Why is there a "Team Canada" at the Tournement of Hearts and the Brier? Why not just province/territory teams?

Question

Why is there a "Team Canada" at the Tournement of Hearts and the Brier? Why not just province/territory teams?

Answer 1

It's just the Tournament of Hearts, they give an automatic bye to the champion of the previous year, and they play as Team Canada in the next tournament, by-passing provincial playdowns. They started that rule in 1986.

They don't do it for the Brier or any other tournament, however, the winners of those have to play their way back in to defend next year. They use two teams from Ontario (split by Northern Ontario and the rest of the province) to make an even number of teams. The territories play as one combined team in all championships.

Answer 2

In order to fill out the draw. The bonspiel should have 12 teams. 1 from each province and 1 from the Territories. In the Men's draw the 12th team is chosen from Northern Ontario. For recognition purposes the organizers of the Heart felt that bringing back a Team Canada team will sell more tickets then a team from Northern Ontario.

Sometimes it would be nice if a team in the Brier had a free pass. But as it has been said about curling in Canada. Competition is so tough it is often harder to get out of your club than it is to get out of the Province. I was a guest at the Midland curling club a few years ago. Their club games were like an all star game. Middaughs and Howards and more.