History
Hall of Fame and MuseumThe Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum was established in October 2007.
The main objectives of the Hall of Fame and Museum are "to recognize, honour and pay tribute to individuals or teams on the basis of playing ability, sportsmanship and character, who have achieved extraordinary distinction in the sport of curling, whether that distinction be as an amateur or a professional" and "to recognize, honour and pay tribute to those individuals who have given distinguished service and have made major contributions to the development of curling on PEI".
PEI Curling Hall of Fame Inducts Four Members on Oct. 18, 2010
The Fourth Annual PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum Induction Ceremony took place this evening at the Charlottetown Curling Club, with five new members inducted, four posthumously. Co-hosts for the evening were Paul H. Schurman and Joanne Holden. On hand to welcome the attendees and congratulate the inductees were Jerry Muzika, Chair of the Hall of Fame and Museum, Charlottetown Deputy Mayor Stu MacFadyen, District 10 MLA Robert Mitchell, Charlottetown Curling Club President Kay Atkinson, Ron Hutton, a Governor with the Canadian Curling Association, and Shirley Lank, President of the PEI Curling Association.
The four posthumous inductees were Frank “Duck” Acorn of Charlottetown, represented by his son, Eddie Acorn, Marion Dockendorff of Charlottetown, represented by her nephew, David Hume, the Honourable Gordon L, Bennett of Charlottetown, represented by his daughter, Diane Campbell, and Gen Enman of Summerside, represented by her daughter, Sheila Enman. The final inductee was Bill MacFadyen of Augustine Cove.
Photo (L-R): Bill MacFadyen, Sheila Enman, Diane Campbell, Jerry Muzika (Hall of Fame Chair), David Hume, Eddie Acorn.
The induction ceremony was dedicated to the memory of Barb Currie, a founding member of the PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum, who passed away in February.
Click for event program. Click for special insert dedicated to Barb Currie. (PDF)
Inductee Biographies:
BIOGRAPHIESEdgar Franklin “Duck” Acorn (curler/builder category)
The legacy of his leadership is evident in many areas of sport on Prince Edward Island – including his involvement in harness racing, and as an ardent hunter and conservationist. However, it was in the sport of curling that the late “Duck” Acorn best demonstrated both his playing ability and his organizational skills and it is these lifelong accomplishments for which the PEI Curling Hall of Fame recognizes and honours him.
He started curling in 1940 and quickly established himself as one of the leading skips in the province. He won the two-year, four-year and eight-year championships, and then proceeded to take the British Consols’ Trophy, which was the PEI Men’s Curling Championship, in 1947, 1951 and 1953.
In 1947, his team consisted of Andy Likely at third, John Squarebriggs at second, and Arn Howatt at lead.
In 1951, John Squarebriggs moved up to third, Bill MacNeill played second, and Mel Jenkins was the lead.
In 1953, a new team with Stewart Moore at third, Charles Kidd at second, and Jim Campbell at lead, took the trophy.
Throughout his curling career, his team was also runner-up on eight occasions: three at the Men’s level, four at the Senior Men’s level, and one at the Mixed level.
Duck became involved at the administrative level of curling, coincident with his competitive involvement. He was elected to the board of directors of the Charlottetown Curling Club in 1946 and became president in 1948. During his term as president, and after a lengthy battle, females were finally admitted to membership in the Charlottetown Curling Club for the first time.
In 1958, Duck joined Bob Schurman in live broadcasting of the Canadian Schoolboy Curling Championship for radio station CJRW, the first such play-by-play of this national competition.
He was chairman of the first Seagram’s Canadian Mixed Curling Championship held in Charlottetown in 1973, and publicity chairman for the Canadian Men’s Curling Championship (MacDonald Brier) held in Charlottetown in 1964.
In 1963, he was appointed to the executive of the PEI Curling Association representing the Charlottetown Curling Club for three years and in 1966 he represented Belvedere Golf and Winter Club on the Association’s executive. Duck was Prince Edward Island’s senior representative to the Canadian Curling Association for thirteen years, from 1970 to 1982.
He was an honourary life member of the Charlottetown Curling Club, as well as an honourary life member of the Belvedere Golf and Winter Club, and in 1981 he was nominated to the prestigious Governor General’s Curling Club, based in Ottawa.
Duck, in the manner characteristic of his ingenuity, created the 50 and Over Club in 1978. The objective was to promote senior sport and social activities, which included curling, golf and a monthly dance. The program went on to become one of Duck’s most successful endeavours, remaining highly popular for several decades.
He sponsored the PEI Senior Men’s Curling Championship through his business, Ed’s Taxi, for many years, and was instrumental in having the 50 and Over Club continue that sponsorship.
Duck loved to participate in sport and valued above all the friendships that it could forge, and his foresight made it possible for thousands of others to participate in and benefit from the sport as well.
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The Honourable Gordon Lockhart Bennett, O.C., LLD., D.C.L., M.Sc. (Builder Category)
The late Gordon Bennett was born in Charlottetown and attended Prince of Wales College in Charlottetown, where he obtained a B.Sc.Degree in 1937. He received his M.Sc. (Chemistry) Degree, from Acadia University in 1947 and he was awarded the degree of Doctor of Civil Laws (D.C.L.) from Acadia in 1976. He also received an honourary degree from the University of Prince Edward Island in 1980.
In a teaching career spanning 32 years, his first three years were in St Eleanor’s, followed by two years in Charlottetown schools. He was appointed in 1939 to the Faculty of Prince of Wales College, Department of Chemistry. In 1957, he assumed the additional duties of Registrar and Director of Studies, remaining at Prince of Wales until 1966.
Entering provincial politics in 1966, Gordon was elected as a representative for 5th Queens District, then re-elected in 1970, and 1974. He served in many capacities in the government of Premier Alex B. Campbell.
Gordon was a very active member of his community serving on various and diverse councils, associations and boards in the arts and charitable organizations. He was keenly interested in all sports, including hockey, rugby and curling.
In 1957 – 58, he served as Provincial Games Chairman of the PEI Curling Association. In 1959, he was elected secretary-treasurer of the Association, a position he held until 1965.
In 1961, he was selected as Chairman of the Host Committee of the MacDonald Brier Canadian Men’s Curling Championship, held in Charlottetown in 1964, the only time this national curling championship has been held on the Island. His handling of all matters in connection with the Brier led to it being termed as one of the most successful on record.
Gordon Bennett was elected and served as vice-president of the Dominion Curling Association in 1965/66, president in 1966/67, and past president in 1967/68. The Dominion Curling Association is now known as the Canadian Curling Association.
In 1966, he was elected an Honourary Life Member of the Ontario Curling Association.
He was made an Honourary Life Member of the Canadian Curling Association in 1968 and was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame as a builder in 1976.
Gordon was elected to the prestigious Governor General’s Curling Club in 1967. The main focus of the club is to promote and foster the growth of curling in Canada and elsewhere. It is also to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to the game, whether it be locally, provincially or nationally, not only as curlers, but also as builders and administrators of the game.
He served as the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island from October 24, 1974 to January 14, 1980.
Gordon was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada in 1983. At the end of an illustrious career in public service and volunteerism, he served as Chancellor of the University of Prince Edward Island from 1985 to 1992.
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Marion Dockendorff (Builder Category)
Marion started to curl in 1950 at the Charlottetown Curling Club. In just a few years, she was curling on a winning team at the provincial level, having won the PEI Ladies Championship in 1955 and 1957. However, her administrative career is where she truly stands tall.
At the club level, Marion was president of the Ladies Branch of the Charlottetown Curling Club on two occasions, in 1954 – 55, and 1963 – 64. She was Foreign Games Chair in 1968 – 69 and was a delegate to the provincial association many times during the years of her involvement.
Marion wasted no time in becoming involved in the provincial and later national associations. She was Secretary-Treasurer of the PEI Ladies Curling Association in 1956 – 57, and in 1960 – 61. In 1961 – 62, she was treasurer, and in 1963 – 65, she was Corresponding Secretary of the PEI Ladies Curling Association.
In 1965 – 66, she was publicity chairman for the PEI Ladies Curling Association and in 1966 – 67, Marion served as President of the Association.
She was an observer/delegate to the Canadian Ladies Curling Association from 1963 to 1967, and again, in 1970.
In 1970, at the annual meeting of the Canadian Ladies Curling Association, Marion was elected to the Board of Directors and served as Vice President of the Association in 1971 – 72, and President in 1972 – 73. That year, the Canadian Ladies Curling Championship was held in Charlottetown.
When Marion was president, she signed the contract with MacDonald Tobacco to sponsor the Women’s Curling Championship. The sponsorship lasted seven years and was the start of the red “hearts” that are still presented to the provincial winners to this day. While in her role as past president, she chaired the committee that resulted in creating a National Senior Women’s Championship.
She was presented in 1973 with an Honourary Life Membership in the Charlottetown Curling Club. She also received the Perfection Foods/Sport PEI Achievement Award in 1984 for her contribution as a builder and supporter of women’s curling over a 28 year period.
Marion was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1986, as a Builder.
In 1994, she was honoured by the Scott Paper Co. and the Canadian Curling Association with a memento for her longevity, having attended more than 30 Canadian Women’s Championships.
Marion was an avid curling fan and a long time supporter of the women’s teams that represented PEI each year at the national championships. She was also a strong supporter of the junior curling program, and she inspired and encouraged many curlers, young and old to take up the game. She had a hospitable manner that made her a winner everywhere.
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Genevieve (Gen) Helen Enman (Curler Category)
The late Gen Enman started curling in 1963 at the RCAF and CFB Curling Club in St. Eleanors. This remained her home club until 1980 when the Base curling club closed down. She then played at the Summerside Curling Club for one year before moving on to the new Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside .
Gen won numerous club championships at the CFB Club and at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club. She also shone as a competitor, winning eight senior women’s provincial curling championships between 1983 and 2000.
In 1983, she won her first Seniors, playing third on the Lou Picard team, with Marie Gaudet at second, and Kay MacDonald at lead. In 1984, the same team won again, with the exception of Madge Prowse playing lead.
They repeated their win in 1985 and again in 1987 with the same team.
In 1990, Gen again won the PEI Senior Women’s Curling Championship, skipping the team. Playing third was Marie Gaudet, with Wanda MacLean at second, and Marilyn Banks at lead.
Gen and her team of Wanda MacLean at third, Marilyn Banks, second, and Mabel Gardiner, lead, won the Senior Women’s in 1996.
In 1999, Gen played second for Marg Nowlan when they won the PEI Senior Women’s Curling Championship. Playing third was Anne Currie, and lead, Mabel Gardiner.
She won her last provincial seniors championship in 2000, playing second for Marg Nowlan’s team. On the team again was Anne Currie at third, and Mabel Gardiner as lead.
