A large crowd was on hand tonight for the seventh annual induction ceremony for the PEI Curling Hall and Fame and Museum, held at the Silver Fox Curling and Yacht Club in Summerside, with six new inductees honoured for their achievements and contributions to the sport of curling: former PEI resident Jennie Boomhower, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario Ann Currie (posthumously), Summerside, Arnold (Lock) Llewellyn (posthumously),Charlottetown, Bev Millar, Summerside, Daniel O’Rourke (posthumously), Charlottetown, and Marilyn Sutherland, Charlottetown.

Each of the inductees has excelled in their own curling corner. Ann Currie and Bev Millar each had a competitive spirit and drive that showed itself not only in the number of times their names appeared on various trophies, but also in their volunteer work for their clubs and province. Lock Llewellyn, an avid curler in his day, won a provincial school boy championship, and five purple hearts (symbol of winning the provincial mens championship) between 1957 and 1966. Daniel O’Rourke was a constant visitor to the winner’s circle during his competitive curling years. including being a member of the Wen Macdonald team, who won the Island’s first-ever national curling title, the 1971 Canadian Senior Mens Championship, as well as being a dedicated volunteer on the administrative side of the game. Jennie Boomhower had an action-packed two decades of competition, winning seven provincial women’s titles, a provincial mixed, and a provincial senior women’s championship.  Always available to give pointers and encouragement to anyone who might ask, Marilyn Sutherland has spent more than three decades as a coach, instructor, co-ordinator and administrator.

The main objectives of the Curling Hall of Fame and Museum are to recognize, honour and pay tribute to individuals or teams on the basis of playing ability, as an amateur or a professional (“Curler” category), and to individuals who have given distinguished service and have made major contributions to the development of curling on Prince Edward Island (“Builder” category)..

The event was co-hosted by Tricia Affleck and Paul H. Schurman.

On hand to provide words of welcome were PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum Chairman Jerry Muzika:

“Recognizing the accomplishments of curlers and builders who have dedicated much time and energy to the sport of curling is important, not only to them and their families and friends, but it is also an important component of our curling history”.

along with District 22 MLA Gerard Greenan

Silver Fox Director Cliff Poirier

Ron Hutton from the Canadian Curling Association’s Board of Directors

and Curl PEI President George Koke.

Each of the inductees or their representative(s) were presented with a certificate and pin, and then participated in the unveiling of their portrait, drawn by artist Wayne Wright, and then gave a short speech.

The first inductee, in the Curler category, was Jennie Boomhower, a Charlottetown native now living in Ontario, presented by Hall of Fame Director Allan Ledgerwood: Click for bio.

Next up was a posthumous induction for Ann Currie of Summerside, in the Curler category, by Hall of Fame member Arleen Harris, with Ann’s son Morgan Currie accepting. Click for bio.

The third inductee Arnold (Lock) Llewellyn of Charlottetown (posthumously), in the Curler category. The presentations were made by the CCA’s Ron Hutton, with Mr. Llewellyn’s wife Teresa, and sons Paul and Derek in attendance. Click for bio.

Derek took the podium to tell the audience a little about his father and his love of curling.

Next up was Summerside’s Bev Millar, in the Curler category, presented by Marg Nowlan. Click for bio.

During her speech, Bev introducted her mother, Jeanette Birch, who will be 102 years old in January.

Paul H. Schurman had the honours of doing the induction for the late Dan O’Rourke of Charlottetown (Curler/Builder category) Dan’s daughter, Kathy Clarey, accepted and made a short speech. Click for bio.

The final inductee was Charlottetown’s Marilyn Sutherland, in the Builder category, presented by Curl PEI President George Koke. Click for bio.

Following the presentations, the inductees or their representatives posed for a group photo:

Click for more photos from the event.

The event was sponsored by PEI Ford Dealers, Beaton’s Wholesale Dry Goods, Phillips Feed Service, the City of Summerside, and Consolidated Credit Union of Summerside.

Here are the biographies, which were read during each curler’s induction, for this year’s inductees:

Jennie Boomhower, curler category

Photo: Jennie Boomhower

An all-around athlete, Jennie Boomhower excelled in many sports including basketball, canoeing, rowing, tennis, lawn bowling and badminton.  But, after hearing about curling from Doug Cameron,  she fell in love with the game and began an action-packed two decades of competing and winning.

