In less than four months, Kelowna will host the 2025 Montana's Brier, Canada's largest and most well-known curling event. This marks the first time in over 50 years that the prestigious championship will be held in our city, and excitement is building across the community. To kickstart the momentum, Tourism Kelowna and the Kelowna Curling Club recently hosted “I Speak Curling,” a networking event designed to engage Tourism Kelowna members and get the local business community excited and prepared for next year's major event.
Held Wednesday, November 6, at the Kelowna Curling Club, the event introduced attendees to curling culture and lingo, detailed how the Brier event would flow, and presented ideas on how businesses can engage with it. The goal was to help businesses understand the unique atmosphere of Montana's Brier and share ideas to maximize their involvement, ensuring they can capitalize on the influx of visitors and participants.
Jock Tyre, General Manager, Kelowna Curling Club, speaks to event attendees.
The 2025 Montana's Brier will be held over 10 days, from February 28 to March 9, at Prospera Place. The iconic Patch—the event's official beer garden—will be hosted at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Grand Okanagan Resort. This highly anticipated event is expected to attract thousands of spectators and participants from across Canada and beyond, generating an estimated economic impact of $10–15 million on the local economy.
During the "I Speak Curling" event, Tourism Kelowna and the City of Kelowna delivered key details on event logistics, ticket sales, volunteer opportunities, and community activations and shared ideas on how businesses can get involved. The main takeaway was clear: engagement is vital.
By getting involved in the Montana's Brier, local businesses can:
- Enhance the Visitor Experience: Engaging with the event helps create a welcoming atmosphere and turns first-time visitors into repeat customers.
- Introduce Your Business to New Audiences: The Brier is a fantastic opportunity to showcase your business to out-of-town visitors and locals who may be discovering you for the first time.
- Drive Traffic to Your Business: Event attendees are more likely to visit businesses that actively engage with them during the event.
The session also provided creative ideas to help businesses make the most of the event. Some suggestions included:
- Themed Menus and Special Offerings: Create signature dishes or drinks inspired by the Brier, such as a Brier Brew or Brie(r) Burger.
- In-Store Displays: Set up curling-themed displays in your business windows or lobby to welcome event-goers.
- Promotions for Event Attendees: Offer discounts or special deals exclusively for Brier ticket holders or participants.
- Visual Engagement: Decorate your business with curling-related signage or “Welcome Curlers” messages to show your support.
If you couldn’t attend the event but want to learn more about how your business can get involved, please contact me directly at sara@tourismkelowna.com.
For those who did attend, we’ve made the entire presentation available for you to review. Click here to access the presentation.