Gen received the Silver Fox “Lester Fitzgerald” Award in 1986 -87. This award is presented to an individual who “Exemplifies the Ideals of Good Sportsmanship”. She also received, in 1996, the Scott Appreciation Award from the PEI Curling Association.
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William (Bill) MacFadyen (Curler category)
Bill started curling in 1976, and in 1978, teamed up with Ted MacFadyen and two friends, they decided to take a run at the provincial men’s curling championship. Although not successful that first year, during the next 12 years Bill won the PEI Men’s Curling Championship five times.
Playing third for brother-in-law Ted, they won the PEI Men’s Curling Championship in 1980, with Mike Coady at second and Gordie Hermann at lead, and went on to represent PEI at the Canadian Men’s Curling Championships in Calgary. In 1983, they won their second PEI Men’s Curling Championship with Mike at second and Sandy Foy at lead, and went to the national championship in Sudbury.
Bill won his third PEI Men’s Curling Championship in 1987, his fourth in 1990, and a fifth in 1992 , all with the same team, going on to represent PEI at the Labatt Brier in Edmonton, Sault St Marie, and Regina.
Bill was on the PEI Mixed Curling Championship team in 1988. Other players on the team were Ted at skip, Bill’s wife Nancy at third, and Ted’s wife, Dawn, at lead. They represented PEI in North Bay Ontario at the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship.
During this time, Bill also was runner-up in the Labatt Tankard Provincial Men’s in 1985 and in the Provincial Mixed championship on three occasions – 1982, 1987, and 1989.
Other priorities took over for a few years but, upon qualifying for senior play, Bill reunited with some members of the old Tankard team and was successful in winning two PEI Senior Mens Curling Championships. Other members of the team were Ted at skip, Sandy Foy at second, and Mike Coady at lead. In 2004, they represented PEI in Winnipeg and in 2005 in Vernon, B.C., at the Canadian Seniors Men’s Curling Championships.
Bill was involved with curling from the administrative side as well. He served on the executive of the Crapaud Community Curling Club, represented the Club on the PEI Curling Association board, served as vice-president of the PEI Curling Association in 1985/86, and as president in 1986/87. He also participated as a member of the Constitution Committee.
A desire to encourage and teach new curlers motivated Bill to teach curling in community school for eight years, and there are curlers in the Crapaud Curling Club today who received their beginning instructions from Bill.
Bill is known for having a good head for strategy and consistent draw weight, and he always set an example of good sportsmanship and fair play in the face of intense competition.
Click to view a photo album of the event
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.
Inductee Biographies
Arthur “ Art ” Burke
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.
PEI Curling Hall of Fame Inducts Eight Members on Oct. 20, 2008
Eight new members joined the PEI Curling Hall of Fame at its second annual induction ceremony tonight at the Charlottetown Curling Club. Master of Ceremonies Paul H. Schurman introduced the inductees, as members of the Hall of Fame and Museum presented them with certificates, and assisted them with the unveiling of portraits drawn by Summerside's Wayne Wright.
Pictured below are the inductees:
Photo (L-R): Jerry Muzika, Chair PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum, inductee Al Ledgerwood, inductee Marie Toole, John Squarebriggs Jr., son of posthumous inductee John Drake Squarebriggs, inductee Freeman Miles.
Photo (L-R): Jerry Muzika, Chair PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum, Janet Harper and Ken Macdonald, daughter and son of posthumous inductees Elizabeth Macdonald and Dr. Wendell Macdonald, inductee Orville Willis, inductee Leonard Murphy
Dignitaries on hand to offer their congratulations to the inductees included Stu MacFadyen, Deputy Mayor of Charlottetown, Robert Mitchell, MLA for Charlottetown/Sherwood, Gil Jubainville, President of the Charlottetown Curling Curling, and Ray McCourt, President, PEI Curling Association.
Here are the citations for each of the eight inductees into the PEI Curling Hall of Fame. The event was held at the Charlottetown Curling Club:
Allan Ledgerwood
Builder-Curler
Al moved back to Charlottetown, and in 1971, playing with Bobby Dillon, was the runner-up in the PEI Men's Curling Championship. He was also a runner-up with the Keith MacEachern Rink in 1972.
His first purple heart came in 1976 playing on the team skipped by Ken MacDonald and he again won the PEI Men's Championship with MacDonald in 1977.
In 1979, another PEI Men's Championship, this time with Wayne Matheson.... and then again with Wayne in 1984..
In 1985, he was a finalist in the PEI Men's Championship, playing with Blair Weeks and in 1990 was the fifth player for the Doug Weeks team at the Canadian Men's Championship in Saskatoon.
Allan combined a competitive career with an extensive coaching career, spanning more than 35 years. He has coached Junior Mens and Womens, Mens and Womens, and Senior Mens and Womens teams at the provincial and national level. PEI teams skipped by Kathie Gallant, Kim Dolan, Tami Lowther, Shelley Bradley, Barb Currie, Mike Gaudet, Ted MacFadyen and others have all benefited from his coaching abilities.
Beginning in 1972, he coached Rob Burnett to the PEI Schoolboy Championship and Flora Burnett's team to the final in the PEI Schoolgirl Championship in 1974 and again in 1975. Certainly a highlight for Allan personally, was coaching his son Sean's team to the PEI Junior Men's Championship in 1989.
He has coached many Men's and Women's teams successfully : Kathie Gallant to four provincial finals... Tami Lowther to three... Kim Dolan to two... Shelley Bradley to one and Mike Gaudet's team to one PEI Men's Championship. As well, Al has coached these teams as they participated in their Canadian Championships.
In 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, Al coached Barbara Currie's team to the PEI Ladies Championship. He also coached the team at the Canadian Senior Ladies Championship held in Summerside in 2006.
In 2008, he again coached two teams that won a provincial senior title : Barbara Currie and Ted MacFadyen.
Allan has also been involved in other aspects of curling. He was secretary of the PEI Curling Association from 1972 to 1976. He has been a guest speaker at numerous sports events, including the Canadian Mixed and Canadian Seniors closing banquets and has emceed numerous other curling events.
During the 1990s, Allan participated in local broadcasts of the Island Super League for Eastlink Television, providing play by play commentary. As well, he was a guest commentator on CBC Television, at the World Junior Men's Curling Championship in Fredericton in 1982.
All in all, four purple hearts, 20 provincial championships, where the teams he coached were in the final game.... coaching his teams on six occasions at Canadian Championships; and numerous speaking engagements, where his love of the game was most evident.
In 1998, Al was elected to the Acadia University Sports Hall of Fame.
It is with great pleasure, that on this 20th day of October 2008, that we induct Allan Ledgerwood, as a curler/builder, into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame.
Elizabeth Macdonald
Builder - Curler
Liz Macdonald was one of the women responsible for the formation of the PEI Ladies Curling Association. At the 1955 Brier held in Regina, she met with women from the western provinces and discussed the possibility of a national women's competition. They advised her that forming a provincial ladies curling association would be a first step. Women curlers held a meeting March 30, 1955 in Summerside where Liz was appointed as one of two delegates to represent the CCC. At the March meeting, she was also appointed as chairperson of a committee tasked with drafting the constitution and bylaws for the new PEI Ladies Curling Association. It is interesting to note that the first national championship was subsequently held in 1961, where she and her team represented PEI.
She was elected as Chair of the Games Committee of the PEI Ladies Curling Association in 1958 and elected as Secretary-Treasurer of the PEI Ladies Curling Association in October 1959. In 1964, she again was elected Games Chairperson of the PEI Ladies Curling Association.
Liz Macdonald co-chaired the Championship Committee with Helen Likely for the Canadian Senior Ladies Championship, held at the Charlottetown Curling Club in 1976.
Liz competed on many levels throughout her career - ladies, mixed, seniors and masters.
She and her team won the PEI Ladies Curling Championship three times. The first provincial title came in 1961 and they went on to compete in the first-ever national competition held that same year - the 1st Dominion Diamond "D" classic, the official Ladies Curling Championship, at the Ottawa Hunt Golf and Curling Rink. As skip, she was joined by Sally Rodd, Ev Goss, and Nora MacDonald. The following year, the same team again won the PEI Ladies Curling Championship and went on to the nationals. She won the ladies provincial championship again in 1967, with Marie Toole, Barb Squarebriggs, and Peggie Dalziel.
At the Canada Games in 1967 in Quebec City, Liz was a member of the PEI team along with her husband, Dr. Wen Macdonald, Shirley Storey and Lorne Burke. It was a mixed team and at that time, there was no age stipulation for curling.
In 1974, she skipped the team that won the PEI Senior Ladies Championship, with Sybil MacMillan, Anne Wood, and Doris LeClair and they went on to the national seniors event in Halifax. Liz won the provincial senior ladies two more times, in 1980 and 1981. These two years, she represented PEI at Fredericton and Winnipeg with Sybil MacMillan, Gladys Reid, and Alma MacDonald.
Liz Macdonald organized the first PEI Ladies Masters Competition as well as the first Maritime Masters. She won the trophy several times and has since been honoured with the women's Maritime Masters trophy, now being presented in her name.
The Charlottetown Curling Club each year presents the Merklinger Award trophy to the curler of the year. This trophy is awarded to curlers, male or female, who best exemplify curling excellence and sportsmanship at the Charlottetown Curling Club. Liz was the first winner of this award in 1978.
Each year, at the Scott Tournament of Hearts, an award is presented to the curler who best embodies the spirit of the game. Originally named for a different curler or builder in the area hosting the event, the award is now named in honour of Marj Mitchell, who skipped Canada to its first world title in 1981. In 1984, when the Scott was held in Charlottetown, the Elizabeth Macdonald Award was presented to Yvonne Smith, Ontario.
Elizabeth Macdonald was elected to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in the Curler/Builder category in 1992..... And we are most pleased to posthumously induct her as a Curler/Builder into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame, this 20th day of October, 2008.
Dr. Wendell Macdonald
Builder - Curler
Growing up in Charlottetown in the late 1920's, Dr. Wen, as he would be known, was a star athlete in such sports as baseball, hockey, and football while attending West Kent School and Prince of Wales College. While attending Dalhousie University medical school, Dr. Wen was also a strong contributor with the varsity hockey team.
Returning to Charlottetown in 1945 after completing Radiology specialization in Montreal,
Dr. Wen began curling recreationally while also participating in his other beloved activities:
fishing, hunting and golf. Though his professional life consumed a large portion of his daily activities, curling remained a centrepiece in his life.
Dr. Wen began to curl more on a competitive level in the late forties at the Charlottetown Curling Club. His longtime friend, John Squarebriggs, would be closely associated with him as "mate" throughout his distinguished curling career, and with his competitiveness and passion for the sport, success in the curling world soon came his way. He began competing on the provincial level, and as Skip, won his first Provincial Mens Curling Championships which took him to the Brier. Gaining extensive experience from attending this national event, Dr. Wen skipped his team to two more consecutive Provincial Mens Championships in 1955 and 1956 and returned to the national scene.
