2026 U12 Festival | Guelph Curling

Guelph Curling

Curling Ontario is excited to announce a major revamp of the Elementary School Championship, one of Canada’s largest youth bonspiels, to create a more engaging and age-appropriate experience for young athletes. The event will now feature two divisions, U12 and U15. This historic change addresses feedback from participants, parents, and coaches, and resolves issues like imbalanced matches and developmental misalignment. The new format promises a more balanced, fun, and recreational environment that supports young curlers as they grow. To learn more about how this exciting evolution will shape the future of youth curling and for full rules and eligibility, visit our website here: https://curlingontario.ca/competitions/competition-regulations/u12-u15-festival/

NOTE: Only two players per team can have played on a team that has made U18 Provincial Championships.

To participate in this event curlers must fit into one of two age divisions:

• U12 athletes: Must be 12 or under as of December 31, 2025 (typically Grade 7 and under).
• U15 athletes: Must be 15 or under as of December 31, 2025 (typically Grade 10 and under).

To register a team in the U15 division, visit this link: https://on.curling.io/en/events/27209-2026-u15-festival-guelph-curling-club

All players are required to be listed before entry is finalized. Changes may be made up to the start of the competition.

Anyone participating in an event hosted by Curling Ontario must complete participant registration. Please share this link with all members of your team: https://on.curling.io/en/products/10277-u12-u15-curling-ontario-participant-registration-2025-2026.

ALL Participants aged 11 and under (as of the first date of the competition) MUST wear head protection while on the ice. This is the Curling Ontario standard and will be enforced for the duration of the event.

APPROVED HEAD PROTECTION INCLUDES:

Highly recommended *:

• CSA approved helmets for use on ice and/or snow (ex. hockey helmets, snowboarding helmets, full curling helmets)
• CSA approved helmets for skateboarding and/or equestrian activities.
  

Acceptable (but not preferred)*:

• Curling headgear (toques or ballcaps) with built in impact plate (tested to CSA standards) with chinstrap
• Bicycle helmets *With all headgear – chinstraps must be fastened properly when on ice

Not Acceptable:

• Halos/Headbands Curlers will not be permitted on the ice if they are not wearing at minimum “acceptable” headgear.