LIVERPOOL - The curling community and Queens County residents gathered at Queens Place Emera Centre in Liverpool Dec. 9 for a second major announcement about the World Junior Curling Championships.
The government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency’s (ACOA) innovative communities fund, is investing $150,000 to support the Liverpool Championship Host Society
“The funding will also assist the Liverpool Championship Host Society build on its demonstrated capacity for hosting world-class sporting events, highlighting and creating awareness for the growing curling and sports tourism markets,” said Bernadette Jordan, member of parliament for South Shore-St. Margaret’s.
Jordan thanked everyone who is dedicating so much time to the curling event that was announced in August.
“On behalf of all the Region of Queens’ council members, we are thrilled to hear today’s announcement of $150,000 in funding support from ACOA to the Liverpool Championship Host Society for the 2019 World Junior Curling Championships,” said David Dagley, mayor of the Region of Queens Municipality.
“The Region of Queens Municipality is pleased to be contributing $50,000 as a funding partner joining with ACOA and the province of Nova Scotia in providing support for the Liverpool Championship Host Society in their successful bid to host the 2019 World Junior Curling Championships.”
Dagley said the event set to come to Queens County in February 2019 would be a good opportunity for the county and province to show its hospitality on the “world stage.”
Greg Thorbourne, chair of the Liverpool Championship Host Society, was also at the announcement.
“It’s a privilege to welcome the government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, to come on board as a major supporter and partner in hosting this event,” he said.
Jill Brothers, originally from Brooklyn, grew up playing curling at the Liverpool Curling Club and was part of a team that became provincial junior champions. Brothers won her first provincial women’s championship in 2007.
“I’m very proud of Greg and everyone else for being able to get another huge event here,” said Brothers from the podium.
Brothers said she was lucky to be able to start curling at age nine and find her passion in a small community.
“I’m really fortunate to have found my passion so early and be able to keep going with events like this and to be able to help,” said Brothers.
She said she’s set to play in provincials in Dartmouth in January.
Steve Burns, manager of events, promotions and sponsorship with the Region of Queens Municipality said the count down for the event is slated to begin in February.
“Start spreading the word because the world’s coming to Liverpool,” said Burns.
Logo announced
The new logo was also unveiled, displaying a graphic of Fort Point Lighthouse and a curling rock. At the bottom are three images showing action shots of curling.
“The idea of the logo came from our initial call to the World Curling Federation, which is stationed in Scotland, and from day one Colin Grahamslaw said, ‘We’d love to come across the pond to New Scotland’.”
The top light on the lighthouse is a guide for people to find Liverpool, while the bottom light shines on the rock and curling, explained Thorbourne.
“The lighthouse is Fort Point Lighthouse, and as we know it was built in 1855, and it’s been a guiding light to Liverpool Harbour ever since,” he said.
After the logo was unveiled, a large poster was also made public. The poster shows the logo, the three curling images and an aerial shot of Fort Point Lighthouse.
The World Junior Curling Championships are scheduled to take place from Feb. 17-24, 2019.
Visit https://www.facebook.com/events/1593482034053382/ to learn more about the event.
