Next fall, Port Elgin will host one of the largest curling events in Canadian history as Olympic champions Rachel Homan and Brad Jacobs face off in “The Battle.”
This exciting three-day event will take place from September 25-27, 2026, at The Plex in Port Elgin. The Municipality of Saugeen Shores is generously offering the arena at no cost for this occasion.
The competition will feature a variety of formats. On Friday, doubles matches kick off the action, with Homan and Jacobs each picking a teammate, while other curlers compete in a second game. Saturday will showcase men’s and women’s teams going head-to-head in a skins event. The tournament concludes on Sunday with an eight-end match that will determine the Grand Champion.
In addition to the competition, organizers are branding “The Camp” as the largest curling camp ever held in Canada. Open to adults aged 19 and up, participants can join for $799 to receive two-and-a-half days of top-tier instruction from members of both teams along with six elite coaches. On the last day, campers will participate in “The Great Shootout,” a fun Ryder Cup-style contest featuring both squads.
Executive committee member and experienced coach Maurice Wilson believes this camp offers something special for curlers. “You think about it, you’ve got the number one women’s team in the world, a dominant team, and you’ve got Brad Jacobs, unquestionably the best men’s team in Canada right now,” said Wilson. “Hopefully both of them are going to the Olympics, and we may be lucky enough to have them here working at that camp.”
Wilson also mentioned that what makes this camp unique is its professional atmosphere. “They usually go in curling clubs. So here they get to go on this championship-level ice, and we’ve also hired a team of four outstanding world-class ice makers to come and make ice here for that week.”
Saugeen Shores Mayor Luke Charbonneau considers hosting Homan and Jacobs a significant win for the community. “That’s a huge event, right? I mean, you’re talking Jacobs and Homan; there are no bigger curlers on Earth than those two,” said Charbonneau. “To have them come to Saugeen Shores, come to The Plex, and be here for a few days… it’s going to be such a huge draw not just here but for the whole region.”
Charbonneau gives credit to the Port Elgin Curling Club for its track record of hosting high-quality events like the Ontario Tankard among others. “The track record of the Port Elgin Curling Club is really unparalleled,” he noted. “They have both the capability as a committee and also attract volunteers, sponsors, and partners effectively. They can organize large events successfully every time. People always say ‘This is the best Tankard we’ve been to; this is the best Ryder Cup we’ve been to.’ They’re second to none.” Tickets go on sale September 25, 2025, with 1,100 three-day passes priced at $129 each. Proceeds from ticket sales will support 16 local curling clubs which can sell sponsorships and tickets directly benefiting their organizations.
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