Through Dr. Wen's association with the sport of curling in Charlottetown, the local curling club prospered and grew to be a vital part of the community. The club was his "second home" and upon the urging of his wife Elizabeth, Dr Wen was instrumental in bringing women into the sport in the 1950's,
thus helping to make it one of the Island's main social activities.
Shortly thereafter, he turned his efforts to the senior curling competitions. This would be where Dr. Wen would have his name etched forever into the archives of curling on Prince Edward Island. Commencing in 1965, teams skipped by Dr. Wen would go on to win seven consecutive Provincial Senior Titles culminating with a Canadian Championship, PEI's first in 1971, in Halifax.
At sixty -two years of age, Dr. Wen's success continued as his curling foursomes would go on to capture seven more provincial titles. His presence at the national championships continued and he was rewarded once again with winning consecutive National Senior Curling Championships in 1975 in Calgary, and 1976 in Ottawa, where he was quoted as saying "somebody up there is taking good care of us". In 1976, Dr. Wen was nominated overwhelmingly to become a member of the Governor General Curling Club of Canada. This honorary curling club was designed to promote the game of curling in Canada and to recognize those individuals who have made a significant contribution to curling whether on the national or international level.
Macdonald, twice served as President of the Charlottetown Curling Club.....
President of the PEI Curling Association....
Secretary - Treasurer of the PEI Curling Association for 5 years....
Chairperson, 1973 National Mixed in Charlottetown....
And for several years, he was a Delegate to the Canadian Curling Association.
Dr. Wen was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame as a Builder in 1975 and as a Curler in 1977.
Previously inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame, Dr Wendell Macdonald will now take his place, as a Curler /Builder, in the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame, as we posthumously induct him this 20th day of October, 2008.
Freeman Miles
Builder
Freeman Miles began his curling career in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. Following his move to Charlottetown, he curled at the Charlottetown Curling Club, and with a later move to Summerside he continued in the sport at the Summerside Curling Club and then the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club.... and although he participated as a curler in the "roaring game" for 40 years, his real contribution has been in the Builder Category.
He first served as vice - president of the Charlottetown Curling Club and then as president in 1971 - 72, and In the mid seventies, Freeman became active in the Prince Edward Island Curling Association. He was the PEI representative to the Canadian Curling Association for the Mixed for three years — 1975 through 1977, and then three years as the provincial Men's representative to the Canadian Curling Association in 1978 to 1980. He served two years as vice - president of the Prince Edward Island Curling Association.... as president in 1982-83, and then as past-president. During this time period, Freeman was an active member of most of the association committees
In 1976, Freeman moved to Summerside, where he served on the executive of the old Summerside Curling Club.... first as vice president and then two years as president in 1979 to 1981.
In 1980 to 1982 he chaired the Building Committee for the new rink, to be known as the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club.... it opened in January 1982 and he became the first Chair of the Board of Directors.... twelve years later, he again presided as President of the Silver Fox, in the 1994 - 95 year.
His talents as an administrator continued to be in demand, as he was the draw master for Canadian Legion Curling (Provincial Command) for sixteen years.
In 1987, he chaired the National Mixed Organizing Committee for the Canadian Mixed Championship held at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club. This was the year the Peter Gallant team of Charlottetown, won the Canadian Championship.
In 2007, Freeman was presented with a Life Membership to the PEI Curling Association.
The Freeman Miles record, as a Builder of curling in this Province, has been outstanding and he is most deserving of the honour we bestow upon him this evening, as we induct him, in the Builder Category, into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame, this 20th day of October 2008.
Leonard Murphy
Builder
Leonard Murphy began curling while he was in the RCAF and continued his association with the sport when he returned to the province in 1968, becoming involved in the Alberton Curling Club as a volunteer. For more than 30 years, he has spent countless hours donating his time as an administrator, committee member, negotiator, fund raiser and doing many other tasks associated with establishing and maintaining a curling club in a small town.
Leonard was part of the Alberton Curling Club committee that met with the O'Leary Curling Club to discuss a proposal by the provincial government to build a six sheet rink at the Mill River Resort, rather than having separate rinks in Alberton and O'Leary. The outcome was clear, of course, that Alberton and O'Leary would each continue to operate their own curling clubs.
When the Alberton club ran into financial problems, Leonard was asked to be the spokesperson for the club, to work out a deal with the mortgage holder. The club was owned by shareholders, and most of them were either deceased, moved away from Alberton, or were not interested in playing anymore. Leonard tracked down the majority of the shareholders and was able to convince them to donate or sell their shares to the club. After they settled on a deal, he chaired the committee to draft up a new constitution and by-laws. The club was renamed "The Western Curling Club" in 1990, and Leonard was on the committee that saw the club expand to three sheets of ice.
Leonard Murphy served fifteen years on the club executive including being president on three occasions, in 1980/81, 1992/93, and 1999/2000. He was the Alberton Curling Club's representative to the PEI Curling Association from 1978 until 1986. He was elected second vice president of the PEI Curling Association in 1982.... served as first vice president in 1983.... president in 1984/85, and then as past president in 1985/86. He was also Provincial Games chairman in 1985/86.
Leonard taught curling at the club.... coached juniors for a number of years and is a level 1 instructor. The PEI Curling Association recognized Leonard in 1990 for his coaching endeavours and the Royal Canadian Legion honoured him in 2000 for his work with Royal Canadian Legion Curling events.
The PEI Curling Hall of Fame is pleased to induct Leonard Murphy into the Hall, as a builder, on this 20th day of October 2008.
John Drake Squarebriggs
Curler
John Squarebriggs grew up in Charlottetown where he played many sports. For many years hockey was his game.... he was but 15 when he played for the junior Abbies, and from 1927 to 1932, he was a member of the senior Abbies in the Maritime big Six Hockey League. He would later play seven years in the Eastern Hockey League, with Bronx New York, with New York Rovers, and through 1940 with the Baltimore Orioles, as player, captain and coach.
Johnny "Snaggs", as he was affectionatly known, went on to the Cape Breton League... with the Glace Bay Miners as player / coach....and with North Sydney Vics and the Sydney Millionaires as player/ coach. He coached the Prince of Wales College team in the late 1940's, and became a referee in the Maritime Big 4 League in the 1950's.
Baseball was also his sport, and he was on the 1932 Charlottetown all - star team champions.
His athletic talents took him to golf, bowling, tennis, billiards and of course curling.
In curling, he was amazing. He was on the winning team three times for the Canadian Seniors Curling Championship.... in 1971, 1975, and 1976.
In 1971, Johnny was with Wen Macdonald, Doug George, and Dan O'Rourke, and in 1975 and 1976, he was with Wen Macdonald, Irvine MacKinnon, and Don Hutchison.
John Squarebriggs was on the team that won the PEI Seniors Championship 12 times. In 1966, in Winnipeg his first Nationals, he was with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Wally Rodd and James Cameron. 1967 in Montreal, he was with the same team.... in 1968 in Edmonton, with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Wally Rodd, and Norman Nicholson..... in 1969 in Hamilton, with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Doug George, and Wally Rodd.... in 1970 in Kamloops, he was with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Doug George, and Dan O'Rourke.... In 1971 they won the championship in Halifax.... in 1973 in Sudbury, with the same team as in 1971.... in 1974 in Saint John, with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Irvine MacKinnon, and Arthur Ballem.... in 1975 when they won their second Canadian championship, it was in Calgary... in 1976 they won their third and last national championship, when it was held in Ottawa. In 1980, it was Nanaimo, with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Don Hutchison, and Irvine Mackinnon.... and his last National appearance was in Charlottetown in 1982 with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Don Hutchison, and Irvine Mackinnon.
Johnny was on the winning team for the PEI British Consols Mens Championship five times. The first was in 1947, when he was with Frank Acorn, Andy Likely, and Anc Howatt. In 1951, he was with Frank Acorn, Bill MacNeill, and Mel Jenkins. In 1954, with Dr. Wendell Macdonald, Elmer Macdonald, and Barry Macdonald. In 1955 Dr. Wendell Macdonald, Andy Likely, and Elmer Macdonald..... and in 1956, he was with Dr. Wen, Andy Likely, and Elmer Macdonald.
Johnny served as a board member with the PEI Sport Hall of Fame and Museum.....
In 1976 he was inducted into the PEI Sport Hall of Fame as a member of the Dr. Wendell Macdonald team.
Most remember John Drake Squarebriggs for not only his athletic abilities, but as well, his human qualities.... his unique sense of humor.... loyalty to his friends... his knowledge of so many different subjects... and his well known capacity for speaking on any subject, for hours on end.
Johnny was elected to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1978.... tonight, we posthumously induct him into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of fame, in the curler category, this 20th day of October, 2008
Marie Toole
Curler
Marie Toole began curling more than 50 years ago to pass the winter months while the golf courses were closed. She launched what would become an outstanding career as a competitive curler.
Marie began her career at the Charlottetown Curling Club and it wasn't long before she was on a team, playing third, that won the PEI Mixed Championship in 1966. Her skip was Dougie Bell, and her team mates were Bill MacGregor and Marion Partridge.
The next year, 1967, she was playing third on the team that won the PEI Ladies Championship along with skip Elizabeth Macdonald, Barb Squarebriggs and Peg Dalziel. As well, that same year, she was a winner of the PEI Mixed Curling Championship, playing third on the Allan Smith skipped team,with Bill McGregor and Pauline Johnston.
Two years later, in 1969, another PEI Ladies Curling Championship. This time, she skipped the team with third Jennie Boomhower, second Mary Acorn, and lead Pauline Johnston. The Canadian Championship was held in Thunder Bay, Ontario and the Team finished third.
She was the provincial winner again for the next three years straight, with third Jennie Boomhower, second Cathy Dillon, and lead Pauline Johnston.
In 1973, she was a winner once again, as a member of the the PEI Mixed Curling Championship Team, playing third for Doug Cameron, alongside Bill McGregor and Pauline Johnston.
In 1974, she was back again as the winner of the PEI Ladies Championship with her same team of Jennie, Cathy and Pauline. The team placed second at the Canadian Ladies Curling Championship in Victoria that year ---- the very best showing any Island women's team has accomplished to date.
Marie Toole was also active in the administrative side of Curling, serving as the Charlottetown Curling Club's delegate to the PEI Ladies Curling Association, from 1962 to 1964 and again as the clubs provincial delegate, 1977/78, and 1978/79. Marie was the Secretary/Treasurer, of the PEI Ladies Curling Association in 1962/63.
