The PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum held its 15th induction ceremony on November 3rd, 2023 at the Cornwall Civic Centre, upstairs from the Cornwall Curling Club, with inductees the Suzanne Gaudet junior team, who won the 2001 World Junior Women’s Curling Championship, along with Curler/Builder Arleen Harris, and curlers Sean Ledgerwood and Janice MacCallum.
Click below to listen to an audio recording of the proceedings.
2001 World Junior Champions behind portraits from artist Wayne Wright: (L-R) skip Suzanne Gaudet (now Birt), third Stefanie Richard (now Clark), second Robyn MacPhee, lead Kelly Higgins (now Steele), coach Paul Power. Alternate Carol Webb (now Whitaker) was unable to attend due to a curling commitment.
Inductees Suzanne (Gaudet) Birt and Paul Power
Inductee Arleen Harris
Board member Al Ledgerwood (left) and inductee Sean Ledgerwood
Janice MacCallum was unable to attend due to a family matter, so Al Ledgerwood spoke and Shelley Muzika accepted on her behalf.
Al Ledgerwood and Shelley Muzika with certificate for Janice MacCallum
Master of Ceremonies was Paul H. Schurman, with dignitaries present including Judy Herlihy from the Town of Cornwall, Curl PEI Secretary Travis Jones, and Cornwall Curling Club President Kim Nickerson.
Kim Nickerson
Judy Herlihy, with Paul H. Schurman in the background
This year’s ceremony is sponsored by Peter and Karen MacDonald, along with Peake & McInnis Ltd. Insurance Brokers, Beaton’s Wholesale Dry Goods Ltd., Phillips Agri Services, the Town of Cornwall, and Consolidated Credit Union Ltd., Summerside.
Here is a gallery of photos from the event. Click on an image to enlarge, and use arrows (or swipe on a touchscreen) to go ahead/back.:
Inductee Bios:
2001 Suzanne Gaudet rink (Curler category)
L-R (back row): Suzanne Gaudet (now Birt), Robyn MacPhee, Paul Power, Kelly Higgins (now Steele), Stefanie Richard (now Clark).
Front row: Carol Webb (now Whitaker) — Alternate
Suzanne Gaudet, along with Stefanie Richard, began curling with the Krista Cameron rink, winning silver at the Canada Winter Games in 1995. In 1998, Suzanne moved up to skip her own team, with Stefanie at third, Stephanie Pickett at second, and Kelly Higgins at lead. At an average age of fourteen and a half, they swept the provincial junior championships, and, despite being the youngest team at the Canadian juniors in Calgary, they won the bronze medal with a 9-4 record.
The following year, with the same team, they went to the national event held in Kelowna, BC, finishing with a 6-6 record.
In 2000, Robyn MacPhee joined the team, playing second stone, replacing Stephanie Pickett. They won their third Provincial title, and played in the Canadian Junior Women’s Championship held in Moncton. Their record was 10-3, finishing in second position, losing to Saskatchewan’s Stefanie Miller (now Lawton).
In 2001, winning their fourth Provincial title, they won the Canadian Junior Women’s Curling Championship held in St. Catharines Ontario. In a reversal of the previous year, they defeated Saskatchewan’s Miller 5-3 in the gold medal game. Stefanie Richard, known for her flamboyant style and emotion on the ice, sported a fluorescent red hair style with a silver streak during the competition.
They went on to curl at the World Junior Women’s Curling Championship held in Ogden, Utah, picking up Carol Webb as their fifth team member. Carol, from New Brunswick, played third for Sylvie Robichaud’s Moncton team. The Canadian Curling Association provided an assistant coach, Mary Gellard, from Markham, Ont. Mary’s daughter Kim Gellard competed in a number of Canadian Junior and Women’s championships and the 1994 World Juniors, with Mary coaching several of them. Mary’s experience assisted coach Paul Power and the team as she was familiar with most of the teams competing. The team manager was Suzanne’s father, Noel Gaudet.
