Lawn Bowls in Nova Scotia goes back centuries.
1730 is the earliest record of bowls played in Nova Scotia when British soldiers brought their wooden bowls to Port Royal.
In 1887, the Wanderers Lawn Bowls Club was established and is now the second oldest club in Canada. The club has a rich history of hosting and winning National Championship events. The club has hosted many events in its history including the Canadian Lawn Bowling Championships, Canadian Senior Triples Championships and the Canadian Junior and Under-25 Championship.
The Bridgetown Lawn Bowling Club began rolling bowls in the Valley in 1919 and the club has been active ever since.
The St. Mary's Lawn Bowls Club was formed in 1941 in its scenic location high above the Northwest Arm.
Interest in the sport grew and in 1987, an interested group were successful in starting up the Dartmouth Lawn Bowls Club. Opened on August 15th, 1987 on the opening of the Canadian Lawn Bowling Championship, the artificial green has been a major center for bowls in the province as the largest membership in Nova Scotia.
Shortly after, in 1990, the Bedford Lawn Bowls Club was also formed at their location off the Bedford Highway.
These clubs continued to thrive as membership grew. In 2012, a new club in Truro known as the Cobequid Lawn Bowls Club was added to the provincial fold.
As of now, Nova Scotia has six very active bowls clubs with bowlers of all ages competing at many levels from recreational right up to the National Championship level.
Here is what the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame has on bowls in Nova Scotia:
"In April 1734, officers at the garrison grounds in Annapolis Royal petitioned to have a small area turned into a bowling green. Their request was granted, and a piece of the governor’s garden became the first bowling green in Canada. To learn more, check out this article from the NSSHOF here.
1982 Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
"In Nova Scotia, excellence in lawn bowling is seen in the Bridgetown Men's teams of 1973 (Joe Tidd, John Sproule, Dick Campbell and Al Brown) and 1975 (John Wightman, Joe Tidd, Jack MacNeil and Dick Campbell). The 1973 National Champions had to compete against eight provinces in play in Regina. Same day victories over Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia earned the title for Nova Scotia. This was the first time this Canadian Lawn Bowling Championship had been won by a Nova Scotian team. In 1975, a Bridgetown four took the National Championship again. The team travelled to Vancouver for the competition and ensured the championship with a tie against PEI in the final game."
Check out more here.
1730 is the earliest record of bowls played in Nova Scotia when British soldiers brought their wooden bowls to Port Royal.
In 1887, the Wanderers Lawn Bowls Club was established and is now the second oldest club in Canada. The club has a rich history of hosting and winning National Championship events. The club has hosted many events in its history including the Canadian Lawn Bowling Championships, Canadian Senior Triples Championships and the Canadian Junior and Under-25 Championship.
The Bridgetown Lawn Bowling Club began rolling bowls in the Valley in 1919 and the club has been active ever since.
The St. Mary's Lawn Bowls Club was formed in 1941 in its scenic location high above the Northwest Arm.
Interest in the sport grew and in 1987, an interested group were successful in starting up the Dartmouth Lawn Bowls Club. Opened on August 15th, 1987 on the opening of the Canadian Lawn Bowling Championship, the artificial green has been a major center for bowls in the province as the largest membership in Nova Scotia.
Shortly after, in 1990, the Bedford Lawn Bowls Club was also formed at their location off the Bedford Highway.
These clubs continued to thrive as membership grew. In 2012, a new club in Truro known as the Cobequid Lawn Bowls Club was added to the provincial fold.
As of now, Nova Scotia has six very active bowls clubs with bowlers of all ages competing at many levels from recreational right up to the National Championship level.
Here is what the Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame has on bowls in Nova Scotia:
"In April 1734, officers at the garrison grounds in Annapolis Royal petitioned to have a small area turned into a bowling green. Their request was granted, and a piece of the governor’s garden became the first bowling green in Canada. To learn more, check out this article from the NSSHOF here.
1982 Nova Scotia Sports Hall of Fame Inductees
"In Nova Scotia, excellence in lawn bowling is seen in the Bridgetown Men's teams of 1973 (Joe Tidd, John Sproule, Dick Campbell and Al Brown) and 1975 (John Wightman, Joe Tidd, Jack MacNeil and Dick Campbell). The 1973 National Champions had to compete against eight provinces in play in Regina. Same day victories over Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia earned the title for Nova Scotia. This was the first time this Canadian Lawn Bowling Championship had been won by a Nova Scotian team. In 1975, a Bridgetown four took the National Championship again. The team travelled to Vancouver for the competition and ensured the championship with a tie against PEI in the final game."