At the club level, Marie served as Vice President, Charlottetown Ladies Curling Club, 1972/73, and as President for the 1973/74 year. She also Co-convened one of the club's major fund raisers in those days, the 1975 Charlottetown Ladies Curling Club Fashion Show.
All in all, six provincial women's championships and three mixed championships - Marie Toole, worthy of induction into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame in the curler category this 20th day of October 2008.
Orville Willis
Builder
In April 1973, Orville Willis was one of a group of people who wanted to see a curling rink built in their community of O'Leary. They decided to hold a meeting to see if they could generate some interest in their idea...... Orville chaired the organizing committee, and five years later, in the fall of 1978, the community of O'Leary had a curling rink.
Orville was one of the original temporary directors involved in the building of the Community Curling Club, later called the Maple Leaf Curling Club. He attended numerous meetings, chaired many committees, and personally raised funds to build the rink. There were many challenges along the way, and one of significance was the building being partially destroyed by strong winds during its construction.
Orville was president of the Maple Leaf Curling Club on two occasions, 1980/81 and 1988/89... and he was a director for many years. He also represented the Maple Leaf Curling Club throughout the years at meetings held by the PEI Curling Association, and spent many hours making ice, coordinating bonspiels, and assisting with provincial bonspiels held at the club. His company, CF Willis & Sons, sponsored club championships, cashspiels, and bonspiels. He even volunteered to be "roasted" at a Maple Leaf Curling Club fund raiser.
In April, 1995, Life Memberships were sold to raise money in order to retire an operating debt which was mostly property taxes. Orville Willis was one of fourteen members to purchase one, even though he was not an active curler at that time.
Orville truly loves the game and is proud to have been a member of PEI Masters Championship team in 1995/96 and 1996/97. He played second, and his team mates were skip Jim Baglole, George Bernard and Kenny Banks.
A true builder - from the ground up, chairing and serving on committees, talking to architects and construction people, sponsoring events and raising money, finding curling rocks and doing many other volunteer tasks, required to get a club up and running..... Orville has been involved with and supported the Maple Leaf Curling Club since its inception more than 35 years ago.
Tonight, we honour his wonderful contribution, made over those many years, and induct him, in the Builder Category, into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame, on this 20th day of October, 2008.
2007 Inaugural Induction Ceremony
David Murphy, President of the PEI Curling Association, said that he is very pleased that the Curling Hall of Fame and Museum is up and running, and invited everyone to come out and honour the first ten inductees on November 15th.
Beth Sullivan, Vice President of the Canadian Curling Association, in Charlottetown for a meeting of the PEI Curling Association, at which the new Hall and Museum received the go-ahead, said that she is very pleased to see that PEI curlers are honouring those who built the sport here, and mentioned that, while several provinces have done this, there are still some that have yet to do so.
Photo (L-R): (L-R) David Murphy, President, PEI Curling Association,
Beth Sullivan, Vice-President, Canadian Curling Association, and
Jerry Muzika, Chairman, PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum, review inaugural Hall of Fame inductee list.
PEI Curling Hall of Fame inducts ten inaugural members
A large crowd was in attendance at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club on Thursday Nov. 15, 2007, as the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum, recently formed under the auspices of the PEI Curling Association, hosted its first annual induction ceremony. The first ten inductees honoured for their outstanding contribution to the sport of curling are: Thane Campbell (posthumously), Doug Cameron, Cathy Dillon, George Dillon, Robert Dillon, Elizabeth Linkletter (posthumously), Alexander (D. Alex) MacDonald, Kathleen MacDonald, Helen Robbins and Hugh Robbins.
Photo: Back row L-R: Al Forsythe, President, Canadian Curling Association, Cathy Dillon, Bobby Dillon, Marjorie MacMillan, daughter of posthumous inductee Elizabeth Linkletter, Nancy Cameron, daughter of inductee Doug Cameron, George Dillon.
Front row L-R: Hugh Robbins,. Helen Robbins, D. Alex MacDonald, Kathleen MacDonald, Blair Campbell, grandson of posthumous inductee Thane Campbell.
Board members of the Hall of Fame and Museum include Muzika as chair, along with Marilyn Sutherland, Barb Currie, and Bev Miller, along with Paul H. Schurman as Advisor/Consultant, and Dave Murphy, President of the PEICA.
Dignitaries on hand to offer their congratulations to the inaugural inductees included Al Forsythe, President of the Canadian Curling Association, Barry Chappell, Councillor, City of Summerside, Janice Sherry, MLA Summerside-Wilmot, Nancy Sinclair, President, Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club, and David Murphy, President, PEI Curling Assocaition. Les Harrison, President of the World Curling Federation, was unable to attend due to commitments at the Monctonian bonspiel, but sent along a congratulatory note. Master of Ceremonies for the event was Paul H. Schurman.
Here is the evening's programme:
PEI Curling Hall of Fame & Museum
First Induction Ceremony
Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club
Thursday, November 15, 2007... 7:00pm
Paul H. Schurman.... Master of Ceremonies
Welcome.......................................................... Paul H. Schurman
Acknowledgment of Special Guests....................... Paul H. Schurman
Welcome......................................................... Jerry Muzika, Chair.. PEI Curling Hall of Fame
Greetings......................................................... City of Summerside
Government of PEI
Silver Fox Curling Club
Canadian Curling Association
PEI Curling Association
Citations & Inductions........................................ Honourable Thane E. Campbell
Douglas Cameron
Elizabeth Linkletter
George Dillon
Kathleen and Alexander MacDonald
Robert Dillon
Helen and Hugh Robbins
Catherine Dillon
Closing Remarks.................................................. Paul H. Schurman
Here are the evening's proceedings:
Inaugural Induction Ceremonies, Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum
Thursday, November 15, 2007, Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club
Paul H. Schurman, MC
Good evening Ladies & Gentlemen..... let me welcome you to this inaugural Induction Ceremony for the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum. Under the auspices of Curl Prince Edward Island, tonight is a very special one for some very special curlers and their families. These ceremonies shall acknowledge the achievements of no less than ten (10) Prince Edward Islanders, who have brought honour and distinction to themselves and to the sport in our Province. Let us rise now and welcome the Inductees as they make their way to their places of honour.
In a moment you shall hear about some of the background surrounding the formation of the Hall of Fame.... but I want first to acknowledge the presence of some other special guests who have joined with us this evening... some of whom will later address you. Councillor Barry Chappell, City of Summerside...... the MLA for Summerside / Wilmot, Janice Sherry.... the President of the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club, Nancy Sinclair..... the President of the Canadian Curling Association, Al Forsythe..... and David Murphy, President of the PEI Curling Association.
OTHERS :............
Certainly we are grateful for the assistance of Curl PEI and special thanks as well to D. Alex MacDonald Ford Lincoln and Sport PEI
Now, the man who has been the driving force leading up to our special gathering tonight..... he has a special welcome, and shall relate some of the background information about the Hall............he is a member of the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.... please welcome the Chair of the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum... Mr Jerry Muzika.
Now, it's Greetings time.........
With his own special greetings and those of the Mayor and Council, and the citizens of the City of Summerside, Councillor Barry Chappell.
We welcome remarks from the Government and the people of Prince Edward Island.... the MLA for S'Side / Wilmot Ms. Janice Sherry.
We are pleased that the Silver Fox made this venue available for this special evening..... we welcome greetings too from the President of the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club Ms. Nancy Sinclair.
Here is the President of the Canadian Curling Association... Mr. Al Forsythe, with his special greetings.
And a man who has been very helpful to the organizing committee over the past number of weeks... the President of the PEI Curling Association, Mr David Murphy.
Ladies and Gentlemen.... let us begin our Induction Ceremonies.....
I shall read the Citation of each of the Inductees.... following which, they or their representatives shall be asked to come forward to receive their Citation from one of our Board members and to unveil a special Caricature produced by the talents of Wayne Wright... each inductee, or his or her representative, shall have the opportunity to respond.
Our first inductee is a posthumous one..... the late Honourable Thane E. Campbell.....
( Paul H reads and asks Jerry Muzika to present the Citation to representative................
.............................................. and assist in the unveiling )
Next, Douglas Cameron.....
( Paul H reads and asks Marilyn Sutherland to present the Citation to representative.......................................................... and assist in the unveiling.)
Our first Woman inductee is a posthumous one...... the late Elizabeth Linkletter..........
( Paul H reads the Citation and asks Barb Currie to present the Citation to representative.........................................................................and assist in the unveiling.)
George Dillon.....
( Paul H Reads the Citation and asks Bev Millar to present the Citation to..................................................................and assist in the unveiling.)
Kathleen & D. Alex MacDonald.....
( Paul H reads the Citation and asks David Murphy to present the two Citations to Kay and Alex and assist in the unveiling of the two caricatures.)
Robert Dillon.....
( Paul H reads the Citation and asks Al Forsythe to present the Citation to Bob and assist in the unveiling )
Helen and Hugh Robbins.........
( Paul H reads the Citation and asks Nancy Sinclair to present the Citation and assist Helen & Hugh in the unveiling of the two caricatures ).
Catherine Dillon.......
( Paul H reads the Citation and asks Jerry Muzika to present the Citation and assist Cathy in the unveiling ).
Ladies and Gentlemen... our very first Induction Ceremonies is about to come to a close.... I want, on behalf of the Board of Directors, to thank you for being part of it all with your attendance.... and certainly we all join in congratulating the inductees and their representatives for what has, I'm sure, been a most proud and memorable evening. You are all welcome to stay and enjoy some delicious food snacks prepared by the people here at the Silver Fox.
You've been a great audience... have a safe journey to you place of destination.. Good night to you all !
Here are the biographies of the first ten inductees into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame and Museum:
The Honourable Thane A. Campbell 1895-1978
He was born in Summerside on July 7,1895.......... received his Bachelor of Arts from St. Dunstan's University and his Master of Arts degree from Dalhousie University. He then attended Oxford University in England as a Rhodes Scholar to study law for five years, returning to Summerside in 1922 to read law.... and in 1927, established his own law practice.
His curling interests were formally launched in 1928 when he joined the Summerside Curling Club, then located on St. Stephen Street. He soon formed his own team and captured the 1935 club championship.
He was President of the PEI Curling Association in 1936. In this capacity, he was instrumental in bringing about the Provincial Association's affiliation with the Dominion Curling Association, Canada's governing curling body..... the name was officially changed to the Canadian Curling Association in 1968. He was largely responsible for PEI being included in the Macdonald Brier Championship for the first time in 1936. The participation of the PEI teams in the Dominion playdowns was credited with greatly stimulating membership, interest and competition in curling throughout the province.
He was President of the Dominion Curling Association for the 1941-1942 season, having been elected to the post during the annual meeting in Toronto.
