PEI Curling Hall of Fame Inducts Four Members on Oct. 19, 2009
A large crowd was on hand for the third annual PEI Curling Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which took place Monday night at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside. Co-hosts Paul H. Schurman and JoAnne Holden introduced the Chair of the Hall, Jerry Muzika, who welcomed everyone to the event. Following this, greetings were given by David Morgan, Director of Community Service for the City of Summerside, Janice Sherry, MLA for Summerside-Wilmot, Ralph Yeo, president of the Silver Fox, and PEI Curling Association president Shirley Lank.
Following this, each of the four inductees were introduced, and a member of the Hall of Fame Board presented them with a plaque, and unveiled a portrait of the inductee, by artist Wayne Wright. The inductee or their representative then had a chance to say their thanks.
Photo (L-R): Betty Hunter, Art Burke
The first inductee was Wanda Hunter of Summerside (posthumously), with Wanda MacLean presenting to Wanda’s daughter, Betty Hunter.
Art Burke of Charlottetown was inducted by Board member Barb Currie.
Photo (L-R): Sharon Renner Knox, Joan Saunders
The third inductee, Sharon Renner Knox, was inducted by Board member Bev Millar.
The final inductee, G. Allison (Joe) Saunders (posthumously), was inducted by Board member Marilyn Sutherland, and was represented by his wife Joan, and his son, Allison Jr.
Click to view a photo album from the event.
Inductee Biographies
Art started curling in 1949, when he was ten years old. Many days, he could be found at the Charlottetown Curling Club, along with George Dillon, throwing rocks from after school until supper time.
His practising paid off. In 1957, he won the School Boys PEI Curling Championship along with third Arnold Llewellyn, second Allison Saunders, and lead Harris Dingwell.
In 1958, he again won the School Boys PEI Curling Championship with third Allison Saunders, second Doug Bell, and lead Alan Smith. They finished in the runner-up position to Northern Ontario at the national event which was held in Charlottetown that year.
With the exception of 1965, 1967, and 1968, Art appeared in every provincial men’s curling championship final game between 1959 and 1970, winning 5 titles, and being runner up 4 times.
In 1959, Art won the PEI Men’s Curling Championship, playing lead for Cliff MacDonald’s team, and in 1960 and 1961 his team was runner-up.
In 1962, he skipped his team to the PEI Men’s Curling Championship, with third Alan Smith, second Bob Dillon and lead Wayne Rhodenizer, and in 1963, his team finished in the runner-up position.
In 1964, the team was back again, this time as a winner of the PEI Men’s Curling Championship, with Art skipping, along with third Alan Smith, second Bob Dillon, and lead Stu Lavers. The Canadian Men’s Championship was held in Charlottetown that year.
In 1966, Art won the PEI Men’s Curling Championship, skipping the team of third Arnold Llewellyn, second Ralph Manning, and lead W. Temple Hooper.
In 1969, his team was runner-up.
Back again in 1970, he again won the championship, skipping the team of third George Dillon, second Joe Saunders, and lead Lorne Burke, Art’s brother.
His last provincial championship was in 1992, when he won the PEI Senior Legion Championship, curling second for Lorne Burke.
A stellar curling career spanning 35 years, with two provincial School Boys titles, five PEI men’s championships, and a PEI Senior Legion championship.
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Annie Wanda Hunter (posthumously)
Wanda joined the Summerside Curling Club in 1956, beginning a 40 year career as a dedicated curler and supporter of the game.
Wanda curled for many years in the provincial ladies curling play downs. She was runner up in the PEI Ladies Curling Championship in 1970, and in 1976, her team won the PEI “Gaudet’s Save Easy” Championship.
She won the ladies club championship on five occasions: 1971, 1977, 1988, 1989, and 1991. Wanda was on the winning mixed team that won the Maritime Championship in 1960.
Her administrative service to the club started in 1959, when she served as President of the Summerside Curling Club. She was again President in 1961/62, and 1966/67.
She acted as club secretary in 1965/66, club publicity chair in 1976/77, and club games chairman in 1969/70, 1971/72, 1974/75, and 1983/84.
She chaired many club fund raisers including the Silver Fox Fur & Fashion Show, Harvest Moon Ball, Funny Hat Bonspiel, as well as the ladies monthly draws.
In 1979/81, Wanda served on the building committee for the new Silver Fox Complex. She was President of the Silver Fox Curling Club five times: 1981/82, 82/83, 83/84, 89/90, and 1991/92.
She was a club delegate to the PEI Ladies Curling Association for a number of years. Wanda served as Provincial Games Chairman in 1960/61, 1968/89, and 1977/78. She was President of PEI Ladies Curling Association in 1972/73 and again in 1976/77.
Wanda’s dedication and support to curling shines through, in her administrative work not only at the club and provincial level, but also at the national level.
