Preparations continue as Kingston gets ready to host the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier.
The Canadian men’s curling championship begins on Saturday at the Leon’s Centre, marking the second time the Limestone City has entertained the best in the country.
The first time Kingston hosted the Brier was 63 years ago. Curling Canada has posted a 30-minute video highlighting the tournament in 1957.
“It was a real coo and the city really banded together, just like they’re doing right now,” said Kingston curling historian Fran Cooney. “To host it, it was a full city-wide effort.”
Cooney says 11 teams helped to make up the field, with the action taking place at the Kingston Memorial Centre.
Back then, they played 12-end games instead of 10, she explained.
But that wasn’t the only difference, Cooney added.
“It is amazing seeing these gentlemen curling on the ice with the swinging corn brooms in perfect harmony. Men wearing beaver coats, some of them smoking cigars on the ice, which of course you don’t see today. And it’s just a totally different time but the competitiveness is exactly the same.”
For the record, Alberta’s Matt Baldwin and his Edmonton team won the 1957 national championship, finishing the five-day tournament undefeated.