Orléans native and Cairine Wilson Secondary School graduate Rachel Homan is a two-time world champion after winning the 2024 World Curling Championships in Sydney, Nova Scotia today.
Homan and her teammates, Sara Wiles, Emma Miskew and Tracy Fleury, knocked off four-time defending champion Silvana Tirinzoni from Switzerland 7-5 in front of a highly partisan crowd on Sunday afternoon.
Homan made it to the gold medal game thanks to a hard fought 9-7 win over Korea in the semi-finals, while Switzerland beat Italy 6-3 in the other semi-final
In Sunday's final, the Swiss team came out firing on all cylinders while Canada showed some early end jitters and by the end of the fourth end the Swiss had a 4-2 lead.
Things began to turnaround for Team Homan in the fifth ed when Swiss third Alina Paetz was heavy on back-to-back throws playing fourth stone, allowing Canada to score two points and tie the game.
After Switzerland blanked the next two ends, the Homan rink forced them to score a single in the eighth to set up an exiting ninth end. Trailing 4-5, Homan was hoping to score at least two points to take a 6-5 lead into the 10th end. If they could then hold Switzerland to a single point in the 10th, they would have the opportunity to score one in the extra end with last rock.
On her final shot in the ninth end Homan had a choice to either draw to the eight foot fior two points, or try a much more difficult shot and split off one off her own rocks just outside the rings on lefthand side of the house to score three. What followed was a sensational finesse shot that will replayed for years and allowed Homan to score three and take a two point lead into the 10th and final end.
When Paetz came up short trying to draw into the house against five Team Canada rocks the game was over and Team Homan were world champions.
The win ended Canada's six-year Women's World Championship title drought. The last Canadian skip to win the world title was Jennifer Jones in 2018. This is Homan's second world title. She won her first crown in Beijing in 2017.
2023-2024 has been a dream season for Team Homan. With Sunday's win the foursome has record of 62-6, with two Grand Slam of Curling titles, the Scottie's Tournament of Hearts championship in which they went a perfect 11-0, and now the World Championship.
TAPROOM 260 presents Terrence O'Brien live from 8 p.m. No cover charge. Located in the Orléans Town Centre on Centrum Blvd.
TAPROOM 260 presents The Allez Cats live from 8 p.m. No cover charge. Located in the Orléans Town Centre on Centrum Blvd.
4TH ANNUAL CHILI CHALLENGE from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stray Dog Brewing Company, 501 Lacolle Way in the Taylor Creek Business Park. Come taste the results when local restaurants go head-to-head to see who can make the best chili in Orléans.
OYSTER NIGHT from 6-9pm at the Orléans Brewing Co., 4380 Innes Rd. $2.50 / shuck. Unlimited goodness like lemon, horseradish and hot sauce! Shucking goes until 9 p.m. or when out of stock.
TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION hosted by the Heart of Orléans BIA from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Orléans Festival Plaza on Centrum Blvd. Be part of the countdown as our local leaders light up the giant tree at 6:15 p.m. Don’t forget to bring your family and friends for a night full of joy! Hot chocolate and coffee from Café Amore will warm your heart, along with sweet treats from Sugar Sugar Ottawa. 
THE OTTAWA SCHOOL OF THEATRE presents “The Island of Lost Memories: A Christmas (Mystery) Heist” in the Richcraft Theatre at the Shenkman Arts Centre. Showtimes: Thursday and Friday at 6:30 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for individuals 25 and under. Family package (2 adults and children) $50. Tickets can be purchased at 
SANTA’S PARADE OF LIGHTS beginning at 6 p.m. at the corner of St. Joseph Blvd. and Youville Dr. The parade will follow it’s traditional route down St. Joseph Blvd. to the Orléans Town Centre.