In 1943, he was elected Vice-president of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club of Scotland. Normally, the past president is only appointed for one year but with the war years, he was in that position for a few years. A photo shows him as Vice President in 1948. This organization serves as the mother club of curling in Canada and our Inductee was involved in promoting the sport at the international level.
From 1945 to 1953, he was a member of the PEI Curling Association. He chaired several committees including the Rules Committee and the Physical Fitness Trophy Committee.
He made a proposal to the PEI Curling Association in 1945 to hold an "open" Maritime Bonspiel. His suggestion was accepted and he was asked to head up a committee to investigate this project. His findings stated that the provincial Brier playoff should be held at the same time. His report was accepted and he became chairman of the Maritime Bonspiel which was called the Confederation Bonspiel for 1947. The bonspiel, held in the Charlottetown Forum, became very successful. He chaired the General Executive Committee which ran the bonspiel for seven years, which included the provincial playoffs for the Brier, and he was made Honourary Chairman of the Bonspiel in 1954. The bonspiel still runs today, although somewhat modified in format and administered by the Charlottetown Curling Club.
Mr. Campbell was responsible for the PEI Curling Association approving a Maritime Bonspiel for junior curlers in 1946. He met with officials in Moncton and they decided that the first bonspiel would be held in that City. The trophy was called the Physical Fitness Trophy.
In 1948, following the lead of the western provinces, he, along with Harold Gaudet organized "school boy" curling on the Island. The Summerside Curling Club was one of the first clubs in the Atlantic Provinces to introduce school boy curling. In one short year, the sheets were filled with youth on school days. Soon the Island school boy championships were born, and he helped organize this event. His son, Alex, represented the Island at the Nationals in 1953.
Our Inductee was one of the leading promoters and investors responsible for acquiring artificial ice in the Summerside Curling Club on Notre Dame Street in 1947-48.
In 1949, he presented to the PEI Curling Association, an outline of a program arrangement for a visit to Canada by a group of curlers from Scotland. The program included a stop in PEI in 1950, and he chaired the committee handling all matters pertaining to the visit. There were a few more visits, such as in 1957 and 1965... and he was involved in some capacity in these visits as it appears he was an Honorary Life Member. There were other tours as well with the Swiss and with the United States and his involvement in these tours, whether as a curler or in administration, was evident.
He was appointed as trustee of the Macdonald Brier Tankard in 1946. At that time, the Brier trustees established all the rules of Brier competition as well as a code of ethics for Brier participants. The body was also consulted each year regarding site selection, and he was instrumental in influencing the decision to hold the 1964 Brier in Charlottetown. The trustees were responsible for the overall successful operation of the annual Brier championship. He was a member of the executive of the Dominion Curling Association during the time that he was a Trustee. He chaired the board of trustees from 1963 to 1972, and carried on in this capacity for 25 years, retiring in 1972.
A regular participant in many bonspiels held locally and in the Maritimes, Thane Campbell and his teammates would also participate in the Quebec International Bonspiel and the Montreal International Bonspiel.
A frequent guest speaker at national and international events, the Ottawa Journal in 1953 described Mr. Campbell as "one of Canada's leading authorities on granite curling," when he spoke at the opening of the Rideau Curling Club.
He was given an Honourary Life Membership of the Dominion Curling Association in 1947......... and was elected to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame, as a builder, in 1974.
In 1967, he was inducted into the Governor-General's Curling Club. To qualify for membership, a person must have, as a player or builder of the game, distinguished himself in curling and exhibited outstanding qualities of good sportsmanship, gentlemanly conduct, and the true spirit of the game.
Public life saw him elected to the Provincial Legislature in 1931 and he served as Premier from 1935 until 1943, when he resigned to accept the position of Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Prince Edward Island.
He was active in a number of commissions and associations...... He served with the National Historic Sites and Monuments Board... The National Library Council... the War Claims Commission... the Boards of Governors of Dalhousie University and of Saint Dunstan's University.... and was named Chief Commissioner of the Foreign Claims Commission. Mr. Campbell was inducted as a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1973. He was the first Chancellor of the University of PEI in 1968..... and received Honourary Doctor of Laws, Degrees from the University of PEI and Dalhousie University.
The outstanding contribution of the late Honorable Thane A. Campbell to the roaring game of curling spans nearly 50 years, during which he played a prominent role in developing the sport at the local, provincial, national, and international levels.
His accomplishments... his development of school boy curling... his leadership... his promotion... his participation and encouragement of others are most worthy of recognition as a builder of curling on PEI.. The PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum, postumously, inducts Thane A. Campbell as its first member on this day, November 15, 2007.
Douglas Allison "Doug" Cameron
Two trivia questions have been asked in past National Curling Publications...... "Only one Maritime Skip in the history of the Brier is included with the all - time greats who have skipped more than 25 victories ".... Who is he? He is Doug Cameron, with 26 wins in five appearances.
"Only two curlers in Canada have skipped in all four Canadian Curling Association sanctioned events... namely the Brier, the Juniors, the Mixed, and the Seniors ".... Who are they? Saskatchewan's Bayne Secord is one... the other is PEI's Doug Cameron.
Doug skipped the PEI Team in the first ever National School Boy Championships in 1950 at Quebec City, finishing in a tie for third place... he was in Nelson, B.C. the following year.
He has represented our Province in seven Brier Championships... 5 times as a skip and twice as a third. He recorded a total of 26 wins and 24 losses in his five appearances as a skip...... twice recording 6 wins and 4 losses in the years between 1958 and 1965...... the era often referred to as the "Golden Years of Curling", because of Richardson, Gervais and Baldwin. Games were 12 ends and corn brooms were used... out of 10 teams, he finished tied for third once and finished fourth once..... no playoffs then.... he had 9 wins while playing third, for a total of 35 wins in Brier competition.
Doug Cameron's teams were invited and participated twice in the CBC Televised Curling Series in Winnipeg... in 1963 and 1964.. defeating the Richardsons in the semi-final in '64, but losing to the Hersh Lerner Rink in the final.
Doug and his team-mates were the only team east of the Manitoba border to be invited in all of the three years that the Invitational Tournament of Champions was held at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto... 1964 - '65 - '66.... only 8 teams were invited each year.... their best showing was in 1965 when they finished as runner-up to Hec Gervais in a 3-2 final. That year they scored victories over the four time World Champions, Richardsons.... Hector Gervais, twice World Champions..... B.C's Lyle Dagg, World Champion.... Bud Sommerville of the U.S., twice World Champion... and Matt Baldwin, three time Canadian Brier Champion.
While living in Ottawa in 1967 to 1970, Doug's team won the City of Ottawa Bonspiel in 1969.... And his was one of two Ottawa teams who won the right to play against two Montreal teams in the Governor General Matches.
Doug Cameron represented PEI at the National Mixed Championships at Charlottetown in 1973... finishing with a 5 and 5 record.... In 1974 he was elected to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame.. the first year of elections........ and before retiring from active curling he skipped PEI Rinks in the 1989 and 1991 Canadian Seniors Championships. He was
inducted into the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame in 2001.
He has served as a Director and as President of the Charlottetown Curling Club... and was Host Committee Chair of the 1990 McCain's Skins Game at the Ch'Town Club.
Doug is a Certified Curling Coach, and has coached PEI Teams at the Junior and Ladies National Championships.... most successfully at the 1977 World Junior Championships in Quebec City, when Charlottetown's Bill Jenkins rink defeated Sweden in the final.
Truly one of the greatest curlers to slide from a Prince Edward Island Curling Rink hack........ Douglas Allison "Doug" Cameron, who we welcome in the Curler/Builder category, as an inducted member of the "Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum", this 15th day of November 2007.
Robert Francis Dillon
Bob Dillon has been prevalent on the Provincial and National Curling scene since the early 1960's, achieving extraordinary distinction in the sport. His playing ability, sportsmanship and character have brought honour to the sport of curling in this Province and in Canada.
Bob's major accomplishments include representing Prince Edward Island at the Brier in 1962, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1973 and 1974.
At the Canadian Mixed Championships in 1971, 1972, 1975, 1976, and 1978. And at the Canadian Seniors Championships in 1989, 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995.
He received the Mixed Sportsmanship Award in 1976, and has also been a recipient of the Seniors Sportsmanship Award. At an International Invitational Tournament of Champions in Toronto in 1965, he skipped the runner-up team.
Bob Dillon was elected to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in the "Curler" category in 1974, at the age of 37. Since then, he has continued to excel in the sport by representing our Province at many National Championships..... in 1999 he was inducted into the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame.
He has contributed towards the development and advancement of curling in Prince Edward Island in other ways as well. He has served on the PEI Curling Association as the "Mixed Representative" to the National Championships for three years.... 1977 to 1979... and as the Junior Representative in 1980 - ' 81 and ' 82. He 's been part of several Host Committees during National Championships held in Charlottetown... including the National Mixed in 1973 and 1996... as well as the Scott Tournament of Hearts in 1984 and the McCain Skins Game. He's been a member of the Charlottetown Curling Club since the late 1950's, and, in fact, is an Honourary Life member of the Club.
Curling in this Province has been a part of our sports heritage since the early 1900's and tonight we capture more of that rich heritage, as we induct, in the Curler Category, Robert Francis " Bobby " Dillon into the "Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum", this 15th day of November 2007.
Catherine "Cathy" Dillon
It was in 1962, while teaching in Calgary, that Cathy Dillon began her curling career when asked to join a mixed curling team. Upon her return to Charlottetown, she joined the Charlottetown Curling Club in the fall of the same year, where she still curls today. She has participated as a player in nine Canadian Ladies Curling Championships and four Canadian Mixed Curling Championships. She has also contributed to the game of curling as an administrator, coach, and official.
Cathy has won six PEI Ladies Curling Championships - three as second for Marie Toole, 1970,1971 and 1972...... one as third for Marie in 1974.... and two as third for Kim Dolan, in 1983 and 1985. She also was the fifth player on three other PEI Ladies teams that represented this Province at the Canadian Curling Championships. In 1974, the PEI team was second at the National Championship.
As a mixed curler, our Inductee won four PEI Mixed Curling Championships - 1972, 1975, 1976 and 1978. All four were with her husband, Bobby, and all were as Third..
In 1972, she was with Bobby, John Fortier and Jean Court. In the other three years, she was with Bobby, Jean Court and Merrill Wigginton.
Cathy won the All-Star Award for Third at the1975 and the 1978 Canadian Mixed Curling Championships. The team also placed second at the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship in 1975.
She was on the provincial mixed runner-up team in 1966 and in 1977, playing with Alan Smith in 1966 and with Bobby's Team in 1977.
She won the City Ladies Curling Championship three times, as third for Kim MacLeod in 1983, and as a skip in 1974 and 1975, with Audrey Simmons, Jean Court, and Janet MacDonald.
