City of Kelowna reaping the economic benefits brought on by the Brier Cup
Kelowna, B.C., is quickly gaining recognition for more than just its scenic landscapes and wineries. Following the success of the 2025 Montana's Brier, the city is proving it has the capacity and appeal to host major national events — and reap the economic rewards that come with them.
Earlier this year, the Canadian men's curling championship brought over 89,000 spectators to Kelowna.
The event delivered a direct economic impact of $15.2 million and a total impact of $22.7 million, far exceeding expectations.
'On that particular event, we were at the high end of our expectations — and actually a couple hundred thousand dollars beyond that,' said Kelowna Mayor Tom Dyas.
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For city leaders and tourism officials, the success of the Brier is about more than just impressive numbers.
'The numbers from the Brier really solidified that Kelowna can host these major events successfully,' said Lisanne Ballantyne, CEO of Tourism Kelowna. 'But it's not just about the numbers — it's about the legacy it leaves behind.'
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That legacy continues to grow, with two more national events on the horizon. The Canadian Country Music Awards are set to take place in September, followed by the Memorial Cup in the spring of 2026.
Kelowna is aiming to match or surpass the economic performance seen in other host cities.
'When the CCMAs were in Hamilton, the economic impact was $11 million and over 2,000 hotel room nights,' said Ballantyne. 'With Kelowna's destination appeal, we believe we'll match or even exceed that.'
The city is also thinking long-term. A new Economic Prosperity Task Force has been launched to build on this momentum and explore other opportunities beyond events.
'It's not just from an event standpoint,' said Dyas. 'The task force is looking at what else we can bring to Kelowna — whether it's industry, manufacturing, or anything that creates lasting economic impact.'
As Kelowna continues to attract attention, city leaders are working to ensure it's ready for what's ahead.
'We're considered a small city, and things like infrastructure, venues, and even how many volunteers we can mobilize become important factors in deciding what events we can host in the future,' said Ballantyne.
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TELUS ANNOUNCES JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTE OFFERING Français
Base shelf prospectus is accessible, and prospectus supplement will be accessible within two business days, through SEDAR+ Re-opening of 6.25% Fixed-to-Fixed Rate Junior Subordinated Notes, Series CAR due July 21, 2055 Re-opening of 6.75% Fixed-to-Fixed Rate Junior Subordinated Notes, Series CAS due July 21, 2055 VANCOUVER, BC, June 16, 2025 /CNW/ - TELUS announced today it has priced a $800 million re-opening of its fixed-to-fixed rate junior subordinated notes, Series CAR and Series CAS, each with a long 30-year maturity. The notes are offered through a syndicate of agents led by CIBC World Markets Inc., Scotia Capital Inc. and TD Securities Inc. Closing of the offering is expected to occur on or about June 19, 2025. The re-opened 6.25% fixed-to-fixed rate junior subordinated notes, Series CAR, priced at $102.625 per $100 principal amount for a re-opening yield of 5.612% per annum until July 21, 2030, will mature on July 21, 2055. The 6.25% fixed-to-fixed rate junior subordinated notes, Series CAR will initially bear interest at a rate of 6.25% per annum and reset every five years starting July 21, 2030 to the prevailing five-year Government of Canada rate plus 3.482%, provided that the interest rate during any five-year interest period will not reset below 6.25%. The re-opened 6.75% fixed-to-fixed rate junior subordinated notes, Series CAS, priced at $104.500 per $100 principal amount for a re-opening yield of 6.127% per annum until July 21, 2035, will mature on July 21, 2055. The 6.75% fixed-to-fixed rate junior subordinated notes, Series CAS will initially bear interest at a rate of 6.75% per annum and reset every five years starting July 21, 2035 to the prevailing five-year Government of Canada rate plus 3.609%, provided that the interest rate during any five-year interest period will not reset below 6.75%. 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Georgia St., 23 rd Floor, Vancouver, British Columbia V6B 0M3 (telephone 604-695-6420) or from CIBC World Markets Inc. by phone at 416-594-8515 or email at [email protected], Scotia Capital Inc. by phone at 416-863-7438 or email at [email protected] or TD Securities Inc. by phone at 416-982-2243 or email at [email protected] by providing an email address or mailing address, as applicable. Copies of these documents will be accessible electronically within two business days of the date hereof on the System for Electronic Data Analysis and Retrieval+ (SEDAR+) of the Canadian Securities Administrators, at Investors should read the short form base shelf prospectus and prospectus supplement before making an investment decision. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements about future events pertaining to the offering, including the anticipated closing date of the offering and the intended use of the net proceeds of the offering. 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About TELUS TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is a world-leading communications technology company generating over $20 billion in annual revenue with more than 20 million customer connections through our advanced suite of broadband services for consumers, businesses and the public sector. We are committed to leveraging our technology to enable remarkable human outcomes. TELUS is passionate about putting our customers and communities first, leading the way globally in client service excellence and social capitalism. Our TELUS Health business is enhancing more than 150 million lives worldwide and territories worldwide through innovative preventive medicine and well-being technologies. Our TELUS Agriculture & Consumer Goods business utilizes digital technologies and data insights to optimize the connection between producers and consumers. Guided by our enduring 'give where we live' philosophy, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed $1.8 billion in cash, in-kind contributions, time and programs including 2.4 million days of service since 2000, earning us the distinction of the world's most giving company. For more information, visit or follow @TELUSNews on X and @Darren_Entwistle on Instagram. Media Relations Steve Beisswanger [email protected] SOURCE TELUS Corporation
