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 the early 1920's 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 the early 1920's 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
Event |
Champion |
Club |
2017 Men's Senior Triples |
Steve Bezanson, Doug McLearn, Dale Kidd |
Wanderers LBC |
2017 Under-25 Men's Singles |
Cameron LeFresne |
Wanderers LBC |
2016 Men's Triples |
Steve Ogden, Steve Bezanson, Terry O'Neil |
Wanderers LBC |
2016 Junior Men's Singles |
Braeden Campbell |
Bridgetown LBC |
2016 Forster-Lang Junior Pairs |
Braeden Campbell, Baylee Van Steijn (Ontario) |
Bridgetown LBC |
2015 Junior Men's Singles |
Braeden Campbell |
Bridgetown LBC |
2015 Men's Senior Triples |
Steve Bezanson, Doug McLearn, Jack Robar |
Wanderers/Bedford |
2014 Men's Senior Triples |
Jack Robar, Mike Hadley, Phil Balcom |
Wanderers/Dartmouth |
2013 Men's Senior Triples |
Steve Ogden, Ian MacDonald, Steve Bezanson |
Wanderers LBC |
2012 Forster-Lang Junior Pairs |
Cameron LeFresne, Pricilla Westlake (British Columbia) |
Wanderers LBC |
2012 Men's Pairs |
Steve Ogden, Steve Bezanson |
Wanderers LBC |
2012 Women's Senior Triples |
Debbie Foster, Anita Knox, Val Bechard |
Bridgetown/ St. Mary's/Bedford |
2011 Men's Senior Triples |
Steve Bezanson, Mike Hadley, Jack Robar |
Wanderers LBC |
2010 Men's Pairs |
Steve Ogden, Steve Bezanson |
Wanderers LBC |
2009 Men's Pairs |
Steve Ogden, Steve Bezanson |
Wanderers LBC |
2007 Junior Women's Singles |
Lindsay LeFresne |
Bedford LBC |
2004 Women's Pairs |
Annette Tidd, Debbie Foster |
Bridgetown LBC |
2002 Women's Pairs |
Annette Tidd, Debbie Foster |
Bridgetown LBC |
2001 Men's Pairs |
Steve Ogden, Rob Krepps |
Wanderers LBC |
2000 Women's Singles |
Vivian Condran |
Dartmouth LBC |
1996 Men's Pairs |
Dennis Mullane, Terry O'Neil |
Wanderers LBC |
1995 Men's Singles |
Mark Gilliand |
Bridgetown LBC |
1993 Men's Singles |
Mark Gilliand |
Bridgetown LBC |
1992 Men's Singles |
Mark Gilliand |
Bridgetown LBC |
1987 Men's Singles |
Dennis Mullane |
Wanderers LBC |
1985 Women's Pairs |
Debbie Foster, Jane Wightman |
Bridgetown LBC |
1980 Women's Triples |
Annette Tidd, Joan Sproule, Janet Campbell |
Bridgetown LBC |
1975 Men's Fours |
Joe Tidd, Dick Campbell, Jack MacNeil, John Wightman |
Bridgetown LBC |
1973 Men's Fours |
Joe Tidd, John Sproule, Al Brown, Dick Campbell |
Bridgetown LBC |
Current National Team Members
|
Jackie Foster (Wanderers LBC)
Member of Canadian National Team (2011-present)
|
|
Cameron LeFresne (Wanderers LBC)
Member of Canadian National Team (2015-present)
|
|
Braeden Campbell (Bridgetown LBC)
Member of Canadian National Team (2018-present)
|