Curling Quebec wishes to inform all competitors interested in the 2027 men’s and women’s provincial championships that the event will be held at the Noranda Curling Club. Although the championship is traditionally presented in an arena setting, we would like to outline the exceptional circumstances that led to this decision.
When discussions began with the host committee—and when the championship was officially awarded to the Noranda Curling Club—the Glencore Arena, home of the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies, had been reserved for the event an agreement had been signed with the city.
During the winter of 2026, the City of Rouyn-Noranda learned that it had been selected to host the Hockey Day in Canada contest. Unfortunately, this event was scheduled for the same dates as the 2027 men’s and women’s provincial curling championships, directly impacting the availability of the Glencore Arena.
The organizing committee promptly informed us of the situation. Discussions were initiated with the city to identify an alternative arena, and with Rogers Sportsnet to explore potential broadcast options for the championship finals should no suitable arena be available.
Shortly thereafter, Rogers Sportsnet ended its partnership with CBC/Radio-Canada, resulting in the cancellation of Hockey Day in Canada. However, because the contest had already displaced the provincial curling championship, Huskies games had been rescheduled into the Glencore Arena. Even with the contest cancelled, returning to the original plan was no longer feasible, as relocating the newly scheduled QMJHL games would impose significant costs on eight league teams.
Compounding the issue, another arena in Rouyn-Noranda recently collapsed, placing considerable pressure on the remaining facilities. This left only two realistic options:
- Host the championship at the Noranda Curling Club
- Host the championship in a small arena in poor condition
The alternative arena under consideration requires renovations, offers very limited seating, and has only four dressing rooms with no additional gathering spaces. Given these constraints, we could not confidently ensure an adequate championship experience in that venue. For these reasons, the decision was made to hold the event at the Noranda Curling Club, whose six sheets of ice fully meet the needs of the championship.
To preserve the highest possible standard of presentation, Curling Quebec will:
- Deploy its team of ice technicians for installation and maintenance throughout the event,
- Use all five sets of provincial stones,
- Use Curling Quebec’s Ice Kings and blades,
- Install bleachers on one sheet to provide spectators with proximity to the action and maintain as much of the traditional arena atmosphere as possible.
We recognize that some participants may be disappointed by this change. However, we are confident that the exceptional circumstances leading to this decision will be understood. We also trust that the Noranda Curling Club will deliver a high-quality event and a positive experience for all competitors.