Cathy was also very involved in the administrative aspects of her chosen sport, beginning as Chairperson, Publicity of the Charlottetown Ladies Curling Club, in 1965 - 66. She continued to serve the Charlottetown Curling Club as their delegate to the PEI Ladies Curling Association in 1973 - 74.
She was Games Chairperson, PEI Ladies Curling Association in 1974 - 75 and Chairperson, Publicity for the Provincial Association in 1975 - 76. She moved on through the Executive of the PEI Ladies Curling Association as Second Vice President in 1979 - 80....... First Vice President in 1980 - 81, and President in 1981 - 82.
Cathy also participated in various roles on the organizing committees of three Canadian Ladies Curling Championships held in Charlottetown. She was the Games Chairperson for the 1973 MacDonald Lassie ( Canadian Ladies Curling Championship ) and a committee chairperson on the 1984 and the 1999 Scott Tournament of Hearts Committees. In 1984, she was the Co-Chair, Statistics....... the first year statistics were computerized. At the 1999 Scott, she chaired the Banquets Committee, and she also served on the Canada Winter Games Committee in 1990 - 91 as Vice-Chair of Ladies Curling.
Cathy coached the Junior Ladies curling team of Lori Robinson, Angela Roberts, Anne Dillon and Cathy Campbell, when they won the PEI Junior Ladies Championship in 1986 and 1987, and she went on to coach them as they represented PEI at the Canadian Junior Ladies Championship events. As well, Cathy coached this team as they represented PEI at the 1987 Canada Winter Games.
Cathy Dillon is a Certified Level 2 Official. Besides officiating at various Provincial competitions, she was an on-ice official at the Canadian Special Olympics Winter Games in 2004.
She has been recognized with various awards over the years ...... In 1976, she received the Charlottetown Curling Club Curler of the Year Award..... was roasted on September 30, 1978 at the Charlottetown Curling Club........ was inducted into Canadian Curling Hall of Fame on October 3,1995 as a Curler/Builder..... joining husband Bobby,who became a member in 1974. In 1995, she received the PEI Curling Association's Recognition Award, sponsored by the Scott Tournament of Hearts....... and in May 2005, she received an Honorary Life Membership to the Charlottetown Curling Club.
Catherine "Cathy" Dillon, a most worthy inductee, in the curler/builder category, into the "Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum", this 15th day of November, 2007.
George Dillon
George Dillon began to curl in 1943 when he was 5 years old. He was the "mascot" of the caretaker and his wife at the Charlottetown Curling Club.
He has competed in ten national curling championships.... his first national appearance was in 1955 at the National Schoolboy Championships in Sydney, Nova Scotia. He played third for the Barry MacDonald team...... the event is now called the Canadian Junior Men's Curling Championship .... they placed runner-up in that competition.
Meanwhile, competitors at the Canadian Men's Curling Championships are awarded a "purple heart" which players proudly wear on their curling apparel... the championship is often referred to as the "Brier". George has eight purple hearts for his eight appearances at the Brier. This is a record for most appearances for a curler from PEI, tied this past March by Peter Gallant & Robert Campbell.
George's first appearance at the Canadian Men's Curling Championship (Brier) was in 1958, in Victoria, BC.... he played third for the Doug Cameron team.
In 1959, the competition was held in Quebec City and he curled third for the "Jiggs" MacDonald team.
In 1960 and 1961, he played third, again for the Doug Cameron team, at the national events in Fort William, (now Thunder Bay) and Calgary.
His next appearance at the Brier was in 1963 in Brandon. Again, he played third for the Doug Cameron team. Two years later, 1965, he played second for Doug Cameron's team at the Brier in Saskatoon.
In 1970, George played third for the Art Burke team when they represented PEI at the Brier in Winnipeg...... and his final appearance at the Brier was in 1977 when he played third for the Ken MacDonald team in Montreal.
George Dillon was a versatile player. He could throw accurate takeouts playing in the second position as well as being able to execute the soft come-around-the-guard shots required of third stone curlers...... he was able to throw rocks with a lot of weight and still be consistently accurate.
George played on other curling teams that made it to five other PEI Men's Championship finals but ended up in runner-up positions.
Our inductee played in his final national championship in 1979, playing third for the Bill Jenkins team at the National Legion Curling Championship in Lloydminster.
George Dillon was elected to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in the curler category in 1974.
This was the inaugural year for the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame. Three Islanders were selected in this special first year in the curler category..... he was one of them.
In 1964, 65, and 66, he was a member of the Doug Cameron team that participated in the Invitational Tournament of Champions held at Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto. Only eight teams were invited each year and theirs was the only one east of Manitoba in 1964.... and east of Ontario in both 1965 and 1966. The team placed fourth in 1964 and 1965 and second in 1966. George played third in 1964, and 1965 and second stone in 1966. At these events, the Cameron team had proud victories over legendary curling teams such as the Richardson's, four-time world champions..... Bud Somerville, USA, twice world champion.... and three-time Canadian champion, Matt Baldwin.
Although complete records are not available... but according to Doug Cameron, George played with him and won at least eleven Charlottetown Curling Club Championships and six "City" Championships. The Club Championship was formerly known as the "Rendezvous Restaurant Trophy" and the City Championship was sponsored by "Henderson and Cudmore". Both of these accomplishments are records at the local level.
Near the end of his competitive curling career, George Dillon curled in numerous Cash Bonspiels. In 1979, his team won the Cash Spiels in Montague, Charlottetown and Summerside.
Our inductee curled in what is known as the "Golden Years of Curling". Games were 12 ends long, now they are 10 ...... corn brooms " boomed " in the curling rinks, now the quiet push brooms are used. On Thursday of Brier week, teams played three 12-end games, a total of 36 ends, compared to 20 they would play today.
The PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum is pleased to welcome George Dillon, in the Curler Category, as an inducted Member on this day, November 15, 2007.
W. Elizabeth "Betty" Barbarie Linkletter
When the Provincial Ladies Curling Association was formed in Summerside on March 30, 1955, Betty Linkletter was elected as the first President. She had served as President of the Summerside Curling Club in 1951 - 52 and 1952 - 53.
Betty Linkletter was a very active member of the Summerside Curling Club on Notre Dame Street, introducing many new curlers to the game, and in 1958 she donated the "Betty Linkletter Challenge Trophy" to the Club, which promoted a great deal of competitive curling over the years, with all proceeds from the games going to the Prince County Hospital.
She skipped her team of Irene Silliphant, as mate... Sally Basler as 2nd stone and Fran Henthorn as Lead, to three consecutive Provincial Championships... in 1952, 1953 and 1954. It was called the "Silver D" then, sponsored by Dominion Stores until 1967. Provincial winners didn't compete at National's until the MacDonald "Lassie" was sponsored by the MacDonald Tobacco Company.
In 1977, Betty Linkletter was inducted, in the "Builder" category, to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame, and in recognition of that honour, she was presented a plaque at the 1977 MacDonald Lassie sponsored Provincial Ladies Curling Championship Banquet, held at the George R. Pearkes V.C. Branch Royal Canadian Legion in Summerside. At the time, Betty joined nine other first Provincial Ladies Curling Association Presidents in the Hall.
The Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame & Museum celebrates the good work of Elizabeth "Betty" Linkletter and posthumously inducts her, in the Builder Category, into the Hall on this 15th day of November, 2007.
Kathleen "Kay" Stuart MacDonald and Daniel Alexander "Alex" MacDonald
No two people have given more to the Sport of Curling in Prince Edward Island than have the husband and wife team of Kay and D. Alex MacDonald.
Kay began her curling career at the former Summerside Curling Club on Notre Dame Street, competing at the Club level and at the other Island Curling Clubs. In 1977 she was the winner of the "Ben Ames Williams International Mixed Bonspiel" in Belfast, Maine, curling as Lead for the Wyman Millar foursome.... the Bonspiel originated in 1962 and is named for the distinguished author of "Leave Her To Heaven", Ben Ames Williams, himself a curler, residing in Searsport, near Belfast. The annual event includes teams from Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts... as well as New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.
In 1983, Kay, playing lead for the Gen Enman Rink, won the PEI Senior Women's Championship and competed at the Nationals in Guelph, Ontario.
Kay MacDonald was an active member of the Ladies Division of the Summerside Curling Club..... always ready to assist in Club activities, banquets, fund raising, etc...... and was Vice-President of the Club in 1976 and 1977, and was active in Membership and Publicity in 1977 and 1978.
Meanwhile, Alex, also began his curling career at the Summerside Curling Club, competing in the club events as well as at other Island Curling Clubs. He played second stone for the Wyman Millar team as they won the 1976 and 1977 "Ben Ames Williams International Mixed Bonspiel" in Belfast, Maine..... they recorded the first back- to-back wins by any team in the history of the prestigious event.
Alex MacDonald, like Kay, contributed greatly to Club activities..... he served as Co -Chair of Fund Raising for the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club... he donated a 1929 Model "A" Ford as a fund raiser, and ticket sales were sponsored by the Junior Curlers of the Club. He also served on the Board of Directors for the new Club.
As owner of D. Alex MacDonald Ltd, he has sponsored the "D. Alex MacDonald Closing Mixed Bonspiel" for 44 years.... and the "Provincial Men's 8 year and Under" for 24 years
For their contribution and dedication to curling, Alex and Kay were chosen as Honourary Hosts for the 2002 "Karcher Canadian Jr Curling Championships" held at the Silver Fox.
They have raised a family of 11 children : Donald, Roberta, David, Danny, Peter, Rod, Joanne, Michael, Pamela, Neil and Kathy..... Donald passed away in 2005.
They may have retired from active Curling, but they passed on their love of the game to a number of their children... creating a Family Curling Dynasty. Many are PEI Champions who have competed in National Events, such as the Brier, Scottie Tournament of Hearts and National Mixed..... two members of the family are Canadian Mixed Champions. Their family, like Mom & Dad, have also contributed greatly to their respective clubs, by serving on the executive, and by sponsorship and coaching... which has made Alex & Kay so very proud of their many achievements.
Kay and Alex MacDonald are Life Members of the Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club... and for their tremendous contribution to Curling in this Province, they are worthy inductees as Builders, into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame & Museum, this 15th day of November 2007.
Helen Robbins and Hugh Robbins
Two names that have been synonymous with the game of curling are Helen and Hugh Robbins. The Robbins joined the old Montague Curling Club in 1964. Hugh was Vice - President of the Club the last few years of its existence, and was on the Building Committee for the new Club and the Project Manager for its construction when it was built in 1978. He was Vice - President in 1980-1981... then President in 1981-1982, and was on the Board for the next several years as Bar Manager, Chair of Maintenance, and Chair of Games at different times.
