For the third time in a 20-year span, the Manitoba Interlake community of Gimli will host the Manitoba Women’s Curling Championship – the RME Women of the Rings presented by Case IH.
CurlManitoba made the announcement today as the second RME championship is underway in Riverdale Community Centre in Rivers.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to host the best Manitoba Women’s teams competing for the provincial title,” said Gimli host committee Co-Chairs Dave Leblanc and Lynn Hoplock. “Early in her career, Kerri Einarson played in the 2008 Scotties here at home in Gimli. Who knows – maybe we’ll have a chance to help launch another young team on their championship path!”
“The legacy of great championship events in Gimli is one of creating champions. We look forward to seeing who prevails in 2027, whether it is a team at their peak or a new team on the way to greater things,” says CurlManitoba Executive Director Craig Baker. “Whichever is the case, we know that the curlers and the fans will enjoy both the competition and the great hospitality they’ll enjoy in Gimli.”
“RME looks forward to next year’s event in Manitoba’s Interlake, our ten locations across the province help serve the entire Manitoba agricultural community just as we are proud to support the sport of curling province-wide,” says RME spokesperson Cory Flett. “We know Gimli will host an event that will be a very positive reflection of our commitment to excellence on both fronts.”
The 2008 championship was won by Jennifer Jones, already well established in her career. That event featured a match between defending champion Team Jones (Cathy Overton-Clapham, Jill Officer, Dawn Askin) and the young Kerri Einarson – foreshadowing the great rivalry that was ahead.
Gimli also hosted the 2019 championship which was won by Tracey Fleury (Selena Kaatz-Njegovan, Liz Fife, Kristin MacCuish-Gordon) – the team which eventually lost an extra-end final in the 2021 Canadian Curling Trials.
The 2027 RME Women of the Rings presented by Case IH will once again feature 12 teams in a two-pool round-robin format. This year the championship is being played early due to the scheduling challenges represented by the Olympic games. Next year, the championship will move back to the traditional timing later in January. Exact dates will be announced when the CurlManitoba 2026-27 season schedule is announced in the fall of 2026.
