The Manitoba Men’s Provincials need more than a name change

Big changes are coming to Manitoba men’s curling — and it’s about time. When the provincial championship hits Selkirk from Feb. 3–8, 2026, fans are going to see a very different event. Some of it’s good, some of it’s overdue, and some of it still doesn’t go far enough. First, let’s deal with the headline. The event is no longer the Viterra Championship. Thanks to a corporate merger, it’s now being called the Bunge Championship after an announcement from CurlManitoba last week. Yes, that Bunge. The same Bunge that gives Altona its, shall we say, distinct aroma every time you drive through the small bible-belt town. For the first time ever, Manitoba’s men’s provincial is shrinking — from 32 teams down to 24. It’ll be a triple-knockout with six playoff spots on the line. CurlManitoba hasn