Helen held Executive positions on the new club, including President in 1983 - 84, and has helped organize and supervise the Junior Development Program at the Club. She has represented the Club at the Provincial Ladies Association for many years.... was on the Committee which wrote the Constitution and Bylaws for the proposed amalgamation of the PEI Curling Association and the PEI Ladies Curling Association. She became Vice - President for three years from 1988 to 1991... then President of the new Association in 1991 - 92, and Past President in 1992 - 93. Helen served as the Provincial Representative to the meetings of the Canadian Curling Association from 1989 to 1992. In 1997, she was honoured to be a member of the Canada - USA Senior Women's Friendship Tour to Wisconsin and Illinois. Helen Robbins reached her Level One Coaching Certificate and Level 3 officiating....... coaching and/or chaperoning many Junior Teams at Provincial competitions, and officiating at countless club, provincial and national events, including Canada Winter Games, National Mixed, and Scott Tournament of Hearts. She was also Chair, or on the Committee for the Fashion Show from 1992 to 2006.... and both she and Hugh have sponsored a Junior Competition at the Montague Curling Club for the past 20 years. For her untiring work with curling and many other facets of her community, Helen received the highest honour bestowed by this Province, on October 3rd, 2007.. the Order of Prince Edward Island.
Hugh Robbins represented the Montague Club at the Provincial Level.... he was Vice - President of the PEI Curling Association in 1981 - 82... President in 1982 - 83, and Past President in 1983 - 1984..... receiving the PEI Curling Association Recognition Award. Both Hugh and Helen were given Life Memberships to the PEI Curling Association in 2007.... Helen had earlier received a Life Membership to the Montague Curling Club in 1993, and a National Coaching Award and a Scott Recognition Award in that same year.
Hugh became a Level 3 official, like Helen... officiating at Provincial and National events, including the Canada Winter Games, National Mixed and Scott Tournament of Hearts.
For many, many years, this husband and wife team were the mainstay of their club during Bonspiels.... arriving early... helping to officiate and assisting in many other ways.... and staying to clean up!
Helen and Hugh Robbins, most worthy recipients of the Honour that is their's tonight as they are inducted, as Builders, into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum on this 15th day of November 2007.
In 1979, another PEI Men's Championship, this time with Wayne Matheson.... and then again with Wayne in 1984..
In 1985, he was a finalist in the PEI Men's Championship, playing with Blair Weeks and in 1990 was the fifth player for the Doug Weeks team at the Canadian Men's Championship in Saskatoon.
Allan combined a competitive career with an extensive coaching career, spanning more than 35 years. He has coached Junior Mens and Womens, Mens and Womens, and Senior Mens and Womens teams at the provincial and national level. PEI teams skipped by Kathie Gallant, Kim Dolan, Tami Lowther, Shelley Bradley, Barb Currie, Mike Gaudet, Ted MacFadyen and others have all benefited from his coaching abilities.
Beginning in 1972, he coached Rob Burnett to the PEI Schoolboy Championship and Flora Burnett's team to the final in the PEI Schoolgirl Championship in 1974 and again in 1975. Certainly a highlight for Allan personally, was coaching his son Sean's team to the PEI Junior Men's Championship in 1989.
He has coached many Men's and Women's teams successfully : Kathie Gallant to four provincial finals... Tami Lowther to three... Kim Dolan to two... Shelley Bradley to one and Mike Gaudet's team to one PEI Men's Championship. As well, Al has coached these teams as they participated in their Canadian Championships.
In 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007, Al coached Barbara Currie's team to the PEI Ladies Championship. He also coached the team at the Canadian Senior Ladies Championship held in Summerside in 2006.
In 2008, he again coached two teams that won a provincial senior title : Barbara Currie and Ted MacFadyen.
Allan has also been involved in other aspects of curling. He was secretary of the PEI Curling Association from 1972 to 1976. He has been a guest speaker at numerous sports events, including the Canadian Mixed and Canadian Seniors closing banquets and has emceed numerous other curling events.
During the 1990s, Allan participated in local broadcasts of the Island Super League for Eastlink Television, providing play by play commentary. As well, he was a guest commentator on CBC Television, at the World Junior Men's Curling Championship in Fredericton in 1982.
All in all, four purple hearts, 20 provincial championships, where the teams he coached were in the final game.... coaching his teams on six occasions at Canadian Championships; and numerous speaking engagements, where his love of the game was most evident.
In 1998, Al was elected to the Acadia University Sports Hall of Fame.
It is with great pleasure, that on this 20th day of October 2008, that we induct Allan Ledgerwood, as a curler/builder, into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame.
Elizabeth Macdonald
Builder - Curler
Liz Macdonald was one of the women responsible for the formation of the PEI Ladies Curling Association. At the 1955 Brier held in Regina, she met with women from the western provinces and discussed the possibility of a national women's competition. They advised her that forming a provincial ladies curling association would be a first step. Women curlers held a meeting March 30, 1955 in Summerside where Liz was appointed as one of two delegates to represent the CCC. At the March meeting, she was also appointed as chairperson of a committee tasked with drafting the constitution and bylaws for the new PEI Ladies Curling Association. It is interesting to note that the first national championship was subsequently held in 1961, where she and her team represented PEI.
She was elected as Chair of the Games Committee of the PEI Ladies Curling Association in 1958 and elected as Secretary-Treasurer of the PEI Ladies Curling Association in October 1959. In 1964, she again was elected Games Chairperson of the PEI Ladies Curling Association.
Liz Macdonald co-chaired the Championship Committee with Helen Likely for the Canadian Senior Ladies Championship, held at the Charlottetown Curling Club in 1976.
Liz competed on many levels throughout her career - ladies, mixed, seniors and masters.
She and her team won the PEI Ladies Curling Championship three times. The first provincial title came in 1961 and they went on to compete in the first-ever national competition held that same year - the 1st Dominion Diamond "D" classic, the official Ladies Curling Championship, at the Ottawa Hunt Golf and Curling Rink. As skip, she was joined by Sally Rodd, Ev Goss, and Nora MacDonald. The following year, the same team again won the PEI Ladies Curling Championship and went on to the nationals. She won the ladies provincial championship again in 1967, with Marie Toole, Barb Squarebriggs, and Peggie Dalziel.
At the Canada Games in 1967 in Quebec City, Liz was a member of the PEI team along with her husband, Dr. Wen Macdonald, Shirley Storey and Lorne Burke. It was a mixed team and at that time, there was no age stipulation for curling.
In 1974, she skipped the team that won the PEI Senior Ladies Championship, with Sybil MacMillan, Anne Wood, and Doris LeClair and they went on to the national seniors event in Halifax. Liz won the provincial senior ladies two more times, in 1980 and 1981. These two years, she represented PEI at Fredericton and Winnipeg with Sybil MacMillan, Gladys Reid, and Alma MacDonald.
Liz Macdonald organized the first PEI Ladies Masters Competition as well as the first Maritime Masters. She won the trophy several times and has since been honoured with the women's Maritime Masters trophy, now being presented in her name.
The Charlottetown Curling Club each year presents the Merklinger Award trophy to the curler of the year. This trophy is awarded to curlers, male or female, who best exemplify curling excellence and sportsmanship at the Charlottetown Curling Club. Liz was the first winner of this award in 1978.
Each year, at the Scott Tournament of Hearts, an award is presented to the curler who best embodies the spirit of the game. Originally named for a different curler or builder in the area hosting the event, the award is now named in honour of Marj Mitchell, who skipped Canada to its first world title in 1981. In 1984, when the Scott was held in Charlottetown, the Elizabeth Macdonald Award was presented to Yvonne Smith, Ontario.
Elizabeth Macdonald was elected to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in the Curler/Builder category in 1992..... And we are most pleased to posthumously induct her as a Curler/Builder into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame, this 20th day of October, 2008.
Dr. Wendell Macdonald
Builder - Curler
Growing up in Charlottetown in the late 1920's, Dr. Wen, as he would be known, was a star athlete in such sports as baseball, hockey, and football while attending West Kent School and Prince of Wales College. While attending Dalhousie University medical school, Dr. Wen was also a strong contributor with the varsity hockey team.
Returning to Charlottetown in 1945 after completing Radiology specialization in Montreal,
Dr. Wen began curling recreationally while also participating in his other beloved activities:
fishing, hunting and golf. Though his professional life consumed a large portion of his daily activities, curling remained a centrepiece in his life.
Dr. Wen began to curl more on a competitive level in the late forties at the Charlottetown Curling Club. His longtime friend, John Squarebriggs, would be closely associated with him as "mate" throughout his distinguished curling career, and with his competitiveness and passion for the sport, success in the curling world soon came his way. He began competing on the provincial level, and as Skip, won his first Provincial Mens Curling Championships which took him to the Brier. Gaining extensive experience from attending this national event, Dr. Wen skipped his team to two more consecutive Provincial Mens Championships in 1955 and 1956 and returned to the national scene.
Through Dr. Wen's association with the sport of curling in Charlottetown, the local curling club prospered and grew to be a vital part of the community. The club was his "second home" and upon the urging of his wife Elizabeth, Dr Wen was instrumental in bringing women into the sport in the 1950's,
thus helping to make it one of the Island's main social activities.
Shortly thereafter, he turned his efforts to the senior curling competitions. This would be where Dr. Wen would have his name etched forever into the archives of curling on Prince Edward Island. Commencing in 1965, teams skipped by Dr. Wen would go on to win seven consecutive Provincial Senior Titles culminating with a Canadian Championship, PEI's first in 1971, in Halifax.
At sixty -two years of age, Dr. Wen's success continued as his curling foursomes would go on to capture seven more provincial titles. His presence at the national championships continued and he was rewarded once again with winning consecutive National Senior Curling Championships in 1975 in Calgary, and 1976 in Ottawa, where he was quoted as saying "somebody up there is taking good care of us". In 1976, Dr. Wen was nominated overwhelmingly to become a member of the Governor General Curling Club of Canada. This honorary curling club was designed to promote the game of curling in Canada and to recognize those individuals who have made a significant contribution to curling whether on the national or international level.
Macdonald, twice served as President of the Charlottetown Curling Club.....
President of the PEI Curling Association....
Secretary - Treasurer of the PEI Curling Association for 5 years....
Chairperson, 1973 National Mixed in Charlottetown....
And for several years, he was a Delegate to the Canadian Curling Association.
Dr. Wen was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame as a Builder in 1975 and as a Curler in 1977.
Previously inducted into the PEI Sports Hall of Fame, Dr Wendell Macdonald will now take his place, as a Curler /Builder, in the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame, as we posthumously induct him this 20th day of October, 2008.
Freeman Miles
Builder
Freeman Miles began his curling career in North Sydney, Nova Scotia. Following his move to Charlottetown, he curled at the Charlottetown Curling Club, and with a later move to Summerside he continued in the sport at the Summerside Curling Club and then the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club.... and although he participated as a curler in the "roaring game" for 40 years, his real contribution has been in the Builder Category.
