Jennifer Jones will lead Manitoba's team in the 2018 Penticton Scotties Tournament of Hearts, along with team members pictured above, left to right: Jennifer Jones, Kaitlyn Lawes, Jill Officer, and Dawn McEwen.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED

PENTICTON - Penticton is about to become the centre of Canada’s curling universe, come Saturday with the first games of the 2018 Penticton Scotties Tournament of Hearts event.

If you’re not a curling fan, life in the city should go on relatively unchanged but if you are a curling fan, or want to get involved just because Scotties is one of Canada’s most prestigious curling events, you’ll find all things curling taking place at the South Okanagan Events Centre from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4.

Ticket prices start at $19.50 for mid-week morning play, with day packages starting at $49 but prices go up from there. Packages for the opening weekend are $89 and the Championship weekend package sells for $189.

Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says the Scotties tournament shouldn’t result in any inconveniences for city residents not interested in the event, as the tournament is contained to the events centre grounds.

In spite of an anticipated 3,000 out of town spectators and 94 athletes, the 12-day event will not likely be noticed in most parts of the community, since its low season and there are few other tourists in the city this time of year.

The city hopes to see between $6 and $12 million in economic impact for its contribution of $200,000 to the event.

It is also garnering revenue from a two-week rental of the events centre and 10-day rental of the convention centre.

Some of the city’s downtown merchants have decorated their storefronts in a curling theme, and the city kicked off the tournament this afternoon, Jan. 24, with the official unveiling of the Peach concession in traditional curling attire.

The Peach concession has been outfitted in curling garb as the city prepares to welcome the 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts this weekend.

(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)

Amanda and Paul McPhail of McPhail Kilts put together the nine-foot Tam worn by the Peach. Paul thinks it might be a world record, and has plans to apply for that recognition.

If you’re on celebrity lookout, keep an eye out for Championship curler and TSN analyst Russ Howard, and eight time Manitoba provincial champion Jennifer Jones in the Peach City.

For residents who want to find out what all the excitement is about, there is free admission into the first wild card round, taking place at the events centre Friday night, Jan. 26. It’s a great opportunity to check out the calibre of play and get a first hand look at a professional game.

This would be a good time to bone up on your curling jargon, which can be a language unto itself.

Check out this website for terms and definitions.

Residents will also have a unique opportunity to mix and mingle with tournament athletes at the Heartstop Lounge in the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre.

Watch them play, then hang out with them afterwards. There will be food, drink and free entertainment available from 11 a.m. to closing during the event.

Scheduled entertainers include "One 2 Many," "Petunia and the music of Johnny Cash and Hank Williams," "Yard Katz "and "Side One."

Fourteen member associations will be represented at the Penticton Scotties Tournament of Hearts, including three territories, 10 provinces and Northern Ontario in the 16 team field. Teams include:

•   Team Manitoba, with eight time provincial winner Skip Jennifer Jones
•   Team Alberta, with Skip Casey Scheidegger
•   Team British Columbia, with Skip Kesa Van Osch
•   Team New Brunswick, with Skip Sylvie Robichaud
•   Team Newfoundland & Labrador, with Skip Stacie Curtis
•   Team Northern Ontario, with Skip Tracy Fleury 
•   Team Northwest Territories, with Skip Kerry Galusha
•   Team Nunavut, with Skip Amie Shackleton
•   Team Ontario, with Skip Hollie Duncan
•   Team Prince Edward Island, with Skip Robyn MacPhee
•   Team Quebec, with Skip Émila Gagné
•   Team Saskatchewan, with Skip Sherry Anderson
•   Team Yukon, with Skip Chelsea Duncan
•   Team Nova Scotia, with Skip Mary-Ann Arsenault
•   Team Wildcard #1 (The Glencoe Club, Calgary) with Skip Chelsea Carey
•   Team  Wildcard # 2  (East St. Paul Curling Club, Winnipeg) with Skip Kerri Einarson

The tournament will be broadcast on the TSN network.

For more details, see the Penticton Scotties Tournaments of Hearts website.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

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News from © iNFOnews, 2018