Some of Canada’s top female curlers have gathered in Mississauga for the 2026 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the prestigious Canadian national women’s curling championship. This marks the first time the event is hosted in the Greater Toronto Area, taking place at the Paramount Fine Foods Centre with the opening draw held on Friday.
Competing for the national title are elite teams representing various provinces and territories. Danielle Inglis, a Curling Canada ambassador, expressed her excitement at participating in the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, emphasizing the honor of competing against Canada’s top teams on the ice.
Introduced to the sport by her parents at the age of seven, Inglis shared her deep-rooted passion for curling, highlighting the sport’s inclusive and supportive community that welcomes individuals of all ages and backgrounds. She praised the GTA’s vibrant curling community, noting the bustling memberships and rich programming offered by local rinks.
Notably absent from this year’s championship is five-time champion Rachel Homan, who is focusing on preparations for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Winter Games in Italy, missing out on the opportunity for a three-peat victory.
The tournament features 18 competing teams divided into two groups for round-robin games, with the top three teams from each pool advancing to the playoffs. The victorious team at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts will go on to represent Canada at the world women’s curling championship in Calgary from March 14-22.
