Today, Mayor Mark Sutcliffe presented the Key to the City to Team Homan in recognition of their tremendous success in Canadian, world and Olympic championships in curling.
Team Homan, based out of the Ottawa Curling Club, has had an impressive career. They represented Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics and achieved a spectacular 67-7 record in the 2023-24 season, capped off with a gold medal at the World Women’s Curling Championship. Led by Rachel Homan and Emma Miskew, the team boasts an extensive array of titles and accolades including four Scotties Tournament of Hearts championships and one more gold medal at the Worlds in 2017.
The current edition of the team includes Sarah Wilkes, the 2019 Scotties champion and three-time Grand Slam title holder, and Tracy Fleury, a top-ranked Canadian skip who joined in 2022-23. Together, Team Homan achieved more Grand Slam titles, historic victories and the number one worldwide ranking.
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“Congratulations to Team Homan! Your outstanding achievements have brought pride and joy to Ottawa. Thank you for putting Ottawa and Canada at the very top of the world of curling. Ottawa celebrates your success and looks forward to many more victories!”
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe
Key facts
- The Key to the City is Ottawa’s highest and most prestigious award.
- The Key to the City was first presented in 1902 by His Worship Fred Cook to Lady Minto.
- Previous Key to the City recipients include Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Patrick Chan, Dr. Vera Etches and Ottawa Public Health, actress Sandra Oh and retired hockey player Daniel Alfredsson.
- The Key to the City was last awarded to James Duthie.
Biography
Team Homan, hailing from the Ottawa Curling Club, proudly represented Team Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games after triumphing in their hometown’s 2017 Roar of the Rings. Their 2023-24 season was spectacular, boasting a 67-7 record and seven wins in 10 events, including a 24-1 record at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts and Worlds, earning Canada's first world title since 2018.
Rachel Homan and Emma Miskew, having curled together for over 20 years, are two-time World Women’s Curling Champions (2024, 2017) and four-time Scotties Tournament of Hearts women’s champions (2024, 2017, 2014, 2013). In 2022, Rachel represented Team Canada in Mixed Doubles Curling at the Olympics, while Emma skipped at the Scotties. Emma has 11 Scotties appearances; Rachel has 10 (as a two-time Olympian). They have also won a silver (2014) and a bronze (2013) at the Worlds.
As Team Homan, Rachel and Emma have clinched a record 15 Grand Slam titles and were the first women's team to win a historic game in a men's Grand Slam event. They have a dominant record with seven Ontario championships and international medals for Canada from the 2010 World Juniors (silver) and 2007 Canada Winter Games (gold).
Sarah Wilkes, the 2019 Scotties champion and three-time Grand Slam title holder, joined the team in 2020-21. Tracy Fleury joined in 2022-23 as the number one Canadian Ranked (CTRS) skip during the previous season, finishing second at the 2021 Roar of the Rings and with two Grand Slam of Curling titles at the time. Sarah has eight Scotties appearances, and Tracy has seven. As a new team, they have won 11 events, including the 2024 Worlds, 2024 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and four Grand Slam of Curling titles, while currently ranked number one worldwide (WCTR).
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