PEI’s team won gold at the world championship event in Ogden, finishing round robin play in first place, with a record of 7—2. They beat Japan 11—3 in the semifinal. They played Sweden in the final, going into an extra end. With Sweden having the last rock advantage, the Swedish skip had an open draw to anywhere in the rings, but she was heavy, and slid through the house, The final score was 6-4 for Canada over Sweden. Kelly Higgins was named to the all-star team, and Stefanie Richard won the sportsmanship award.
In 2002, Stefanie Richard became ineligible due to age, and was replaced by Carol Webb, who played at second stone, and Robyn moved up to play at the third position. The rink won a record fifth consecutive Provincial title, going undefeated at 5-0.
They went on to curl at the Canadian Junior Curling Championship, held in Summerside. This was the first time in Canadian history that a defending women’s champion was trying to retain the title at her host club.
They curled at the Cahill Stadium hockey venue, where there was more than 1,800 people in attendance for most games. The Summerside foursome finished second in round robin play with a 10-2 record. They beat Saskatchewan in the semifinal, at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club (not at Cahill), and advanced to their third consecutive appearance in the Canadian junior women’s championship final, playing Jennifer Guzzwell of Newfoundland at Cahill Stadium, before 2,200 fans in the final game. They beat Jennifer 6-4, when she missed her take out with her last rock. Suzanne Gaudet received the first all-star skip honours, and third stone Robyn MacPhee received all-star third. They picked up Newfoundland’s third stone, Shelley Nichols, as their fifth player. Suzanne’s team would go to Kelowna B.C. to play in the World Junior Women’s Championship. They lost to the USA team, who went on to win the gold medal, in the semi-final round. The PEI team took the bronze medal, with a win over Italy, ending their junior championship career with another podium finish.
PEI’s Suzanne Gaudet’s Junior Women’s team won five consecutive Prince Edward Island Junior Women’s curling titles, starting in 1998 and finishing in 2002. They won two Canadian Junior Women’s titles, a World Junior Women’s Curling Championship, and a World Junior bronze medal.
We recognize their achievements by inducting the Suzanne Gaudet Junior team consisting of Suzanne M. Birt (Gaudet), Stefanie Clark (Richard), Robyn MacPhee, Kelly Steele (Higgins), Coach Paul Power, and alternate Carol Whitaker (Webb) into the PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum in the curler category.
Recent photos:
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| Suzanne Birt (Gaudet) | Stefanie Clark (Richard) | Robyn MacPhee |
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| Kelly Steele (Higgins) | Coach Paul Power | Alternate Carol Whitaker (Webb) |
Arleen Harris (Curler and Builder categories)
Arleen Harris
Arleen started curling in 1964 at the Charlottetown Curling Club.
She won her first PEI championship in 1998, skipping her rink to victory in the PEI Senior Women’s Curling Championship. Playing third was Kaye MacFadyen, second was Joan Saulnier, and lead was Betty Matthews. They went on to curl in the Canadian Senior Women’s Curling Championship held in Sault Ste Marie Ont.
Her next championship win came in 2002 with Shirley Berry skipping, Sherren Morrison at third, Arleen at second, and Linda Fairhurst at lead, and representing the Cornwall Curling Club – the club’s first-ever adult provincial curling title.
In 2004, she won again with the same skip and lead, Arleen played third, with Karen McIntee at second.
In 2009, she won again with skip Shirley Berry, Arleen at third, second was Carol Sweetapple, and lead was Danielle Girard.
The team changed in 2010 to include Shirley Berry at skip, Sandy Hope at third, Shelley Ebbett at second, and Arleen at lead. This team won the senior women’s in 2010, 2012, and 2015. Arleen won her last senior women’s provincial title in 2018 with Shirley Berry skipping, Janice Murdoch at third, Arleen at second, and lead Kim Nicholson.
Arleen won eight PEI Women’s Master’s Curling Championships, playing second the first two years and at the lead position the last six years. In 2012 and 2014, Shirley Berry skipped the team, with Sandy Hope at third, Arleen at second, and lead was Evelyn Rogerson.
