The Opening Ceremonies were held for the Viterra Championships last night at Stride Place in Portage la Prairie.

Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister was a part of the event. He took some time to say a few words to the crowd and the curlers.

Brian Pallister having a laugh with Dale Michie across the rink at the Opening Ceremonies Feb. 8, 2017. (Photo by Aaron Wilgosh)

"It was tremendous, and a fabulous event to be a part of," says Pallister. "It's a beautiful facility for a great sport. Portage is the community that produces volunteers for these events at a first rate. We'll produce a Brier winner here this week and I encourage fans to get out here and cheer their favourite teams on. I've enjoyed my curling time and I've enjoyed the chance to get to know so many volunteers and fans of the game over so many years. It was really fun to be back."

The teams were led out onto the surface floor by home rink Team Neufeld. After O'Canada and several speeches from honoured guests, the honorary ceremonial first rock was thrown.

"We pick four curlers every year to throw an honorary ceremonial first rock," says Dave Koroscil, co-chair of the Ceremonies Committee. "We generally look back on the accomplishments curlers have made through the curling club. For 20 years Don Spriggs was the guy to beat in this area, and it added to it with Dale Michie and Dean Moxham being long time members of that team, and here tonight. It worked out well with Premier Pallister being here and he's got some accolades behind his name. As well Barry Sadler, what more can you say about the accomplishments with the amount of curling he's done. So they were the perfect ones to be a part of that."

Dean Moxham, Barry Sadler and Dale Michie get set to toss out the ceremonial stone Feb. 8, 2017. (Photo by Aaron Wilgosh)

"We did have a little bit of success back in the day," laughs Pallister. "Dale Michie and I are good friends and we were able to win a Provincial Championship, but Dean Moxham and Don Spriggs have a tremendous history of success in curling over many years, not only in men's but in seniors recently. Barry Sadler is just the salt of the earth, that's the kind of person that deserves the honour of throwing that first rock. He's been not just a successful curler but he's a great teacher and educator, community volunteer, and he and his wife Diane are just fabulous people. Glad to be here for a short time now and hope to get back later this weekend."

Team Neufeld Third Dean Moxham jokes, "We've put in our time and I guess it just means we're getting old now. It always used to be the old guys that did it and now I'm one of those guys. It was a nice honour to recognize our team (Don Spriggs') with Dale and I on it. Of course, I put a lot of time in with Brian Pallister, playing with him off and on, and Barry Sadler, so it was a nice quartet of guys that we've all known for a long time."

The Viterra Championship wraps up Sunday afternoon with the finals.