(by Mitch MacDonald) Crews have begun transforming the Charlottetown Civic Centre into a national curling showcase.
Centre operations manager Stu Dunn said crews began working on construction and ice-making components at the arena over the weekend in preparation for the 2011 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Feb. 19-27.
Things are starting to come together, said Dunn.
“It’s been so far, so good. The Scotties committee loaded in their supplies and equipment Saturday, said Dunn.
The week will be Charlottetown’s third time hosting the national women’s curling championship.
The Charlottetown Forum hosted the event in 1982, while the Civic Centre was the tournament site in 1999.
Hype has been building over the past few months for the tournament’s return, said Dunn.
“For staff who were here in 1999, a lot of them have commented it was the best event we’ve ever hosted.”
Bill MacPhee, vice chair of facilities for the host committee, said the entire process of transforming the arena will take at least a few days.
Installing new overhead lighting, a media bench, a statisticians bench and a broadcast booth are the main construction aspects, said MacPhee.
Civic Centre employees also had to remove about 60 seats for the broadcast booth, as well as removing glass dividers between the ice surface and seats.
“It should be ready by late Tuesday or early Wednesday,” said MacPhee. “It’s hard to believe within a week we’ll have people throwing rocks.”
Chris Tapley, right, ice making technician with the Canadian Curling Association, heads up the ice making for the Scotties that begin in the Charlottetown Civic Centre Saturday. Work has begun in transforming the home of the P.E.I. Rocket into curling central. Guardian photo by Brian McInnis.