(CCA) Saint John, New Brunswick – After 15 years, the Ford World Women’s Curling Championship is returning to Saint John, New Brunswick, March 15 – 23, 2014. “Saint John hosted a highly successful World Championship here in 1999,” commented the CCA’s Chief Executive Officer, Greg Stremlaw. “Our sincere thanks to the World Curling Federation for our exceptional partnership in hosting events in Canada, and of course to the City of Saint John and Province of New Brunswick for their efforts to facilitate this major event coming to this historically rich community.”
It was in 1995, that Ford first became involved as title sponsor for the World Curling Championships which was then staged as a joint men’s and women’s competition. Since 2005, the men’s and women’s championships have been held in different venues, with Canada hosting one of the two championships every year. Ford is title sponsor when the event is held in Canada and presenting sponsor when the event is held outside the country.
“Ford of Canada is proud and honoured to be title sponsor of the 2014 Ford World Women’s Curling Championship,” said Jack Palozzolo, Vice-President of Marketing, Ford of Canada. “At Ford we believe in volunteering and community involvement. On behalf of Ford, I want to thank the City of Saint John and all the volunteers who we know will make this event a great success.” In 1999, when Saint John last played host to both the men’s and women’s World Curling Championships, Scotland took gold in the men’s and Sweden in the women’s. Elisabet Gustafson won her fourth world women’s title which is the record for world women’s play. Canada won silver and Switzerland bronze in the men’s and the United States took silver and Denmark bronze in the women’s event.
“The people of the city of Saint John and the Province of New Brunswick put on a first class show for all of the world in 1999”, declared Kate Caithness, President of the World Curling Federation. “The World Curling Federation, Canadian Curling Association and our partner Ford of Canada expect to see a great crowd for this event given the momentum and interest that will be created around the Olympic Winter Games in Russia being held just a month before the World Women’s Championship.”
“On behalf of all of the Greater Saint John Curling community, I would like to thank the World Curling Federation in conjunction with the CCA for choosing Saint John to host the 2014 Ford Women’s Curling Championship”, stated Committee Host Chair, Jeff Lacey. “I’m proud our community was chosen due to our enthusiasm, facilities, proven track record and support of these types of major events. The Host Committee is extremely excited and looking forward to producing the highest quality event and showcasing our community to the world in 2014.”
Saint John is centrally located on the southern New Brunswick Coast along the north shore of the beautiful Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. It’s the largest city in the Province and the second largest in the Maritime Provinces after Halifax.