John Shea Insurance Canada Cup Qualifier

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The John Shea Insurance Canada Cup Qualifier is an annual curling bonspiel held at the Ottawa and Rideau Curling Clubs in Ottawa, Canada. In odd years, the event is a qualifier for the men's Canada Cup of Curling while in even years the event is the women's qualifier. It is held annually in December, and is part of the World Curling Tour.

The current rotating format begun in 2006, when Ottawa hosted the JSI Women's Canada Cup Qualifier. The other qualifier is held annually at the Saville Centre in Edmonton, Alberta and is known as the Diversified Transportation Canada Cup Qualifier. In 2004, Ottawa hosted the Canada Cup East Qualifier for both sexes (the 2005 event was canceled). Prior to this, the event had nothing to do with the Canada Cup, and was known as the Cowan Wright Beauchamp - The Championships (2001-2003) and the Welton Beauchamp Curling Classic (until 2000). The event has been running since at least 1989. There was also a women's event.

The purses for the event have often been quite high, and was at $100,000 at one point. The 2007 event gave away $76,000.

Mike Harris' victory in 1996 and Brad Gushue's victory in 2004 gave them berths to Canada's Olympic qualifying tournaments which they eventually won. Gushue would win Olympic Gold at the 2006 Winter Olympics, while Harris won silver at the 1998 Olympics.

[edit] Champions

Year	Winning skip
2007	Kevin Koe
2006	Jennifer Jones
2005	canceled
2004	Brad Gushue (men's), Jo-Ann Rizzo (women's)
2003	Jeff Stoughton (men's), Brenda Nicholls (women's)
2002	Glenn Howard (men's), Janet McGhee (women's)
2001	Wayne Middaugh (men's), Elisabet Gustafson (women's)
2000	Wayne Middaugh
1999	Mike Harris
1998	Mark Olson
1997	Rich Moffat
1996	Mike Harris
1995	Larry Pineau
1994	Dan Mustapic
1993	Ed Werenich
1991	Ted Butler
1990	Ted Butler
1989	Eugene Hritzuk