First-ever championship to be held late November 2009

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The first-ever national curling championship will break ice at St. George's Golf and Country Club in 2009.

The Canadian Curling Association announced plans earlier this month to premier The Dominion Curling Club Championship at St. George's, on Islington Avenue, arguably the greatest golf course in the country.

Men's and women's curling teams that win their respective local club championships will compete in the annual event, funded by The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company.

"The championship provides the first-ever opportunity for winning club teams to represent their club at the zone, provincial or territory level, and ultimately offers them the opportunity to rank nationally," Leigh Armstrong with The Dominion said in a statement.

Teams from all 10 provinces and three territories will compete, as will a separate entry from northern Ontario.

The inaugural national curling championship will be held in late November 2009.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for all Canadian curlers," Greg Stremlaw, CEO of the Canadian Curling Association said in a statement. "It's an unique partnering of sport and business that supports charity and strengthens local communities across the country. It's a winning situation for everyone."

Profits generated by the annual championship will be given to charities, including the Canadian Paraplegic Association, as well as to developmental curling initiatives in communities across Canada.

The championship will move to other host clubs in future years.

This is St. George's second host announcement in as many months.

In June, the Stanley Thompson-designed course dating from 1929 made headlines when golf fans learned it is the official site of the 2010 Canadian Open.

St. George's has hosted the Open four times previously, most recently in 1968.