In 2015, the only change was Shelley Ebbett playing second and Arleen at lead position. In 2016, Sandy Hope skipped, Shelley Ebbett played third, Debbie Rhodenhizer was at second position, and Arleen was at lead. This same team won in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Arleen has worked as a volunteer in curling since the early 1980’s. She started her volunteer career with the CFB Summerside Curling Club as a Board of Directors member in 1982. She was a delegate to the PEI Curling Association, which led to her serving on the host committee of the 1984 Scott Tournament of Hearts, being responsible for pins and logos and products for sale.
Arleen started officiating in the mid-80s as a hog line official, working her first national event at the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship. This involved sitting at the hog line with a walkie talkie, and paired up with a partner on the opposite side of the sheet.
She achieved her officiating level 2 certification in 2002, and her level 3 in 2007. She is now fully certified to teach and conduct the level 1 and level 2 written exams. Arleen can also supervise those successful officials in their practical component.
She brings extensive experience and knowledge to all events in terms of officiating, including hog line official, on-ice observer, head official, umpire, and timer. She has officiated at many Canadian curling championships events held on the Island.
Arleen was an on-ice official at the Canada Games Mixed Doubles, which she notes was a completely different experience, with 3 officials for each draw for each sheet and tasked with three draws a day – a new experience but one she thoroughly enjoyed.
Championships that she has officiated at on PEI include the Canadian Juniors, Seniors, Mixed and Women’s events, plus many Island curling events as well.
Arleen has served on the Board of Directors of three curling clubs — CFB Summerside, the Charlottetown Curling Club and the Cornwall Curling Club. She was treasurer at the Cornwall Club and has served as a delegate to the PEI Curling Association for all three clubs.
Arleen served on the Board of Directors of the PEI Curling Association. She was a delegate from the Charlottetown Curling Club in 1990, and continued until 1992, when she was elected 3rd vice president of the PEI Curling Association. Arleen went on to serve as 2nd vice, 1st vice then president followed by completing her term on the board as past president in 1997.
Arleen served on the Board of Directors of the PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum for six years and served as recording secretary for six years.
Arleen has had a stellar career as a curler with eight Provincial Senior Women’s Curling Championships, eight Provincial Women’s Masters Championships, and also had a dedicated and wide-spanning officiating and volunteering career since the early 1980’s. Arleen was be inducted as a curler/builder into the PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum.
Sean Ledgerwood (Curler category)
Sean Ledgerwood
Sean started curling at the Belvedere Golf and Winter Club in 1981. After coming runner-up in 3 consecutive provincial junior championships from 1986 to 1988, he won the 1989 title, skipping a team of Paul Power, Ian Power and Dean MacDonald. The team was coached at the national event by the late Kenneth MacDonald.
During those junior years, in 1987 he won the Canada Games Curling Championship for PEI, with skip Mike Callaghan, third Andrew Robinson, Sean at second and Morley Foy at lead. The late Gary Cudmore coached the team at the national event.
In 2004, Sean won his first Prince Edward Island Men’s Curling Championship, playing lead with skip Mike Gaudet, third Evan Sullivan, and second Craig Arsenault.
After taking several years off to spend time with a young family, he came back to curling and won the PEI Men’s Curling Championship in 2013, playing lead for the team of skip Eddie MacKenzie, third Anson Carmody, and second Alex MacFadyen.
Sean repeated as the PEI Men’s Curling Champion in 2014 with a similar team of skip Eddie MacKenzie, third Anson Carmody, second Tyler MacKenzie, with Sean at lead.
Switching to third stone, Sean was back in the winners’ circle again in 2017, winning the PEI Men’s Curling Championship, this time with skip Eddie MacKenzie, second Matthew Nabuurs and lead Robbie Doherty.
Another repeat PEI Men’s Curling Championship occurred in 2018 with skip Eddie MacKenzie, third Josh Barry, second Christopher Gallant and Sean at lead.
Sean won his first PEI Senior Men’s Curling Championship in 2020 with skip Phil Gorveatt, third Kevin Champion, Sean at second and lead Mike Dillon.
In 2021 Sean won two provincial championships — his sixth PEI Men’s and his second PEI Senior Men’s title. The men’s team consisted of skip Eddie MacKenzie, third Tyler Smith, Sean at second and lead Ryan Lowery.
The senior men’s team, which again included skip Phil Gorveatt, third Kevin Champion, Sean at second and lead Mike Dillon, also won in 2022 and 2023, making four Senior titles for the team.
