The City of Kelowna, in partnership with Tourism Kelowna, the Province of British Columbia and Curling Canada, proudly hosted one of the most prestigious curling championships in the world, the Montana's Brier, which brought positive economic impact, destination exposure, and lasting community pride to Kelowna.  

The event took place during the local off-season earlier this year, attracting more than 89,000 spectators who contributed millions of dollars in direct economic impact. The Brier not only increased business patronage but also provided a unique experience for residents and visitors, garnered extensive coverage for Kelowna, and left a legacy for the local curling club. 

"The Brier brought national attention and significant economic impact to our city a boost of $15.2 million that supported our local businesses, restaurants, and hotels," said Mayor Tom Dyas. "Kelowna continues to show that we are a world-class event destination. The success of the Brier is something our entire community can be proud of, and we look forward to carrying that momentum into the Canadian Country Music Awards this fall and the Memorial Cup next spring."   

Overall, the 2025 Montana's Brier generated a direct local economic impact of $15,200,744.00 with 121 jobs supported in Kelowna and $95,827.00 contributed to local taxes. The total impact, which takes into account provincial and federal taxes as well as indirect spending, is estimated at close to $23 million. The event also helped establish the city as not only an attractive destination for visitors but as a destination for future events. 

"Hosting national events like the Brier creates lasting benefits for Kelowna that go far beyond immediate economic impact," said Lisanne Ballantyne, President & CEO of Tourism Kelowna. "These events increase national awareness of our city, strengthen Kelowna's reputation as a premier host for major events, and open the door to attracting even more high-profile gatherings in the future ensuring ongoing growth for our community and visitor economy." 

The benefits extended to local residents as well, who were able to take part in the celebrations in their own city. 

"We've always known that hosting an event such as the Montana's Brier provides benefits for the host city that go well beyond what takes place on the ice and we saw that with these results. The community pride that all of Kelowna showed all week was contagious and we were thrilled with the way everyone embraced this opportunity to showcase the city and how everyone collaborated with our team to make it such a success story," said Nolan Thiessen, CEO of Curling Canada. 

Events of this scale are only possible through the commitment of dedicated community partners. Special thanks go to the event Vice-Chairs, community partners, and the more than 300 volunteers whose efforts helped make the Montana's Brier a success. 

Impact Summary 

• Economic Stimulus: Generated a direct economic impact of $15.2 million and total economic impact of $22.7 million during the shoulder season'. 
• Community Profile: Provided significant exposure through visitation, 4,300 national media articles, and a highly-viewed television broadcast highlighting the community and the city's natural assets.  
• Hosting Capacity: Bolstered Kelowna's event hosting resume which will support future bid opportunities for other marquee events. 
• Community Appeal: Offered a rare opportunity for an event that targets a broad demographic, with positive feedback from local businesses, accommodations, and residents. 
• Direct Gain: Provided tangible benefit in terms of percentage of net profits for the Host Committee.