Taylor Reese-Hansen Leads B.C. Team to Scotties Championship Debut

An exciting milestone is on the horizon for British Columbia’s curling community, as skip Taylor Reese-Hansen prepares to make her debut at the Scotties Tournament of Hearts from January 23 to February 1, 2026, in Mississauga, Ontario. This achievement fulfills a long-held ambition for the 28-year-old athlete, who expressed a desire to compete at the Canadian women’s curling championship as early as her Grade 12 yearbook entry.

Reese-Hansen’s journey to this prestigious tournament culminated in a decisive 9-5 victory over Corryn Brown from Kamloops in the provincial final held last weekend. Alongside her teammates—third Megan McGillivray, second Kim Bonneau, and lead Julianna Mackenzie—Reese-Hansen has enjoyed a breakout season, propelling her team to third in the national rankings just behind top-ranked Rachel Homan and Kerri Einarson.

Reflecting on their recent successes, Reese-Hansen noted, “We were really fortunate to have a good season and have lots of opportunities to play in a few semis and finals this year. So we felt really comfortable going into that game.” Their impressive performance this season includes reaching six finals, winning a tier-two title at the Grand Slam of Curling’s HearingLife Canadian Open, and claiming a SaskTour bonspiel in Lloydminster.

As the Scotties Tournament approaches, the competition appears particularly fierce. The absence of Homan, a five-time Scotties champion preparing for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics, creates a more open playing field. The final lineup for the 18-team competition will be determined at the end of the week, with several provincial championships still in progress across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, Northern Ontario, and Nova Scotia.

Notable pre-qualified teams include Christina Black of Halifax, who defeated Einarson in the semifinals at the Montana’s Canadian Curling Trials, and Kayla Skrlik from Calgary. Einarson, who was set to defend her title, will instead represent Canada as Homan’s absence opens another berth for the highest-ranked non-qualified team.

The competition will also feature Kelsey Calvert (née Rocque), who will skip the Manitoba entry after a recent 9-7 win against Olympic champion Kaitlyn Lawes, marking her return to the Scotties. “They are not only top teams in the province, but top teams in the country,” commented Manitoba vice Beth Turnbull, who has previously participated in the tournament as a wild-card entry.

As excitement builds for the Scotties, the stakes are high, with the national champion earning the opportunity to represent Canada at the March 14-22 world championship in Calgary. Meanwhile, the Canadian men’s curling championship is set for February 27 – March 8 in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, where Brad Jacobs will return as the Canadian representative after winning last year in Kelowna, British Columbia.

This report was first published by The Canadian Press on January 7, 2026. As the tournament draws near, all eyes will be on Reese-Hansen and her team as they aim for victory and a chance to make their mark in the curling world.