It only took five years for the Scotties Tournament of Hearts to return to Moose Jaw, but organizers are saying the 2020 event has been a huge success.

Maddie Kelly, marketing and office manager for the Scotties, moved to Moose Jaw over the summer to help plan the event. She says it’s going to be hard leaving to go back to her home province of Nova Scotia.

“It’s weird to say I’m leaving and not coming back because I’ve always said I’ll come back,” Kelly said. “But I will come back. There is a part of me in Moose Jaw and I think I will always feel a little Saskatchewan, a little green, in my heart.”

Kelly says the event wouldn’t have been a success without the help of the volunteers.

When they made the call out for volunteers, Kelly said it didn’t take long for the people of Moose Jaw to step up to the plate.

“I think a lot of it is because of Moose Jaw and our volunteers and the building,” she said.

“The building has been amazing and just everybody that’s come together to make it happen just knows what they are doing and they are doing a great job.”

She added that some of the volunteers are putting in five or six hours each day.

The Scotties wrapped up on Sunday with Manitoba skip Kerri Einarson winning her first tournament title, as Manitoba defeated Ontario 8-7 in an extra end. 

The tournament was expected to bring between six to ten million dollars into the local economy. We'll have more financial details as to how much money was spent in Moose Jaw over the 10-day event as its released.