Hosting the World Women’s Curling Championship this past March has paid off in spades for North Bay.
Figures from City Hall show the week-long event, which attracted women champions from about a dozen countries, had a $7.299 million impact on the city.
Katherine Henderson, who is the CEO of Curling Canada, calls North Bay hosting the event a resounding success on and off the ice.
Henderson also says she has no doubt that North Bay will again host a curling championship sometime in the future.
The world championship was put together by an organizing committee with help from hundreds of volunteers.
Mayor Al McDonald commends the committee and the volunteers and gives them credit for the success.
McDonald says the curlers, visitors and event organizers were amazed by the community’s hospitality and facilities.
The Mayor adds North Bay is looking forward to hosting more curling events in the future.
Dave Bennett, who was Co-Chair of the Organizing and Bid Committee, says the multi-million dollar impact doesn’t include the international exposure North Bay received through the televised games, something he says is immeasurable.
Bennett adds the world exposure will be long-lasting.