In 1958, Jennie, playing  second stone, won the PEI Women’s Curling Championship, with skip Sybil MacMillan, third Marion Dockendorff,  and lead Iris MacLennan.

In 1965, she again won the title, with MacMillan as skip, third Marjorie Stewart, and lead Janet Douglas.

Teaming up with skip Marie Toole in 1969, Jennie, at third, won the PEI Women’s Championship, with second Mary Acorn, and lead Pauline Johnston. At the Canadian MacDonald Lassie (as it was known then), held in Thunder Bay, Ontario, they finished in third place.

In 1970, the same team, except for Cathy Dillon replacing Mary Acorn at second, won the provincial title, and went on to compete in Calgary, Alberta.

1971 saw a repeat performance with the same team, this time going on to compete in Saint John, New Brunswick, and, in 1972, they again won, advancing to national play in Saskatoon. They came back to win in ’74, finishing in second place at the national championship in Victoria, BC, a record held for more than 35 years for PEI women’s teams competing at the national event.

Jennie also competed in mixed curling, and in 1968, playing third for skip Ken MacDonald, with second Melvin White and lead Lucie Jardine, they won the Provincial Mixed title.

In 1979, Jennie skipped her team of third Esther Cox, second Pearl White and lead Joyce Beer, to a winning finish at the PEI Senior Women’s Championship.

In local competitions, Jennie was a frequent winner. She won the Charlottetown City Championship in 1971 and 1972, playing with Marie Toole, Pauline Johnston, and Janet Douglas.  In 1977, skipping her own team of Sadie Shama, Betty Matheson, and Dawn MacLeod, she again won this tournament.

In 1967, playing third, she won the Charlottetown Curling Club Mixed Championship with skip  Danny ORourke, second Paul O’Rourke, and lead Charlotte O’Rourke.

Many other competitions were won, including the Evening Patriot, Kays Brothers, Gaudet’s Save Easy, Tanton’s, and the Jiggs Memorial Trophy.

Jennie also participated in other aspects of the game, coaching the Junior Women’s team of Gloria Basha, Janet Wood, Anne Hennessey, and Kim McLeod, who won the provincial Junior Women’s Championship in 1975.

She served on the on the board of the Ladies Branch of the Charlottetown Curling Club in 1974, serving as president in 1975, and past-president in 1976. She was also the Ladies afternoon Games chairperson for three years.  Jennie was quick to help out with many club activities, including variety  and fashion shows.

Although she has lived  out of the province for some time, Jennie certainly made her mark while curling here, with seven provincial women’s titles, a provincial mixed, a provincial senior women’s championship, and a provincial juniors as coach, stellar achievements in two decades of play.

Ann Currie (Posthumously), curler category

Photo: Ann Currie

Summerside curler Ann Currie began curling in the early ’70s and won her first major provincial title in 1984, beginning an active 23-year competitive curling career

With skip Barbara Currie, third Bev Millar, and lead Marnie Noye, they won the Prince Edward Island Women’s Curling Championship and represented the province at the 1984 Scott Tournament of Hearts held in Charlottetown.  In 1986, the same team again won the right to represent their province in London, Ontario.

Ann won five Prince Edward Island Senior Womens Championships. The first was in 1993, with Janet MacDonald as skip, Donna McCarthy at third, and lead Bev Millar.

In 1995, the team lineup changed and the win came with skip Marnie Noye, Ann at third, second Mabel Gardiner, and lead Annetta Walsh.

In 1999, Ann was still at third, but again the team changed, with skip Marg Nowlan, second Gen Enman, and lead Mabel Gardiner.

The next year, 2000, the team remained the same and they again won the Senior Women’s title.

In 2001, Ann won with a new team skipped by Barbara Currie, with third Nola Murphy,  and Helen MacDonald at lead.

They were runners-up in 2007, with the 2001 team line-up.

In Masters curling, Ann won four Prince Edward Island Women’s Masters Championships. The first was in 2003, as skip, with Georgie Coulson at third, second Wanda MacLean, and lead Mabel Gardiner.

