Scotties bid organizers aim to ‘Rally the Valley’
With just a couple weeks remaining in Penticton’s bid to secure curling’s 2018 Scotties Tournament of Champions, the bid organizing committee is preparing to host events aimed at securing community support, while another highprofile curling champ threw her weight behind the campaign.
The 2018 Scotties Bid Host Committee will hold two Rally the Valley events in Penticton in the coming week. The first takes place Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. at The Barking Parrot (21 Lakeshore Dr.)
“Committee members will be on hand to answer your questions and accept $100 deposits toward full-event passes,” bid committee co-chair Kim Kirkham said.
“This is a great opportunity for Okanagan residents to find out more about the bid effort and meet other supporters. Stay for a dinner or a drink. At 6 p.m. we’ll have a draw for some fabulous prizes.”
The second Rally the Valley event takes place 5-7 p.m., Thursday, June 16, at Lake City Casino (21 Lakeshore Dr.)
Committee members will again be on hand to answer questions and accept $100 deposits toward full-event passes. Attendees can enter to win a fantastic basket.
Meanwhile, Julie Skinner, who represented Canada and won a bronze medal at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games, has come out in support of Penticton’s effort. Skinner joins former world champion Kelly Scott of Kelowna in backing Penticton’s bid.
“For me, the Southern Okanagan will always be my home and I know Penticton will do an excellent job of hosting the premier event of women’s curling — the Scotties Tournament of Hearts,” Skinner said in a statement.
Skinner, now retired, won the Canadian Junior Curling Championship in 1987, and became world junior champion a year later.
Skinner also skipped the B.C. team at the 1989 Scott Tournament of Hearts in Kelowna.
“I was very fortunate to have started my curling career in the Southern Okanagan and have many fond memories of competing in the valley, especially at the 1989 Scotties in Kelowna,” Skinner stated. “I’m very excited and proud to support Rock the Bid for Penticton 2018.”
Penticton’s tournament bid organizers are trying to sell 1,000 event ticket deposits of $100 by mid-June to have their bid considered by Curling Canada. Sydney, N.S., is the only other city vying to host the 2018 tournament and is also selling ticket deposits.
The deposits show Curling Canada how much support there is locally for the tournament. Full-event passes include access to every match, as well as the party in the patch, entertainment, top-rated bands and other festivities.
“We are confident we will put on a firstclass event at the South Okanagan Events Centre, but we need the public to get behind this bid with our champion curlers and purchase a full-event pass deposit,” said Kirkham. “We’re only about a third of the way there so far. We really need the community’s support.”
Kirkham says hosting the Scotties would bring a major economic boost to the region, and she is calling on Okanagan residents to get behind the bid effort.
“We need to sell way more deposits if we are to succeed, and we know Okanagan residents and business communities can help support this bid,” Kirkham said.
The $100 deposit is refundable if the bid is unsuccessful. If Penticton wins the bid, patrons who have paid the deposit have to follow through and buy tickets or their $100 is forfeited.
Besides at the Rally events, deposits can be made at the Valley First Box Office (at the SOEC), via phone at 1-877-SOEC-TIX (763-2849) or online at rockthebid.com.
For more information go online to www.rockthebid.com.