About Police Curling

Where rank doesn't matter, only good times with great friends do!

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The history of police curling dates back to 1955 when the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police first formed the Canadian Police Curling Association (CPCA) for the purpose of encouraging fellowship and liaison among Canadian police officers as well as promoting the game of curling in Canada. The first "National Police Bonspiel" was organized and held at the Granite Curling Club in Winnipeg on March 12th, 1956.

At that time, it was a one day, four event bonspiel. There were sixteen rinks allowed, one representing each of the provinces as we do today, plus four other teams representing four of the major police forces in Canada, the RCMP, the OPP, the CPR Police and the CNR Police.

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Between 1956 and 1971 the annual bonspiel was held in various cities across Canada. It was sponsored by the Chiefs of Police Association, but most of the expenses were paid by the curlers themselves. Due to the costs involved, not all of the provinces or police forces always sent a rink to the bonspiel and local area rinks were substituted to make up the full complement of 16 rinks. Nevertheless, the event proved to be very popular in the police community and the original purpose for which it was organized was achieved. The event became more competitive each year and play-offs to get into the bonspiel generated much more liaison and friendly rivalry among the police forces and police officers.

In March 1972, with the support of a major sponsor, the first truly Canadian Police Curling Championship was held at the Thistle Curling Club in Hamilton, Ontario. The Brier format of a round robin competition was adopted and teams from all of the Provinces and the Yukon-Northwest Territories were present.