Next fall, Port Elgin will be the site of one of the largest curling events in Canada as Olympic champions Rachel Homan and Brad Jacobs compete in “The Battle.”
This three-day event is scheduled for September 25-27, 2026, at The Plex in Port Elgin. The Municipality of Saugeen Shores is generously providing the arena at no cost for this occasion.
The competition will include a variety of formats. The action kicks off on Friday with doubles matches, where Homan and Jacobs will each pick a partner, while other curlers face off in a separate game. Saturday’s lineup features men’s and women’s teams going head-to-head in a skins format. The event concludes on Sunday with an eight-end showdown to crown the Grand Champion.
In addition to the competition, organizers are promoting “The Camp” as the largest curling camp ever held in Canada. Open to adults aged 19 and over, participants can join for $799 to receive two-and-a-half days of top-tier instruction from both teams along with six elite coaches. On the last day, campers will compete in “The Great Shootout,” which is a Ryder Cup-style contest featuring both teams.
Executive committee member and experienced coach Maurice Wilson emphasizes that this camp will be unique 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 special is its professional setting. “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 believes having Homan and Jacobs visit is a big 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 praised the Port Elgin Curling Club for its success in hosting high-profile events like the Ontario Tankard among others. “The track record of the Port Elgin Curling Club is really unparalleled,” he stated. “They have the capacity as a committee but also have great skills at attracting volunteers, sponsors, and partners. They can bring together a huge event and pull it off with flying colors. 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 will go on sale starting September 25, 2025, with 1,100 three-day passes priced at $129 each. Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit 16 local curling clubs who can sell sponsorships and tickets directly supporting their organizations.
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