Check out more here.
Canadian Champions Representing Nova Scotia
- 1973 Canadian Men's Fours Champions- Joe Tidd, John Sproule, Al Brown, Dick Campbell (Bridgetown LBC)
- 1975 Canadian Men's Fours Champions- Joe Tidd, Dick Campbell, Jack MacNeil, John Wightman (Bridgetown LBC)
- 1980 Canadian Women's Triples Champions- Annette Tidd, Joan Sproule, Janet Campbell (Bridgetown LBC)
- 1985 Canadian Women's Pairs Champions- Debbie Foster, Jane Wightman (Bridgetown LBC)
- 1987 Canadian Men's Singles Champion- Dennis Mullane (Wanderers LBC)
- 1992 Canadian Men's Singles Champion- Mark Gilliand (Bridgetown LBC)
- 1993 Canadian Men's Singles Champion- Mark Gilliand (Bridgetown LBC)
- 1995 Canadian Men's Singles Champion- Mark Gilliand (Bridgetown LBC)
- 1996 Canadian Men's Pairs Champions- Dennis Mullane, Terry O'Neil (Wanderers LBC)
- 2000 Canadian Women's Singles Champion- Vivian Condran (Dartmouth LBC)
- 2001 Canadian Men's Pairs Champions- Steve Ogden, Rob Krepps (Wanderers LBC)
- 2002 Canadian Women's Pairs Champions- Annette Tidd, Debbie Foster (Bridgetown LBC)
- 2004 Canadian Women's Pairs Champions- Annette Tidd, Debbie Foster (Bridgetown LBC)
- 2007 Canadian Junior Women's Singles Champion- Lindsay LeFresne (Bedford LBC)
- 2009 Canadian Men's Pairs Champions- Steve Ogden, Steve Bezanson (Wanderers LBC)
- 2010 Canadian Men's Pairs Champions- Steve Ogden, Steve Bezanson (Wanderers LBC)
- 2011 Canadian Men's Senior Triples Champions- Steve Bezanson, Mike Hadley, Jack Robar (Wanderers LBC)
- 2012 Canadian Women's Senior Triples Champions- Debbie Foster, Anita Knox, Val Bechard (Bridgetown/St. Mary's/Bedford)
- 2012 Canadian Men's Pairs Champions- Steve Ogden, Steve Bezanson (Wanderers LBC)
- 2012 Forster-Lang Junior Pairs Champions- Cameron LeFresne (Wanderers LBC), Pricilla Westlake (British Columbia)
- 2013 Canadian Men's Senior Triples Champions- Steve Ogden, Ian MacDonald, Steve Bezanson (Wanderers LBC)
- 2014 Canadian Men's Senior Triples Champions- Jack Robar, Mike Hadley, Phil Balcom (Wanderers LBC/Dartmouth LBC)
- 2015 Canadian Men's Senior Triples Champions- Steve Bezanson, Doug McLearn, Jack Robar (Wanderers LBC/Bedford LBC)
- 2015 Canadian Junior Men's Singles Champion- Braeden Campbell (Bridgetown LBC)
- 2016 Forster-Lang Junior Pairs Champions- Braeden Campbell (Bridgetown LBC), Baylee Van Steijn (Ontario)
- 2016 Canadian Junior Men's Singles Champion- Braeden Campbell (Bridgetown LBC)
- 2016 Canadian Men's Triples Champions- Steve Ogden, Steve Bezanson, Terry O'Neil (Wanderers LBC)
- 2017 Canadian Under-25 Men's Singles Champion- Cameron LeFresne (Wanderers LBC)
- 2017 Canadian Men's Senior Triples Champions- Steve Bezanson, Doug McLearn, Dale Kidd (Wanderers LBC/Bedford LBC)
- 2022 Canadian Men's Pairs Champions- Steve Ogden, Steve Bezanson (Wanderers LBC)
- 2022 Canadian Women's Fours Champions- Tammy Foster-Veinot, Jackie Foster, Debbie Foster, Lorraine Bezanson (Bridgetown LBC/Wanderers LBC)
Current National Team Members
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Jackie Foster (Wanderers LBC)
Member of Canadian National Team (2011-present)
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Cameron LeFresne (Wanderers LBC)
Member of Canadian National Team (2015-present)
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Braeden Campbell (Bridgetown LBC)
Member of Canadian National Team (2018-present)
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