The concept for creating one of the most significant cashspiels in the country had been discussed for several years. But it wasn't until September of 2001, when it was formally announced that the first Strauss Canada Cup would take place in January of 2003 at Sport Mart Place in Kamloops.

The inaugural edition of the Cup offered an astounding purse of $220,000, split equally between the men's and women's competitions. It was the richest ever for a combined men's and women's event. Among the 20 competing teams were world champions Colleen Jones and Kelley Law on the women's side, while Randy Ferbey, Russ Howard and Pat Ryan held world titles on the men's side.

The first year winners were Edmonton's Randy Ferbey, who pocketed $53,000 in defeating John Morris, 7-5 in the final and Coldwater, Ontario's Sherry Middaugh, who earned $52,250 after beating Kelley Law, 8-7. There was additional incentive to win this first Cup since the victors also earned berths into the 2005 Tim Hortons Canadian Curling Trials in Halifax, which would select Canada's representatives for the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin, Italy, as well as the 2003 Continental Cup in Thunder Bay.

The 2004 Cup was worth $90,000 each to the men's and women's events and also offered berths into the 2004 Continental Cup in Medicine Hat and 2005 Trials. Once again, it attracted exceptional fields, including defending champion Ferbey, plus other world champions Wayne Middaugh, Kerry Burtnyk, Russ Howard and Jeff Stoughton on the men's side, while the women's line-up included Colleen Jones, Sherry Anderson, Kelly Scott and Shannon Kleibrink.

Ferbey emerged victorious, once again defeating two-time world junior champion John Morris in the final, 10-3, pocketing a total of $33,000 while Jones edged Anderson, 8-7, taking home $33,000.

Since both Ferbey (2003 Canada Cup winner) and Jones (2003 Scott Tournament of Hearts winner) had already earned berths into the Trials, those spots went to the runners-up, Morris and Anderson.

In 2005, the event was held in March and again, Trials spots were on the line. The winners were Shannon Kleibrink of Calgary and Kevin Martin of Edmonton. Kleibrink edged Jan Betker, 7-6 in the final, earning $35,750, while Martin's team collected $37,250 after beating Randy Ferbey, 6-5. Since Kleibrink had already earned a Trials berth, though, via the Canadian Team Ranking System, Betker was awarded the spot.

The 2006 Strauss Canada Cup, again offering $90,000 to each of the men's and women's competitions, was held in early February at the newly-named Interior Savings Centre. Kevin Martin successfully defended his title, defeating Glenn Howard, 5-4 in the final, while earning $37,250. On the women's side, Cathy King of Edmonton defeated Jennifer Jones of Winnipeg, 10-9 and collected $36,500. As in past years, both winners also received berths as defending champions in next year's renewal.

In 2007, the men's and women's events were each worth $75,000. The men's final pitted the only two skips to have won the 'Cup' in past, Randy Ferbey versus Kevin Martin. The final went to an extra end, when Ferbey edged Martin, 9-8. His team earned $28,200. The women's final pitted the previous year's finalists, but this time Jennifer Jones emerged victorious, 10-7, winning $27,400.

Both winners also got berths into the 2007 Continental Cup, December 13-16 in Medicine Hat and became one of 16 men's and 16 women's teams eligible for the 2009 Canadian Curling Trials, in addition to returning to Kamloops as defending champions for the 2008 Strauss Canada Cup. The 2007 renewal, held in mid-March, also attracted a record six-day crowd of 30,034.

Over the years, the Cup has raised significant funds for the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, while Kamloops-based Strauss Herb Company, a world-wide distributor of health products, has helped finance the event from Day One. Aquafina has been a presenting sponsor for the past four years.

The Canada Cup officially became part of the Season of Champions in 2005. Once again in 2008, CBC-TV will televise both finals. The prize money is $75,000, for both men and women, with the winners receiving $25,000. Each team also gets $800 for each round robin win.

The 'Cup' has also been the event vehicle for the Canadian Team Ranking System (CTRS), which ranks all of the teams competing on the World Curling Tour and usually qualifies three or four men's and women's teams for the event each year, joining defending Cup champions, Players champions, Brier and Hearts winners and Canada Cup East and West semi-finalists.