Alberta cancels playdowns; Lethbridge gets Brier

The Tim Hortons Brier will be held at the Enmax Centre in Lethbridge, Alta., in 2022 — and not in Kelowna.

Curling Canada made the announcement Friday during a video conference call.

Lethbridge hosted the world men's championship in 2019 and the world women's championship in 2012. The Alberta city also hosted the Tournament of Hearts in 1987 and 2007.

The 2021 Brier, originally set for Kelowna’s Prospera Place, was moved to a hub venue on the grounds of Canada Olympic Park.

Kelowna has agreed to host “a future Curling Canada championship event instead.” The 93rd edition of the Canadian men's curling championship is set for March 4-13, 2022.

Thunder Bay, Ont., was previously announced as the host city for the 2022 Scotties. The Fort Williams Gardens was originally scheduled to host the women's playdowns this season but plans were changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2021 Scotties instead will be the first of six competitions held in a bubble setup at Calgary's Markin MacPhail Centre starting next month.

ALBERTA CANCELS PLAYDOWNS Curling Alberta has cancelled plans to hold its provincial championships later this month in Sylvan Lake, Alta., due to COVID-19.

The NexSource Centre was tabbed to host the Jan. 25-Feb. 5 men's, women's and mixed doubles competitions with the winners to advance to the national championships.

Curling Alberta said Friday it plans to name its national representatives "as soon as possible pending a decision by the organization's board of directors."

Northern Ontario was the first member association to announce the cancellation of its playdowns this season. It used last season's results to determine representatives for the nationals, which will be held in a bubble setting at Calgary's Markin MacPhail Centre.

Ontario, Manitoba and B.C. followed Northern Ontario's lead in recent weeks.