They won in 2005, with Jeanne Duffenais as skip, Georgie Coulson at third, and Wanda MacLean at lead. They went on to win the 2005 Maritime Women’s Masters Championship. The same team was successful in 2006 and 2007 in winning the PEI Women’s Masters title.

At the club level, she skipped her teams to win the Lady Fox Bonspiel in 1984 and 1986.

Ann received the Lester Fitzgerald award in 2008, awarded posthumously, to a member deemed to have unselfishly contributed to the success of the club in various ways.

Ann’s name made frequent appearances on Women’s curling trophies during more than two decades.

Arnold (Lock)  Llewellyn (posthumously), curler category

Photo: Lock Llewellyn

Arnold (Lock) Llewellyn started curling as a youngster at the Charlottetown Curling Club and soon became an adept competitive player.

Playing third for skip Art Burke, Lock won the PEI School Boy Championship in 1957, with second Allison Saunders, and lead Harris Dingwell.

He quickly moved on to men’s competition, and made five appearances at the Canadian Men’s Curling Championship between 1958 and 1966.

In 1958, playing lead for Doug Cameron, with George Dillon at third and Jim Cameron at second, Lock and the team won the PEI Men’s Championship and went on to play in the MacDonald Brier held in Victoria, BC.

In 1960, he again played lead stone for Cameron, with George Dillon at third, and second Allison Saunders, and advanced to the Canadian Championship in Port Arthur, (now part of Thunder Bay), Ontario. The same team was back the next year, when the Brier was held in Calgary, Alberta.

They won again in 1963, and went on to play at the Brier in Brandon, Manitoba.

In 1966, playing third for skip Art Burke, Lock won the PEI Men’s Curling Championship along with second Ralph Manning and lead Temple Hooper, going to Halifax for the Canadian Championship.

Lock was also competitive on the local level.  He won the Tyro Curling Championship in 1961, playing third for Allison Saunders, second Bobby Dillon, and lead Merrill Pursey.  Lock played third with Art Burke in 1967, winning the Belvedere Men’s Club Championship with Allison Saunders at second and Stu Lavers at lead.

Lock served on several committees that hosted Canadian Curling Championships held in Charlottetown. He was responsible for Pins and Decorations on the 1964 Charlottetown Brier Committee, and he served on the Canadian Seagram Mixed committee in 1973, the Junior Men’s in 1978, and the Senior Men’s in 1982.

Beverley (Bev) J. Millar, curler category

Photo: Bev Millar

For more than 40 years, Bev Millar has been engaged with the sport of curling.

As a competitor, her first win came in 1976, playing second for skip Wanda Hunter, winning the Gaudet’s Save Easy Championship  along with Wanda MacLean at third, and lead Eva Sherry.

With a new team lineup, she won again the Gaudet’s Save Easy in 1977, playing third for skip Wanda MacLean, with Sylvia Rodd at second, and Nancy Desroches at lead.

In 1978, she won the PEI Winter Games curling championship, playing third with her husband, skip Wyman Millar, along with second Gerry Richard and lead Wanda MacLean.

Bev won three Prince Edward Island Women’s Curling Championships. The first was in 1981, when she skipped the team. Playing with her were Betty Miles at third, Norma Worth at second, and lead Wanda MacLean.

In 1984, she won her second PEI Women’s Championship, playing third for skip Barbara Currie, with second Ann Currie, and lead Marnie Noye. The national Scott Tournament of Hearts was played in Charlottetown that year.

In 1986, with the same team, she won the PEI Women’s title again, and went on to compete at the Scott in London, Ontario.

Bev won the Prince Edward Island Senior Women’s Championship in 1993, playing lead for skip Janet MacDonald, with Donna McCarthy at third, and Ann Currie at second. At the Canadian Championship in Edmonton they placed third.

Bev was runner-up in three PEI Seniors  Championships — in 1988 with skip Donna McCarthy, in 1989 with Gen Enman as skip, and with skip Janet MacDonald in 1991.

In 1976 and 1977, Bev won the Ben Ames Williams International Mixed Bonspiel, and was runner-up in 1969.  This bonspiel was held in Maine, with teams competing from the Maritimes, as well as the northeastern United States.

In 2001, Bev played lead for skip Wanda MacLean when they won the Prince Edward Island Women’s Masters Curling Championship. Other team members were Georgie Coulson at third, and second Marnie Noye.