Sean was also the Team PEI coach at the Tim Horton’s Brier in 2023 with the team consisting of skip Tyler Smith, third Adam Cocks, second Alex MacFadyen and lead Edward White.
Sean’s curling career has spanned 42 years, and has resulted in one PEI Canada Games, one PEI Junior title, six PEI Men’s championships (five of them with skip Eddie MacKenzie), and four PEI Senior Men’s championships (all with the same team, skipped by Phil Gorveatt).
Sean was inducted into the PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum as a curler.
Janice MacCallum (Curler category)
Janice MacCallum
In 1977, at the age of 11, Janice MacCallum started curling at the Charlottetown Curling Club, in the Queen Charlotte after-school curling program under the tutelage of coach Marilyn Sutherland. This was the start of a curling career that spanned over 30 years.
Janice made her first national appearance representing PEI at the Canada Winter Games in 1983 in Saguenay-Lac St. Jean, Quebec, playing third for Heather Madar; other teammates were Shelley Muzika and Karolyn Godfrey. The coach was Marilyn Sutherland.
In 1984, after a few runner-up finishes, Janice was successful in winning the provincial junior championship, and represented PEI at the Canadian Juniors in Fort St. John, BC, skipping her own team of Shelley Muzika, Karolyn Godfrey and Anne Partridge. The coach was Dr. Bob Johnston.
Stepping away from curling for a few years to focus on her university studies, Janice returned to PEI and to curling in 1989. In 1990, Janice represented PEI at her first of six Canadian Scott Tournament of Hearts appearances in Ottawa, playing lead for skip Kim Dolan, with Karen Jones at third and Shelley Muzika playing second.
Brandon, Manitoba in 1993 was the next Canadian Scott Tournament of Hearts event for Janice, representing PEI along with skip Angela Roberts, third Sara Gatchell, and Nancy Reid (Cameron) at lead. Their coach was Bill Gatchell.
In 1994, in Kitchener-Waterloo Ont., Janice had her most successful record to-date at her third national Scott appearance, playing second stone for skip Shelly Danks (Bradley), along with third Nancy Reid, and lead Shelley Muzika. Team PEI was at the top of the standings much of the week and finished the round robin with a 7 and 4 win-loss record, making it to the playoff tiebreaker round before losing to Newfoundland. Joan Butcher was the fifth player/coach.
In 2000, the national Scott was held in Prince George BC. This would be Janice’s fourth national Scott playing for Team PEI. She played third for skip Shelly Bradley, with Leslie Allan (now MacDougall) at second and Tricia MacGregor at lead, with coach Pat Reid.
That same team line up defended their provincial women’s title in 2001 and represented PEI at the Scott in Sudbury, Ontario. Much like 1994, Team PEI was again at the top of the standings all week and made it to the playoff tiebreaker round before losing to Ontario. Pat Reid was again the team’s coach.
The Canadian Mixed was held in Charlottetown in 1996, where Janice played third for Team PEI’s Blair Weeks, with Doug Weeks playing second and Shelley Muzika at lead.
Janice’s second trip to the Canadian Mixed Championships came in 2004, where she played third for skip John Likely. Other PEI team members at the event held in Timmins, Ontario were Mark Butler at second and Nancy Cameron at lead.
2004 was a busy curling year for Janice as she also represented PEI at her sixth Scott appearance this time in Red Deer, Alberta, playing second for skip Suzanne Gaudet. Third was Susan McInnis, with lead Tricia MacGregor and coach Paul Power.
Provincial runner-up finishes in both junior and women’s play are also part of Janice’s curling career, including:
1986 — runner-up in women’s provincial playdowns, playing second for skip Nancy Reid, third Joan Butcher and lead Shelley Muzika.
1995 — runner up in women’s provincial playdowns, playing second for skip Kim Dolan, third Nancy Reid and lead Shelley Muzika.
Janice’s impressive curling career has spanned over thirty years and has seen her win one provincial Canada Games, one provincial junior women’s, two provincial mixed and six provincial women’s championship titles.
Janice was inducted into the PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum as a curler.
