June 28, 2007…The Canadian Curling Association today finalized the Canadian championship schedule for the 2007-08 season by confirming the date and site for the 2008 Canadian Seniors. The Canadian Seniors will take place March 22-30, 2008 at the Prince Albert Golf & Curling Club.

The 2008 Canadian senior men’s and women’s curling championships bring together 24 teams representing the 10 provinces plus Northern Ontario and Yukon/Northwest Territories. The last time the Seniors were held in Saskatchewan was in 1999 in Saskatoon.

Prince Albert has previously hosted several Canadian championships, including the 2005 and 1984 Canadian Mixed, 1987 Canadian Juniors and 1972 Canadian Senior Men’s.

This past season, the 2007 Canadian Seniors were played in Trois-Rivières and Alberta swept both the men’s and women’s championships, led by skips Pat Ryan and Diane Foster. They will now represent Canada at the 2008 World Seniors in Finland.

Overall, Manitoba has won a leading 10 Canadian senior men’s titles since the championship began in 1965 in Port Arthur, Ontario. Saskatchewan has won six, the last by Gary Bryden in 1998 in Sault Ste. Marie.

The women’s event has been won by Ontario a leading 10 times, including three of the last four editions, since it began in 1973 in Ottawa. Saskatchewan also has six women’s crowns to its credit, the last by Nancy Kerr in 2003 in Lethbridge.

The men’s and women’s events were conducted separately until being combined in 1985 in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. The 2008 Canadian Seniors winners will represent Canada at the 2009 World Seniors, at a site and date to be announced.

The host committee chairman for the 2008 Canadian Seniors is Gordon Widger, while the Club Manager/Icemaker is James Michayluk (Tel: 306-765-5203; e-mail: pagcc@sasktel.net).

The competition format for the Seniors is a round robin, after which the first place teams advance to the finals, while the second and third place teams meet in semi-finals.