In 1984, she was an official at the Scott Tournament of Hearts Canadian Ladies Championship which was held in Charlottetown. Wanda co-chaired the Canadian Mixed Championship in 1987 at the Silver Fox in Summerside.
Wanda served on many committees, including media and scoring for the 1991 Canada Winter Games, and media and officiating committees for three national championships: Postal, Legion and Firefighters, at the Silver Fox.
In 1970/1971, she coached junior curlers.
In 1987, she and her husband Bert sponsored the ladies and mens “ Draw to the Button “ competition that ran for 20 years. Beginning in 1982, she sponsored the Lady Fox Curling Bonspiel for more than a decade.
She has been recognized with the Scott Appreciation Award for dedicated and outstanding service to ladies curling on PEI in 1992, and the ADL Sport Award in 1993, for contributing to the growth and development of women’s curling for 37 years.
Wanda Hunter was a tireless worker for the game of curling on PEI.
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Sharon Renner Knox
Sharon’s involvement in curling as an administrator, instructor, coach, and official began in the early seventies when she served on several golf and curling committees at the Belvedere Golf and Winter Club. Her involvement continued as she assumed the role of president of the Belvedere ladies curling branch in 1976/77.
She took Curl Canada instructor/training courses to coach and instruct curlers. She conducted classes for beginners at Belvedere each year to encourage anyone new at the sport. She also spent several years helping the junior program at this club. Sharon became a level 2 coach/instructor and earned the technical portion of the curling level 3 coaching program. She officiated at several Canadian Curling Championships.
She represented her club at the Provincial Ladies Curling Association for several years and was 2nd vice president in 1976 and 1st vice 1977. She was President of the PEI Ladies Curling Association in 1979/80.
Sharon became a delegate to Canadian Ladies Curling Association for two years and was elected to 2nd vice president of the Canadian Ladies Curling Association in 1982, and 1st vice president in 1983. She was involved in the first negotiations for obtaining the sponsorship for women’s curling by the Scott Paper Company. It is interesting to note that Scott, now known as Kruger Products, still sponsors women’s curling to this day. She served as president of the Canadian Ladies Curling Association in 1983/84.
Sharon earned the Sport PEI annual award for Administrator of the Year for 1984, and in 1986, she was elected to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame, as a builder, for her outstanding contribution to the game of curling.
Sharon was elected to the board of directors of the Belvedere Golf and Winter Club and became their president four years later, in 1988/90. She was the first woman to hold that position.
She assisted in the formation of the PEI 55+ Games Association and was elected as founding President in 1997/98. She served as secretary of the Canadian Senior Games Association in 1998/99, and president of the Canadian Senior Games Association in 2000-2002.
Sharon obtained her level 1 coaching for lawn bowling and ran the Junior program for three years with the Sherwood Lawn Bowling Club. She was the ladies single PEI Lawn Bowling Champion in 2000, 2001, and 2002, and competed in three National Lawn Bowling Championships.
Sharon was president of the Prince Edward Island Lawn Bowling Association in 2004.
In 2002, she was awarded Sport PEI President’s Award for her contribution to sport on PEI.
Sharon served as a member of the board of the PEI Sports Hall of Fame in 2002.
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G. Allison (Joe) Saunders (posthumously)
Joe threw his first rock in 1954 at the Charlottetown Curling Club, playing with Doug Cameron in the Confederation Bonspiel, a popular spring wind-up event at the CCC.
He went on to a curling career spanning 37 years, competing in eight national competitions.
In 1957, he played second, winning the School Boys PEI Championship with Art Burke as skip, Arnold Llewellyn third, and Harris Dingwell lead.
In 1958, he played third with Art Burke as they won the School Boys PEI Championship with Doug Bell at second, and Alan Smith as lead. They finished in the runner-up position to Northern Ontario at the national competition, which was held in Charlottetown that year.
In 1960, as second, he won the PEI men’s Championship with Doug Cameron skip, George Dillon, and Arnold Llewellyn.
In 1961, again, as second stone, he won the PEI men’s Championship with the same team. Joe was also voted to the second All Star Team at the national championship event.
In 1962, he was runner-up in the PEI men’s Championship with skip Doug Cameron.
Back again in 1963, he won the PEI men’s Championship with Doug Cameron skip, third George Dillon and Arnold Llewellyn, at lead position.
In 1969, as second, he was runner up in the PEI men’s Championship with Art Burke as skip.
He was also involved as a coach, coaching the 1969 junior team skipped by Robert Stewart when they won the PEI Juniors men’s Championship and went on to play in the Canadian Championship in North Battleford Saskatchewan.
In 1970, he won the PEI Men’s Championship with Art Burke skip, George Dillon third, and Lorne Burke lead.
In 1980, he won the PEI Legion Championship playing second with Hugh Montague skip, Lorne Burke third, and Albert Mosher lead.
His last Canadian Championship was in 1990, when he won the PEI Seniors Championship with Boyd White skip, third Jerry Muzika, and lead Don Rogers.