cancelled too because of the pandemic.
The 2021 Women’s World Curling Championship is scheduled for Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Canada will be represented by the 2020 Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion. The Canadian national women’s curling championship will take place in Thunder Bay, Ontario from February 20-28, 2021.
