For the first time in history, more than 200 of Ontario’s finest high school male and female curlers will be coming to Chatham-Kent to compete in the Ontario Federation of School Athletic Associations (OFSAA) curling championships.
The event will be held at the Chatham Granite Club, Golden Acres Curling Club in Blenheim and the Ridgetown Curling Club from March 30 through April 3 of next year.
Ursuline College of Chatham curling coach Matt McKay said the school applied last year to host the bonspiel, which will bring together 40 teams from across the province.
It’s essentially a two-year process between being approved and holding the event,” he said. “Before we applied, we realized that this was a large undertaking and we would need a dedicated committee to make it work.”
McKay is part of the committee along with Greg Aarssen and UCC staff members Steve Whyte and Darby Kalp.
Whyte, as committee chair, said the group aims to provide a top-notch curling event, combined with a special experience for students, faculty and family members throughout their stay here.
“We want to offer the finest curling experience to the students and their families, but it’s also an opportunity to show off our community to people from across Ontario,” he said. “We’re planning special events for curlers and their families.”
Mayor Darrin Canniff is throwing his support behind the bonspiel.
“This event is huge,” he said. “This is part of the bigger picture of attracting people to Chatham-Kent and impressing them. What the committee is presenting is likely one of the best OFSAA events ever. That’s their target, and I fully expect them to deliver, and a lot of people will be impressed with our community.”
Shannon Paiva of the municipality’s tourism and economic development department said, “We’re thrilled that Chatham‑Kent will play host to the 2027 OFSAA Curling Championship. This is an incredible opportunity to showcase our community and its outstanding tourism assets to visitors from across the province. With an estimated economic impact of roughly $150,000, including local labour, this event will bring meaningful benefits to our local businesses and residents. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome athletes, families, and fans to Chatham‑Kent for what promises to be an unforgettable championship.”
McKay, also a co-chair, is a veteran curler who has helped organize several large bonspiels. He estimates that it will take between 75 and 100 volunteers to ensure a smooth event.
“We’re in the process of establishing the volunteer structure and we will be reaching out as we get closer to the event,” he said. “We’re also looking for sponsors across the municipality to help cover the costs.”
McKay said he has had excellent cooperation from the three curling clubs.
“We’re dealing with student-athletes, and we are trying to make sure we don’t have any late nights, so we needed Blenheim and Ridgetown to help provide extra facilities to make that happen. Both clubs have stepped up and are fully involved in making sure the event is a success.”
Don Taylor of the Chatham Granite Club, Martha Wickware of the Ridgetown club and Debbie Sanders of Golden Acres in Blenheim, who participated in the announcement, said the event is special because it promotes youth curling and showcases their clubs.
