Brooke Henderson honoured with Ottawa’s Key to the City

OTTAWA – Mayor Jim Watson presented the Key to the City to Brooke Henderson at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club today (June 28).

“The honour recognizes her accomplishments as a golfer and three-time Canadian Press athlete of the year, and for the impact she has had on Ottawa and its image on the national and international stage,” city staff released in a statement.

Henderson’s home community is located just west of Ottawa near Franktown, ON.

The key to the city was presented at the Ottawa Hunt and Golf Club where details of the Ottawa stop on the LPGA tour were provided. The CP Women’s Open will be played at the club from Aug. 22 to 28 and is the only Canadian stop on the tour. The stop will provide fans a chance to watch Henderson compete on home soil.

Henderson was born in Smiths Falls in 1997. She learned to play golf from other family members at an early age and quickly started amassing tournament victories, including three events on the CN Canadian Women’s Tour. She was named the top-ranked female amateur golfer in the world.

In December 2014 at the age of 17 she became a professional golfer on the LPGA Tour. She won her first major in Seattle, Washington as an 18-year-old, making her the youngest ever winner of the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship. She also won the Canadian Women’s Open in 2018 at the Wascana Country Club in Regina, becoming the first Canadian in 45 years to win on home soil.

She also serves as a role model, especially to other young, female golfers, motivating them to take up the sport. Her impact is expected to result in growth of golf at the grassroots level for years to come.

“Brooke Henderson is a remarkable golfer and an inspirational young woman,” Mayor Jim Watson said at the event. Whether you’re a golfer or not, people from Ottawa, Canada, and around the world marvel at her accomplishments. She is an ambassador for the game and for healthy living. It is my honour to present Brooke Henderson with the Key to the City on her one and only Canadian stop on the LPGA Tour.”

Henderson used to regularly donate her time in Dunrobin appearing and giving a demonstration of her skills at the Eagle Creek Golf Club as part of Ottawa instructor Kevin Haime’s Kids to the Course fundraiser.

The Key to the City is Ottawa’s most prestigious award.

The Key to the City was first presented in 1902 by His Worship Fred Cook to Lady Minto.

Previous Key to the City recipients include author Margaret Atwood, photographer Yousuf Karsh, the Community Foundation of Ottawa, actress Sandra Oh and retired hockey player Daniel Alfredsson.