He first served as vice - president of the Charlottetown Curling Club and then as president in 1971 - 72, and In the mid seventies, Freeman became active in the Prince Edward Island Curling Association. He was the PEI representative to the Canadian Curling Association for the Mixed for three years — 1975 through 1977, and then three years as the provincial Men's representative to the Canadian Curling Association in 1978 to 1980. He served two years as vice - president of the Prince Edward Island Curling Association.... as president in 1982-83, and then as past-president. During this time period, Freeman was an active member of most of the association committees
In 1976, Freeman moved to Summerside, where he served on the executive of the old Summerside Curling Club.... first as vice president and then two years as president in 1979 to 1981.
In 1980 to 1982 he chaired the Building Committee for the new rink, to be known as the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club.... it opened in January 1982 and he became the first Chair of the Board of Directors.... twelve years later, he again presided as President of the Silver Fox, in the 1994 - 95 year.
His talents as an administrator continued to be in demand, as he was the draw master for Canadian Legion Curling (Provincial Command) for sixteen years.
In 1987, he chaired the National Mixed Organizing Committee for the Canadian Mixed Championship held at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club. This was the year the Peter Gallant team of Charlottetown, won the Canadian Championship.
In 2007, Freeman was presented with a Life Membership to the PEI Curling Association.
The Freeman Miles record, as a Builder of curling in this Province, has been outstanding and he is most deserving of the honour we bestow upon him this evening, as we induct him, in the Builder Category, into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame, this 20th day of October 2008.
Leonard Murphy
Builder
Leonard Murphy began curling while he was in the RCAF and continued his association with the sport when he returned to the province in 1968, becoming involved in the Alberton Curling Club as a volunteer. For more than 30 years, he has spent countless hours donating his time as an administrator, committee member, negotiator, fund raiser and doing many other tasks associated with establishing and maintaining a curling club in a small town.
Leonard was part of the Alberton Curling Club committee that met with the O'Leary Curling Club to discuss a proposal by the provincial government to build a six sheet rink at the Mill River Resort, rather than having separate rinks in Alberton and O'Leary. The outcome was clear, of course, that Alberton and O'Leary would each continue to operate their own curling clubs.
When the Alberton club ran into financial problems, Leonard was asked to be the spokesperson for the club, to work out a deal with the mortgage holder. The club was owned by shareholders, and most of them were either deceased, moved away from Alberton, or were not interested in playing anymore. Leonard tracked down the majority of the shareholders and was able to convince them to donate or sell their shares to the club. After they settled on a deal, he chaired the committee to draft up a new constitution and by-laws. The club was renamed "The Western Curling Club" in 1990, and Leonard was on the committee that saw the club expand to three sheets of ice.
Leonard Murphy served fifteen years on the club executive including being president on three occasions, in 1980/81, 1992/93, and 1999/2000. He was the Alberton Curling Club's representative to the PEI Curling Association from 1978 until 1986. He was elected second vice president of the PEI Curling Association in 1982.... served as first vice president in 1983.... president in 1984/85, and then as past president in 1985/86. He was also Provincial Games chairman in 1985/86.
Leonard taught curling at the club.... coached juniors for a number of years and is a level 1 instructor. The PEI Curling Association recognized Leonard in 1990 for his coaching endeavours and the Royal Canadian Legion honoured him in 2000 for his work with Royal Canadian Legion Curling events.
The PEI Curling Hall of Fame is pleased to induct Leonard Murphy into the Hall, as a builder, on this 20th day of October 2008.
John Drake Squarebriggs
Curler
John Squarebriggs grew up in Charlottetown where he played many sports. For many years hockey was his game.... he was but 15 when he played for the junior Abbies, and from 1927 to 1932, he was a member of the senior Abbies in the Maritime big Six Hockey League. He would later play seven years in the Eastern Hockey League, with Bronx New York, with New York Rovers, and through 1940 with the Baltimore Orioles, as player, captain and coach.
Johnny "Snaggs", as he was affectionatly known, went on to the Cape Breton League... with the Glace Bay Miners as player / coach....and with North Sydney Vics and the Sydney Millionaires as player/ coach. He coached the Prince of Wales College team in the late 1940's, and became a referee in the Maritime Big 4 League in the 1950's.
Baseball was also his sport, and he was on the 1932 Charlottetown all - star team champions.
His athletic talents took him to golf, bowling, tennis, billiards and of course curling.
In curling, he was amazing. He was on the winning team three times for the Canadian Seniors Curling Championship.... in 1971, 1975, and 1976.
In 1971, Johnny was with Wen Macdonald, Doug George, and Dan O'Rourke, and in 1975 and 1976, he was with Wen Macdonald, Irvine MacKinnon, and Don Hutchison.
John Squarebriggs was on the team that won the PEI Seniors Championship 12 times. In 1966, in Winnipeg his first Nationals, he was with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Wally Rodd and James Cameron. 1967 in Montreal, he was with the same team.... in 1968 in Edmonton, with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Wally Rodd, and Norman Nicholson..... in 1969 in Hamilton, with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Doug George, and Wally Rodd.... in 1970 in Kamloops, he was with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Doug George, and Dan O'Rourke.... In 1971 they won the championship in Halifax.... in 1973 in Sudbury, with the same team as in 1971.... in 1974 in Saint John, with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Irvine MacKinnon, and Arthur Ballem.... in 1975 when they won their second Canadian championship, it was in Calgary... in 1976 they won their third and last national championship, when it was held in Ottawa. In 1980, it was Nanaimo, with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Don Hutchison, and Irvine Mackinnon.... and his last National appearance was in Charlottetown in 1982 with Dr. Wen Macdonald, Don Hutchison, and Irvine Mackinnon.
Johnny was on the winning team for the PEI British Consols Mens Championship five times. The first was in 1947, when he was with Frank Acorn, Andy Likely, and Anc Howatt. In 1951, he was with Frank Acorn, Bill MacNeill, and Mel Jenkins. In 1954, with Dr. Wendell Macdonald, Elmer Macdonald, and Barry Macdonald. In 1955 Dr. Wendell Macdonald, Andy Likely, and Elmer Macdonald..... and in 1956, he was with Dr. Wen, Andy Likely, and Elmer Macdonald.
Johnny served as a board member with the PEI Sport Hall of Fame and Museum.....
In 1976 he was inducted into the PEI Sport Hall of Fame as a member of the Dr. Wendell Macdonald team.
Most remember John Drake Squarebriggs for not only his athletic abilities, but as well, his human qualities.... his unique sense of humor.... loyalty to his friends... his knowledge of so many different subjects... and his well known capacity for speaking on any subject, for hours on end.
Johnny was elected to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1978.... tonight, we posthumously induct him into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of fame, in the curler category, this 20th day of October, 2008
Marie Toole
Curler
Marie Toole began curling more than 50 years ago to pass the winter months while the golf courses were closed. She launched what would become an outstanding career as a competitive curler.
Marie began her career at the Charlottetown Curling Club and it wasn't long before she was on a team, playing third, that won the PEI Mixed Championship in 1966. Her skip was Dougie Bell, and her team mates were Bill MacGregor and Marion Partridge.
The next year, 1967, she was playing third on the team that won the PEI Ladies Championship along with skip Elizabeth Macdonald, Barb Squarebriggs and Peg Dalziel. As well, that same year, she was a winner of the PEI Mixed Curling Championship, playing third on the Allan Smith skipped team,with Bill McGregor and Pauline Johnston.
Two years later, in 1969, another PEI Ladies Curling Championship. This time, she skipped the team with third Jennie Boomhower, second Mary Acorn, and lead Pauline Johnston. The Canadian Championship was held in Thunder Bay, Ontario and the Team finished third.
She was the provincial winner again for the next three years straight, with third Jennie Boomhower, second Cathy Dillon, and lead Pauline Johnston.
In 1973, she was a winner once again, as a member of the the PEI Mixed Curling Championship Team, playing third for Doug Cameron, alongside Bill McGregor and Pauline Johnston.
In 1974, she was back again as the winner of the PEI Ladies Championship with her same team of Jennie, Cathy and Pauline. The team placed second at the Canadian Ladies Curling Championship in Victoria that year ---- the very best showing any Island women's team has accomplished to date.
Marie Toole was also active in the administrative side of Curling, serving as the Charlottetown Curling Club's delegate to the PEI Ladies Curling Association, from 1962 to 1964 and again as the clubs provincial delegate, 1977/78, and 1978/79. Marie was the Secretary/Treasurer, of the PEI Ladies Curling Association in 1962/63.
At the club level, Marie served as Vice President, Charlottetown Ladies Curling Club, 1972/73, and as President for the 1973/74 year. She also Co-convened one of the club's major fund raisers in those days, the 1975 Charlottetown Ladies Curling Club Fashion Show.
All in all, six provincial women's championships and three mixed championships - Marie Toole, worthy of induction into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame in the curler category this 20th day of October 2008.
Orville Willis
Builder
In April 1973, Orville Willis was one of a group of people who wanted to see a curling rink built in their community of O'Leary. They decided to hold a meeting to see if they could generate some interest in their idea...... Orville chaired the organizing committee, and five years later, in the fall of 1978, the community of O'Leary had a curling rink.
Orville was one of the original temporary directors involved in the building of the Community Curling Club, later called the Maple Leaf Curling Club. He attended numerous meetings, chaired many committees, and personally raised funds to build the rink. There were many challenges along the way, and one of significance was the building being partially destroyed by strong winds during its construction.
Orville was president of the Maple Leaf Curling Club on two occasions, 1980/81 and 1988/89... and he was a director for many years. He also represented the Maple Leaf Curling Club throughout the years at meetings held by the PEI Curling Association, and spent many hours making ice, coordinating bonspiels, and assisting with provincial bonspiels held at the club. His company, CF Willis & Sons, sponsored club championships, cashspiels, and bonspiels. He even volunteered to be "roasted" at a Maple Leaf Curling Club fund raiser.
In April, 1995, Life Memberships were sold to raise money in order to retire an operating debt which was mostly property taxes. Orville Willis was one of fourteen members to purchase one, even though he was not an active curler at that time.
Orville truly loves the game and is proud to have been a member of PEI Masters Championship team in 1995/96 and 1996/97. He played second, and his team mates were skip Jim Baglole, George Bernard and Kenny Banks.
A true builder - from the ground up, chairing and serving on committees, talking to architects and construction people, sponsoring events and raising money, finding curling rocks and doing many other volunteer tasks, required to get a club up and running..... Orville has been involved with and supported the Maple Leaf Curling Club since its inception more than 35 years ago.
Tonight, we honour his wonderful contribution, made over those many years, and induct him, in the Builder Category, into the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame, on this 20th day of October, 2008.
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