A major development in the territory of Nunavut occurred today when the Canadian Curling Association (CCA) announced that it will be the first sport association to host a national championship (summer or winter) in Nunavut.

The 2009 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship, presented by First Air, will be held at the Arniatok Arena in Iqaluit from November 9 – 16, 2008. This will mark the 46th edition of the Canadian Mixed, a championship which began in Toronto in 1964 and won a leading nine times by Alberta, including the 2008 edition played last November in Calgary.

“We are extremely pleased to have the opportunity to be a sport leader in Nunavut and be able to showcase our great sport to Iqaluit and Nunavut,” said Greg Stremlaw, Chief Executive Officer of the CCA. “We want to work closely with the communities of the north and have worked hard to create this opportunity which will only help grow the sport in Nunavut and give further opportunities for aboriginal peoples to participate. Nunavut has one of the highest per capita ratios of young Canadians in our country and the hosting of this event will promote our product to an integral demographic for our future.”

Hunter Tootoo, MLA Iqaluit Centre, stated, “I would like to sincerely thank the CCA for showing the leadership to select Iqualuit as the host for the 2009 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship. I know the city of Iqaluit will put on a first-class event for this first national championship ever to be held here in Nunavut. This presents a chance to get our communities more involved with curling, both recreationally and beyond.”

Elisapee Sheutiapik, the Mayor of Iqaluit, echoed similar sentiments, “As Mayor of the City of Iqaluit, I am ecstatic that the CCA wishes to host the 2009 Canadian Mixed in Iqaluit. This would be the first event of its kind in our city and the benefits to the city and its residents will be tremendous. I am extremely excited about this opportunity.”

First Air will be the presenting sponsor of the Mixed and was instrumental in allowing the championship to be placed in Iqaluit. The company’s significant assistance enabled the CCA to maintain its budget while being fiscally prudent with its site selection.

“It does not take a big community to host a national championship – just a community with a big heart…and Iqaluit certainly has that!” proclaimed First Air President, Jim Ballingall.

Similar to last year, two members of the winning team will then represent Canada at the 2009 world mixed doubles championship, slated for April 17-25 in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.

Calgary skip Dean Ross and third Susan O’Connor, who teamed to win the 2008 Canadian Mixed last November, are currently representing Canada at the inaugural world mixed doubles championship, taking place in Vierumäki, Finland, March 8-16.

For further information:

Danny Lamoureux
Manager, Curling Club Development & Championship Services
dlamoureux@curling.ca
(c) 613.878.3682

Greg Stremlaw
Chief Executive Officer
gstremlaw@curling.ca
(c) 613.799.9993

Karen Costello
Host Committee Chair
iqaluitcurling@gmail.com
(w) 867.979.1619
(c) 613-304-3527

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About First Air

First Air, The Airline of the North, serves the cargo and travel needs of more northern communities than any other air carrier in Canada. Their scheduled service carries approximately 225,000 passengers and over 22 Million kilograms of freight and mail over its vast and comprehensive route system.

Today, taking a shopping trip south or flying abroad for vacation takes only a matter of hours, seven days of the week. Important equipment, parts or goods, now often arrive the same day they are ordered.

From the Yukon in the West to Nunavut in the East, the extensive system covers an amazing 15,500 route miles, connecting 25 northern communities with the major centres of Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg and Edmonton to the South.

About Iqaluit

Iqaluit, Inuktitut for "place of many fish," is located near the mouth of the Sylvia Grinnell River that empties into the bay named after Martin Frobisher, the Englishman in search of the Northwest Passage. Besides thinking he had discovered the Passage, Frobisher believed that he had discovered gold on an island in the bay, but it was only fool's gold that he took home to England. Between 1955 and 1987 the settlement of Iqaluit was known as Frobisher's Bay.

On January 1, 1987, the name of this municipality was officially changed from "Frobisher Bay" to "Iqaluit" - aligning official usage with the name that the Inuit population had always used. In December 1995, it was selected in a referendum to be the future capital of Nunavut and on April 19, 2001 it was officially recognized as a city.

The City of Iqaluit, the capital of Nunavut, is the largest community with a population more than 7,250. Inuit represent approximately 85 per cent of the population.

About the Canadian Curling Association

The Canadian Curling Association (CCA) is the national sport governing body responsible for the development, promotion and organization of curling in Canada. In cooperation with its Provincial and Territorial Member Associations from across Canada, the CCA provides programs and services to curlers ranging from the youngest “little rocker” (age 7 and up), to Masters (age 60 and over) and from aspiring Olympians to Canadians with special needs, coaches, curling facility operators and volunteer boards, ice makers and officials.

The CCA and their Member Associations are also responsible for the organization and operation of the championship system that culminates in the Canadian Championships operated by the CCA for Juniors (under 20), Seniors (over 50), Mixed, Women, Men, and Wheelchair.