Kelowna to host 2025 Brier curling championship

The world’s most famous national men’s curling championship is coming to Kelowna.

The 2025 Montana’s Brier will be contested at Prospera Place, Feb.28 – March 9.

The city was initially set to host the championship in 2021 but it was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and moved to the bubble in Calgary.

Kelowna last hosted the Brier in 1968.

“We couldn’t be happier to see Kelowna get this opportunity to bring the Montana’s Brier back to the Okanagan after nearly 60 years,” Danny Lamoureux, interim Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada, said.

The event is expected to bring thousands of accommodation room bookings and a total tourism spend of between $8 million and $15 million.

"We extend a warm welcome to all participants, spectators, and visitors to the traditional territory of the Okanagan syilx people,” said Westbank First Nation Chief Robert Louie. “The 2025 Montana’s Brier not only showcases the pinnacle of men’s curling but also provides an opportunity to appreciate the rich cultural heritage and natural beauty of our lands in the Okanagan Valley. “

Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas said the city has a strong curling community with a long history of producing elite talent and hosting major curling events.

“With one of the largest curling clubs in Canada, Kelowna is equipped with a strong team of volunteers to make the event memorable, while our entire community looks forward to showing our hospitality to fans, players and officials.”

The team that prevails in Kelowna will go on to wear the Maple Leaf a few weeks later at the 2025 BKT Tires World Men’s Championship, to be played in a Canadian city (location, dates TBA).

With a top-six finish at the 2025 world championship, the 2025 Montana’s Brier winner also will qualify for the 2025 Canadian Curling Trials, where Canada’s four-player teams for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy will be decided.

As well, the 2025 Montana’s Brier winner will return to the 2026 Montana’s Brier as the defending champion Team Canada.

Kelowna will be a major focus in the curling world next week as it hosts the 2023 Pan Continental Curling Championships, which get underway on Sunday at the Kelowna Curling Club.