At the club level, Bev won the Summerside Curling Club’s ladies club championships on three occasions — in 1975, 1976, and 1979.

Bev holds a Level 2 Instructor/Coach certification, and in 1987 she attended the Elite Curling Camp in Truro, NS.

Bev was also an active volunteer off the ice.  She chaired the Summerside Curling Club’s  membership and publicity committees from 1974 to 1977.

In 1979/80, and 1980/81, she co-chaired the Junior Curling Program.

Bev was on the Building Committee with responsibility for planning and fund raising for the new Silver Fox Curling & Yacht Club complex from 1979 to1981.

She co-chaired committees of two Canadian Curling Championships which were held on the Island. In 1987, she took on the responsibility for Officials at the Canadian Mixed, and in 2006, at the Canadian Senior Women’s, she co-chaired Opening Reception and Greeter of Teams Committees. Both events were held in Summerside.

Bev volunteered on numerous committees, some at the club level, and  many at various Canadian Championships which were held on the Island.

She wrote curling news for the club newsletters on many occasions.

Bev was a founding member of the committee to establish the Prince Edward Island Curling Hall of Fame and Museum, and served on the committee from 2007 to 2012.

Bev was recognized in 2001 with the PEI Curling Association’s Marion Dockendorff Achievement Award.

Daniel (Dan) Lindsay O’Rourke (posthumously), curler/builder category

Photo: Dan O’Rourke

Daniel Lindsay O’Rourke began a career of more than three decades of successful competition in Men’s, Senior Men’s, Legion and  club championships by capturing the PEI Men’s Curling Championship in 1950, playing second for skip Heath Saunders.  Other team members were Doug Saunders at third and Dave MacLeod at lead.

Dan was runner-up to the Alan Smith team in the Prince Edward Island Men’s Curling Championship in 1968, skipping his team of third Bill Acorn, second Mel White, and lead Fred Brown.

Dan won his first of three PEI Seniors Men’s Curling Championships in 1970, playing lead for Dr. Wen Macdonald, with John Squarebriggs at third, and Doug George at second.

In 1971, they again won the PEI Senior Men’s with the same team members. They went on to win the Canadian Senior Men’s Curling Championship in Halifax NS – the first ever national title for a Prince Edward Island team at a Canadian Curling Championship.

Dan won his last provincial Senior Men’s championship in 1973, with the same team as in 1970 and 1971.

In 1976, Dan skipped his own team and was runner up to Dr. Wen Macdonald’s rink in the PEI Senior Curling Championship. His players were Jim Cameron at third, second Aurel Morais, and lead Jack Brown.

In 1962, he won the Royal Canadian Legion Provincial Curling Championship with Paul O’Rourke at third, Dr. Temple Hooper at second, and Clifford Campbell at lead.

They won the Legion Championship again in 1964 with the same team as in 1962.

Dan won the Men’s Charlottetown Curling Club Championship in 1953, playing third for skip W. R. MacNeil.

In 1967, he won the Charlottetown Curling Club Mixed Championship, skipping his team of third Jennie Boomhower, second Paul O’Rourke, and lead Charlotte O’Rourke.

Dan was also involved with the administrative side of the game.  He was elected as vice president of the PEI Curling Association in 1965/66 and served as President in 1966/67 and past president in 1967/68.

At the club level, Dan was on the Board of Directors of the Charlottetown Curling Club in 1951/53 and held the position of Treasurer. He was vice president of the club in 1962/63, and President in 1963/64. He was on the nominating committee of the Charlottetown Curling Club in 1966 and in 1967. He was again appointed to the Board of Directors in 1972, serving for three years as Chairman of Property. and Treasurer.

On the national scene, Dan was vice chairman of the 1964 Charlottetown Brier Committee.  He also served on the host committee responsible for the Canadian Seniors Men’s Curling Championship in Charlottetown in 1982, chairing the finance committee.

Dan was elected to the Prince Edward Island Sports Hall of Fame in 1972 as a member of the Wen Macdonald Team, winners of the 1971 Canadian Senior Men’s Curling Championship.

Marilyn Sutherland, builder category

Photo: Marilyn Sutherland

For more than thirty years, Marilyn Sutherland has been involved and dedicated to the sport of curling – as a player, coach, coordinator, trainer and administrator.

