The 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts is set to be hosted in Thunder Bay.
The Canadian women’s curling championship will draw fans and players from across the country.
When it comes to Tourism the event will have a major impact.
“Well, you know the event of this caliber, the Scotties, being the National Women’s Curling Championships is really important to our community,” said the Manager of Tourism Thunder Bay, Paul Pepe. “It’s important to the curling community, it’s a chance for the the local curling community to really showcase what we’re all about in terms of our support for curling and the event itself has a really positive lift in the community and people are excited to welcome the fans and the curlers and the sponsors and the officials.”
Tourism tends to be a little bit slower in the colder winter months, and events like the Scotties and last year’s Ontario Winter Games offer a boost.
Major events are great for the economy filling hotel/motel rooms, restaurants and more.
“We anticipate an economic impact of about $4.2 million in the community from this event and that’s you know once again it’s all the transportation, it’s the venue rentals, it’s the accommodation, it’s the culinary,” explained Pepe. “From the players, from the sponsors, from the officials and also the fans, you know the family members and the fans that travel with their teams to watch them play here and, you know, one thing about Thunder Bay is it really does roll out the red carpet for players and the fans and the sponsors.”
The tournament is taking place at Fort William Gardens.
There are no opening ceremonies, and the first draw is set to take place on Friday at 6:00 p.m.
