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.
OHH CANADA KIDS FESTIVAL JEUNNESE ORLÉANS from 11 am to 5 pm at Millennium Park on Trim Road. Obstacle Course, Face Painting, Scavenger Hunt, Bike Rally and lots of other surprises! Canada Day Birthday Cake at 1 pm Food trucks and BBQ.
ORLEANS FARMERS MARKET from 11 am to 4 pm in the parking lot at the Ray Friel Recreation Centre on Tenth Line Road. Shop the freshest seasonal produce, meat and dairy, baked goods, prepared foods, crafts and more while getting to know the folks who grew and made it.
TAPROOM 260 presents the Jamie Douglas live from 8-11 pm. Located on Centrum Blvd. in the Orléans Town Centre. For more information visit 
CUMBERLAND FARMERS MARKET from 9 am to 1 pm at the Cumberland Arena, 1115 Dunning Rd. in Cumberland Village. Farmers, bakers, artists, crafters, gardeners, chefs and friends. For more information 