Beginning by taking the first-offered Level 1 Technical Coaching Course in 1975, Marilyn advanced to become a Master Course Conductor. She has been conducting Level 1 and 2 Curling Technical Courses since 1980.

In 1984/85, Marilyn chaired the Junior Development Committee and was instrumental in holding the first Elite Training Camp and Junior Booster Day for young curlers.

1986/87 was the first time that the PEI Ladies Curling Association provided officials at the provincial women’s curling championship final games. Marilyn was an integral part of this endeavour.

Marilyn has always been ready to volunteer her time and energy as an official and a coach.  As an official, Marilyn participated at Canadian Juniors events in 1978, 1980, 2000, and 2002.  She officiated at the Scott Tournament of Hearts held in Charlottetown in 1984, at the Canadian Mixed Championships in Summerside in 1987, and also in 1996 at the Canadian Mixed when it was held in Charlottetown, as well as the Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island in 1991.

As a coach, Marilyn coached the PEI Women’s Teams at the Canada Winter Games in 1983 and 1991,and the PEI Men’s Team at the Canada Winter Games in 1999.   She also coached the PEI Junior Women’s Team at the 1991 Canadian Juniors and the PEI Junior Men’s Champions in 2003, as well as many other teams along the way.

Marilyn organized and coordinated a junior curling program at Queen Charlotte Junior High for four years and for many years at Stonepark Junior High and Colonel Grey High School. At various times, she coordinated the junior program at the Charlottetown Curling Club, the Belvedere Golf and Winter Club and the Cornwall Curling Club. She also coordinated or assisted at countless curling schools held at Island curling clubs and willingly and freely gave advice to countless numbers of junior and adult curlers, teams and individuals who sought her expertise and assistance.

It may be noted that she made a difference in the lives of many juniors during this time and that many of the PEI curlers who have achieved some level of success at the provincial and national levels have benefited from Marilyn’s dedication to curling.

Marilyn also was a keen competitor. In 1983, Marilyn played lead on the winning PEI provincial mixed team skipped by Doug Weeks, with Heather Mabey at third and second Billy Dillon, and in 1978 was a member of the PEI Women’s Championship team, playing third for Gloria Basha, with second Wilma McLure and lead Marion Basha.

In an administrative capacity, Marilyn served with the Ladies Branch of the Charlottetown Curling Club in 1976/77 and 1977/78, as chair of Junior Ladies. In 1985/86, she served as vice-president, and president in 1986/87. Marilyn has been attending PEI Ladies Curling Association and PEI Curling Association (post-amalgamation) meetings regularly since 1983. She also is a founding member of the PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum serving from its inception in 2007 to 2012.

Marilyn has received a number of awards recognizing her volunteer work in sport.  In 2002, Marilyn received the ADL/Sport PEI Volunteer Recognition Certificate, honouring her for her many roles in working with the sports of curling and lawn bowling.

Each year during the Provincial Women’s Scotties Tournament of Hearts the PEI Curling Association recognizes a female curler (or curlers) who have shown great dedication to the sport either on a local, provincial, and/or a national level.  The award’s name honours curling pioneer, Marion Dockendorff.  Marilyn Sutherland was the recipient of this prestigious award in 2004.

She received an honourary life membership from the PEI Curling Association in 2006.  Honourary life members must have given long and outstanding service to the PEI Curling Association and their curling clubs to be elected to life membership.

Marilyn Sutherland was honoured at the Sport PEI Awards Banquet in April, 2007 when she was presented with the President’s Award for outstanding dedication to sport. Marilyn was recognized for her contribution which spanned more than three decades in administration, coaching and officiating, in both lawn bowling and curling.

In May 2010, a special recognition award was given to Marilyn Sutherland at the PEI Curling Association’s annual ADL/Sport PEI Curling Awards.

Marilyn is being recognized by the Hall of Fame and Museum for her longstanding dedication to young people, for teaching the skills and strategy of the game, for coaching, officiating, instructing and coordinating programs and curling clinics and for her generous gift of time as a volunteer.

For more information on the PEI Curling Hall of Fame and Museum, including previous inductees, visit the History section of PEICurling.com.