When Ontario won the previous Brier, that team would be added to the field for the following season.

In 1999, when Ontario had not only won the previous Brier, but an Ontario team also won the 1997 Canadian Olympic Curling Trials, the field was expanded to 12 teams, giving them an automatic berth.

The format of the Tankard has differed each year from 2018 to 2023: Since 2024, the event has been a triple knockout followed by a four team page playoff.

From 1972 to 1981, the tournament was a strict round robin affair, with the team with the best record being crowned champion (a tiebreaker would be held if necessary).

Listed here for those years are the winners of the British Consols, the usual Brier qualifying event.