2026 Canadian Under-18 Championships to be hosted by Timmins, Ont.
fter a successful experience in 2023, the Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships will make a return trip to Timmins, Ont., it was announced today by Curling Canada.
The 2026 Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships will be staged Feb. 8-15 at the McIntyre Curling Club and the attached McIntyre Community Centre, or as the combined facility is known locally, the Mac.
“Our curlers, coaches and officials couldn’t have been more positive about their experience in Timmins in 2023, so it was an easy decision when they submitted their hosting bid for 2026,” said Nolan Thiessen, Chief Executive Officer of Curling Canada. “The Canadian Under-18 Championships are an important event in our podium pathway program as we provide these young athletes with, in many cases, their first exposure to national-level competition. We look forward to seeing them perform in Timmins in 2026.”
A total of 42 teams (21 of each gender) will compete in Timmins. The provincial and territorial male and female Under-18 champions from Curling Canada’s 14 Member Associations (10 provinces, three territories, Northern Ontario) will receive invitations. The hosting Member Association, the Northern Ontario Curling Association, gets a second invitation to the event. Lastly, the top-six ranked Member Associations based on the standings of the previous two Canadian Under-18 Championships, will receive invitations (rankings exclude the Host Member Association).
“We’re excited to welcome the Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships back to Timmins,” said Michelle Boileau, Mayor of Timmins. “I want to also congratulate the McIntyre Curling Club on their success, once again, in attracting the best upcoming curlers from across Canada to our city. This is a testament to the passion and professionalism they have shown for the sport, and will give us the opportunity to further showcase Timmins’ hospitality.”
“I am proud to see Timmins once again host the Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships in 2026,” added George Pirie, the Member of Provincial Parliament for Timmins. “This is an exciting opportunity for the talented staff at the McIntyre Curling Club and the McIntyre Community Centre to show what Timmins has to offer and attract the best curlers from across Canada to our community.”
The Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships first took place at Moncton, N.B., in 2017. In the 2023 event at Timmins, it was an Alberta sweep as Team Myla Plett captured the girls title for the second straight year, while Team Zachary Davies claimed the boys title.
-On the girls’ side, teams from Northern Ontario and Alberta have won two gold medals apiece, while Nova Scotia and Manitoba have one title apiece.
Northern Ontario, Nova Scotia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and, most recently, Newfoundland/Labrador have won the boys’ event one time each.
“As someone who grew up in Timmins and learned to play and love the sport of curling, I’m truly thrilled to see the Canadian Under-18 Championships returning so soon,” said Laura Forget, Executive Director of the Northern Ontario Curling Association. “It’s so exciting to see these young athletes perform, and to see them start down the road that could some day lead them to representing Canada on the world stage, and Northern Ontario is ready to put them in the spotlight in 2026.”
The 2025 Canadian Under-18 Championships are scheduled for Feb. 16-22 in Saskatoon.
“I am thrilled to serve as the Chair of the 2026 Canadian Under-18 Curling Championships,” said Stephen Meunier. “This event provides a fantastic opportunity to showcase the incredible talent of young curlers from across the nation while promoting the values of sportsmanship and community. I look forward to collaborating with an amazing team of volunteers, sponsors, and stakeholders to deliver a memorable championship that celebrates the passion and dedication of these athletes. It’s an honour to help create an experience that inspires the next generation of curling champions.”
