At the Women in Curling Summits, connection is as powerful as competition

Linda Bolton stood at the arrival gate of Kelowna International Airport, scanning every new face that emerged from the sliding doors. Her friend and curling colleague nudged her and whispered, “You have to breathe.” Bolton laughed. She knew she was craning her neck like a fan, but she couldn’t help it.

Then she saw her. Reigning world curling champion Rachel Homan had just touched down in the Okanagan, specifically to attend something Bolton had been working hard toward for months: the British Columbia Women in Curling Summit, which took place in Kamloops this September.

“When I picked up Rachel from the airport and I saw her walking toward us, that was the time when I knew the hard work was going to be worth it,” Bolton said. “I was thinking: We’re actually having Rachel Homan at our club. What a treat that will be for all the people.”

The two-hour drive back to Kamloops was filled with conversation about family, curling preparation, and what it means to balance both. “She talked a lot about her family and how devoted they are to backing her,” Bolton said. “It was really cool.”

Bolton had spent months preparing for the Women in Curling Summit in Kamloops — part of Curling Canada’s national initiative to advance women’s leadership and participation in the sport. They chose each speaker carefully: Olympic official Diane Barker, mountain bike coach Catharine Pendrel, Kamloops-based Team Corryn Brown (which will compete at the upcoming 2025 Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials), and finally, their keynote guest, Homan, one of the most decorated skips in Canadian curling.

“We wanted to be more than just workshops,” Bolton said. “We really put a lot of thought into what people would like to hear.”

By the time Homan stepped onto the ice, more than 50 women — from lifelong competitors to recreational curlers — had filled the Kamloops Curling Club. The day’s theme, Ignite Your Potential, reflected both the upcoming Olympic Games and the Summit’s purpose: sparking connection, confidence and opportunity.

“It was powerful,” Bolton said. “We had a lot of emails after the event and a lot of them said they were just wowed. They were wowed to be in the presence of Rachel. They loved the speakers. At the end of the day, everybody walked away with a big smile.”

One of those attendees was Sharon Cormier, who travelled from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, to take part.

“It was a really great day of curling and camaraderie,” Cormier said. “Each one of the women who spoke had a separate experience being a woman in sport, from the Olympics to recreational curlers.”

Cormier, who has curled competitively most of her life, said the diversity of voices made the day especially meaningful.

It’s exactly what the Women in Curling executive envisioned when planning the Summits.

“When you get a bunch of women together in one room, who all love curling and want to learn from and support each other, people are going to walk away feeling positive,” said Beth Iskiw, a Scotties Tournament of Hearts champion and world bronze meadllist who serves on the Women in Curling Executive, which leads personal and professional development initiatives. 

Another Women in Curling Summit was held in Nova Scotia this October, drawing its own regional mix of speakers, players, and coaches.

“It was so good, basically the feedback was just questions about when we can do one again,” said Jill Brothers, who played a key role in helping it come together and also curls on Team Christina Black, which will compete at the 2025 Montana’s Canadian Trials. “This is inclusive for all women in curling and it was phenomenal. From the food, to the sessions, to the hoodies – everyone had a great time,” she said.

The local organizing committee has set up ongoing networking groups as part of the next phase of connecting women in the area. 

Thunder Bay, Ont., is also hosting a Summit planned for Feb. 22, 2026, that will continue the work of prior Women in Curling activities aligned with the 2025 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, which was hosted in the city. Plus, this year in Mississauga, the upcoming Summit, aligned with the 2026 Scotties, is planned to inspire the local curling community and help more women find their place in our sport, on or off the ice.

For Bolton, who has attended several Summits across the country, the experience underscored how events like these can shift perspectives — not just for elite athletes but also for recreational players and volunteers.

“It gave us an opportunity to look at curling not only as exercise and social, but as something that can help women mentally gain personal growth,” she said. “Whether you’re a volunteer, a coach, an official, a recreational player, or a competitor — all these pieces are important.”

To learn more about Women in Curling and Curling Canada’s gender equity priorities, visit: https://www.curling.ca/about-us/gender-equity/women-girls-in-sport/