The 2008 Tim Hortons Brier is only days away and the Tankard is rolling into town. Everyone will have the opportunity to have their photo taken with the famed and legendary trophy on Wednesday, March 5th as the Tankard Tour visits 11 Winnipeg Tim Hortons locations:

3649 Portage Avenue - 7:00 a.m. – 7:30 a.m.
3900 Grant Avenue - 8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.
1609 Kenaston Boulevard - 9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
570 Pembina Highway - 10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
255 Maryland Street - 10:45 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
646 Archibald Street - 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
1040 Beaverhill Boulevard - 12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
1572 Regent Avenue - 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
1139 Gateway Road - 2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
1795 Brookside Boulevard - 3:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
980 St. James Street - 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

History of the Tankard Trophy

First presented by the Macdonald Tobacco Company in 1927, the Macdonald Brier Trophy was awarded annually to the winner of the Macdonald Brier until 1979. Macdonald Tobacco withdrew its sponsorship that year after 50 years and the Macdonald Brier Tankard was retired.

When Labatt Breweries became the Brier sponsor in 1980, it introduced a gold Labatt Tankard, which became the icon of the Brier and was awarded 21 times. When Labatt decided to end its title sponsorship, the Labatt Tankard was retired.
When Nokia Products Ltd. became the Brier’s new sponsor, it decided in consultation with the Canadian Curling Association to reactivate the original trophy beginning with the 2001 Nokia Brier.

For its first 27 years, the Tankard was presented with a sterling silver heart plaque attached to it on which the names of each team member had been hand-engraved. After 27 years no space was left, so a single plaque was attached to the back, where the names of all the winners from 1955 to 1979 were engraved.
The trophy was restored and the base was expanded by Clarkes Recognition Products of Vancouver. The Tim Hortons Brier Tankard now proudly displays a hand-engraved silver heart for each of the Brier winners. Come see this wonderful piece of curling history for yourself at the Tim Hortons Tankard Tour.

2008 Tim Hortons Brier

There are still great Brier seats available at amazing prices! Single draw tickets are now on sale from $18 per draw at ticketmaster.ca or by calling (204) 669-3333.

Kick things off Friday, March 7th with Burtons Cummings in the Keith’s Brier Patch at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Tickets $35 at www.ticketmaster.ca or by calling (204) 669-3333.

For more information, contact:

Rob Dewhirst
2008 Tim Hortons Brier
Event Coordinator
(204) 929-2001