The pathway to the Canada Games has followed a rigorous process spanning two seasons, testing athletes’ consistency, performance, and ability to adapt.
At the outset, more than 60 athletes were involved in this process. Today, only 30 remain (10 mixed doubles athletes, 12 female athletes, 8 male athletes), demonstrating the high level of competition and the demands of the program.
An individual phase (2024–2025 season)
The process began in the fall of 2024 with a development camp. During the 2024–2025 season, athletes competed individually, accumulating points based on their performances.
Provincial championships also played a key role, allowing athletes to earn valuable points and stand out individually before forming teams.
Team formation (summer 2025)
In the summer of 2025, the remaining eligible athletes were required to form teams. This transition to team play marked a major turning point, as individual points were now combined at the team level for the remainder of the process.
Four women’s teams were formed:
Pointe-Claire/Laval/Baie d’Urfé: Sydney St-James, Rachel Rubin, Charlotte Olynyk and Arielle Lacombe-M. (coach Colleen Boyarchuk)
Laval/Laurier/Bel-Aire: Aurélie Chrétien, Lexanne Bernier, Léona Majeau, Sophia Marleau (coach Dominic Chrétien)
Noranda: Livia St-Denis Lacombe, Noémie Roy, Marguerite Caron and Kenzie Leroux (coach Nathalie Leblanc)
Noranda/Jacques-Cartier: Jasmine Bédard, Marie-Soleil Pilote, Blanche Bédard and Rosie Pilote (coach Geoffroy Gosselin)
Three men’s teams were formed:
St-Lambert/Rosemère/Pointe-Claire: Noah Noseworthy, Trevor Meldrum, Leo Clement and Charles Janidlo (coach Matthew Mitchell)
Etchemin: Arnaud Saindon, Antoine Cadieux, Louis Fecteau and Benjamin Brochet (coach Philippe Saindon)
Victoria/Aurèle-Racine: Félix-Antoine Gélinas, Eliott Lessard, Cédric Lachapelle, Félix Marquis (coach Robert Richard)
Finally, six mixed doubles teams:
Mégane Fortin and Louis-François Brassard (coach Philippe Brassard)
Alexandra Legault and Zachary Janidlo (coach David Legault)
Megan Lafrance and Raphael Tremblay (coach Yves Tremblay)
Rosalie Boutin and Alexandre Melanson-Labbée (coach Richard Cadrin)
Jolianne Fortin and Pierre-Olivier Roy (coach Jean-Sébastien Roy)
Emy Lafrance and Thomas Lauzon (coach Brandon Lafrance)
A 2025–2026 season focused on development
It is important to note that the number of teams advancing to the final phase depended on the number of teams registered at the beginning of the 2025–2026 season. As such, three out of four teams qualified in the women’s category, two out of three in the men’s category, and three out of six in mixed doubles.
Teams began the season with a development camp, followed by two qualification tournaments that also included team development workshops. Meanwhile, performances at provincial championships continued to earn points.
The first qualification tournament, held just before Christmas, proved decisive:
Team Noranda–Jacques-Cartier remained undefeated in the women’s category
Team St-Lambert / Rosemère / Pointe-Claire won in the men’s category
The Fortin / Brassard duo claimed victory in mixed doubles
Subsequently, provincial championships had varying impacts. No additional points were awarded in the men’s category, while in the women’s category, a bronze medal at the U18 provincial championship presented by Brosse Performance allowed Team Noranda to gain valuable points and move closer to qualification.
In mixed doubles, the situation was more complex. The victory of Team Fortin–Lafrance at the women’s provincial championship, combined with their participation in the Scotties during the junior mixed doubles provincial championship, led to organizational adjustments. As a result, the second qualification tournament and the junior mixed doubles provincial championship were no longer mandatory to qualify for the final. All eligible teams therefore advanced to the final. It is still worth noting that Team Legault / Janidlo won the junior mixed doubles provincial championship. Team Boutin/Melanson-Labbée, having not met all the criteria, is therefore not eligible for the final.
On the men’s side, as the standings evolved, Team Victoria / Aurèle-Racine, led by Félix-Antoine Gélinas, fell too far behind the other two teams to catch up and withdrew from the process. Teams Etchemin and St-Lambert / Rosemère / Pointe-Claire thus confirmed their qualification for the final phase.
In the women’s category, the second qualification tournament was extremely important for the final standings. Following the second event held at the Grand-Mère Curling Club, Team Noranda/Jacques-Cartier secured first place by winning the tournament once again, widening the gap over the other teams. After two full seasons, the final standings in the women’s category are as follows:
- Noranda/Jacques-Cartier – 313.25 points
- Laval/Laurier/Bel-Aire – 266.5 points
- Noranda – 257.25 points
- Pointe-Claire/Laval/Baie d’Urfé – 246.5 points
Despite a strong performance, Team Pointe-Claire/Laval/Baie d’Urfé is unfortunately eliminated and will not advance to the final.
A final decisive stage
After months of effort, growth, and adaptation, the qualified teams now turn their attention to the final phase of the process.
This final stage will take place from April 17 to 19 at the Laval-sur-le-Lac Curling Club, where the 5 mixed doubles teams, 3 women’s teams, and 2 men’s teams will compete for the opportunity to represent Team Quebec at the 2027 Canada Games.
The winning teams in each category will earn the honor of representing Quebec at the 2027 Canada Games, which will be held in Quebec City from February 27 to March 14, 2027.
At the end of this long journey, one thing is certain: all teams have given their all. They have grown, evolved, and pushed their limits over the past two seasons. As the final approaches, every outcome remains possible. Although some teams currently lead their categories—Team Noranda–Jacques-Cartier in the women’s division, St-Lambert / Rosemère / Pointe-Claire in the men’s division, and the Fortin / Brassard duo in mixed doubles—nothing has been decided yet. The final may reshuffle the standings, as everything will be decided on the ice.
The format for each category is different:
- A best-of-five series for the men
- A double round-robin with finals for the women
- A round-robin with finals for mixed doubles
We wish them the best of luck in this final stage on the road to the 2027 Canada Games!
