MONCTON, December 20, 2007... It has been over 3 months since the announcement that the 2009 Ford World Men's Curling Championship has been awarded to Moncton. We would like to take this opportunity to share what has transpired over this time.

As you are aware from the press conference on September 11th, Jim Lockyer graciously accepted the position of Chairman for this prestigious event. Jim's credentials and experience bring attributes to this position that are too numerous to mention! He will be a great ambassador, not only for the event itself, but for Greater Moncton, New Brunswick, and Atlantic Canada. He is passionate about our culture, our history, and how curling has impacted us in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

Honourary Chair's Announced

The first meeting of the Executive Committee addressed the topic of Honorary Chair's for this event. We have many deserving individuals in our community, but the committee narrowed this list down to two who will share the title of 2009 Ford World Men's Curling Championship Honorary Chairs.

We are pleased to announce that Mable Deware and Bud Gerth have accepted this honor!

Mabel Deware has a wealth of experience as both a curler and an organizer. She won the Canadian Ladies Curling Champion in 1963, the only ladies team to ever win from New Brunswick. To emphasis what an accomplishment this is, it is notable that we have never had a Canadian Champion on the men's side.

Mabel was a vice chair for both the 1980 Silver Broom and the 1985 Brier.

Bud Gerth was the chairman of the 1980 Air Canada Silver Broom Men's World Curling Championship in Moncton. He was also chairman, in 1990, of The Moncton 100" the largest cash spiel ever held. This event introduced a new format for curling called "the free guard zone", which is now the format used world wide for curling. It all started here, in Moncton, and was originally referred to as the "Moncton rule".

We are so pleased to have this opportunity to highlight the accomplishments of two such deserving individuals.

Vice Chair's Appointed

Immediately following the award of the World's to Moncton, Chairman Jim Lockyer began recruiting Vice Chair's to handle the numerous committees. It is with pleasure and thanks that we announce the following Vice Chairs:

Executive Vice Chair: Susan Hicks
Vice Chair of Business & Marketing: Mike Mann
Vice Chair of Facilities: Laura Copeland
Vice Chair of Hosting: Bernard Savoie
Vice Chair of Labatt Patch: Rick Melanson
Vice Chair of Special Events: Zoë Rideout
Vice Chair of Volunteers: Arnold Mallais

These seven people bring an outstanding amount of experience in the fields of business, marketing, finance, and of course curling. This dynamic group encompasses curlers, coaches, officials, curling club boards members and New Brunswick Curling Association board members, just to name a few.

Vice chair's have finalized Directors for each of their committees, making a total number of 40 people on the 2009 Ford World Men's Curling Championship Organizing Committee.

We will require upwards of 400 volunteers in total, and the recruitment of these people will begin in the spring of 2008.

Event Coordinator Hired

Long time executive director of the New Brunswick Curling Association, Lynn MacKenzie, has been hired by the Canadian Curling Association as the Event Coordinator. The experience Lynn has gained as the NBCA Executive Director makes her a perfect fit for this job. She brings her knowledge of curling, her organizational abilities and her connection to the curling community as assets that will help the host committee immensely.