ESTEVAN - The Estevan Curling Club's effort to bring the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts national women's curling championship to Estevan is continuing with a push to sell deposits for ticket packages to the event.
The committee wants to have as many deposits for ticket packages as possible by Aug. 31 to show Curling Canada how much people want the event here. Estevan Curling Club president Tyler McMillen said they don't want to disclose the number of ticket packages sold, because they don't want competing cities to have that information, but the club will proceed with the bid regardless of how many event passes are spoken for.
He has spoken to some people who have said they would commit to an event pass, but haven't done so just yet.
"We feel that it's an important part of the bid package, the deposits, because we're a smaller market area," said McMillen.
When the committee initially revealed its intentions to bring the Scotties to Estevan, the committee was asking people to put down a deposit of $100 for an event package. If Estevan is awarded the event, that money would be directed towards a package; McMillen noted Curling Canada typically has three options.
"If we are unsuccessful, that $100 will … be refunded," he said.
McMillen has heard reports of Lethbridge, Alta., and Summerside, P.E.I., also bidding.
He said the bid committee encountered some issues with their electronic ticket sales, but those problems have been resolved, and he is confident they won't have any further problems.
"I've even used it myself and put a deposit down," said McMillen. "It's running smoothly. People are welcome … to go online now and submit that way, or by e-transfer. An e-transfer is just as easy as an email that's on the site."
For more information, people can visit estevan2026scotties.ca website.
Committee members have also been to various events in Estevan and throughout the southeast to drum up support for the bid. McMillen said people have been asking good questions about Estevan's ability to host such a marquee event.
"We still think that we have the infrastructure. We have the beautiful facility there [at Affinity Place]. We have the hotels and the restaurants, the space. We're very accessible, an easy drive from Regina."
If Estevan were to be awarded the tournament, McMillen said it would lean on support from throughout southeast Saskatchewan and southwest Manitoba for spectators.
The committee has been to a majority of the businesses to speak with and engage as many people as possible, and businesses have been purchasing ticket packages.
Other members of the committee have been working hard on the bid document, and McMillen said they are confident they will have a great package.
"We've been pulling the data that we need from around the city and the area with Tourism Saskatchewan. The RMs and the communities have all been tremendous in getting us the information that we need."
The bid has to be submitted in September, but McMillen is hopeful that they can be applying the final touches in August.
Affinity Place is no stranger to hosting marquee curling events. It has been the site of the 2018 SaskTel Tankard provincial men's curling championship, and in 2023, it hosted the Viterra Scotties provincial women's tournament and then the Tankard. It was also the home of the 2018 Canada Cup of Curling, which brought 13 of the nation's best teams to Estevan.
The Canada Cup and the national Scotties are both Curling Canada events.
The 2026 Scotties will be a couple of weeks earlier than normal so it can be finished before the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. The timing of the event should reduce the impact on local minor hockey teams, who are entering their busiest time of the year in February.
