2011
Don Bond | Jacqueline Fraser | Glengarry Golf & Country Club | Roger Levert | Donald McGillis
As well, he introduced curling to both boys and girls, coaching it from 1986 until he retired in 1995. As a coach, Don had the reputation as a fierce competitor, one who always brought his teams ready to play and give their opponents a test, whether it be on the field or on the ice.
Don’s 60 year curling career began in 1953 playing on natural ice in the Hill. Later, playing out of the Glengarry Curling Club in Maxville, he skipped teams for many years all across Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Besides local executive positions, he served as President of the Ottawa Valley Curling Association in 1986-87. He was also on the executive of the Ontario Curling Association. In recognition of his contributions to the sport, he was elected into the Governor-General’s Curling Club in 1989, a club formed in 1874 by Lord Dufferin, then the Governor-General of Canada. Since that time the main focus of the Club has been to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to curling, whether it be locally, provincially or nationally, not only as competitive curlers, but also as builders and administrators. Don became one of the only 100 members of the club. In 1998 he was on the Canadian team which won the Strathcona Cup, a prize competed for every four years by Scotland and Canada. He served as president of the club in 2000-01 and was awarded Membership Emeritus in 2005, an honour held by only 25 members. As a result, Don has also organized curling exchange on a regular basis which has taken many area curlers to Scotland and has resulted in receiving many Scottish curlers in return. Don has always been a strong leader in the sports community of Maxville. He became a director of the Glengarry Highland Games, becoming the Chairman of Heavy Sports in 1965, a post he held until 1992; on the way, Don helped to turn the Heavyweights from an informal competition into one of the premiere Highland sports events in Canada. He also served as President of the Highland Games in 1992-1993 and is still an active member, presently in charge of the Tug O’ War event. Don also found time to judge the Heavyweight competition at the Canmore Highland Games in Alberta for 5 years. Don’s involvement in the community’s affairs does not stop at sports. He has been a member of the Masonic lodge for more than 43 years and served as District Deputy Grand Master of Masons in 1979-80. Don’s skill as a chairman at meetings has brought him great respect and he is still chair of the past Presidents Committee of the Glengarry Highland Games, chairing the annual meetings Don is a good golfer and is a member of the Glengarry Golf and Country Club where he had a hole-in-one in 1977. Besides playing a lot of golf since he retired, he is still an active motorcyclist and is planning a trip on his bike to Cape Cod this summer. Don also has a pilot’s licence and has flown for a number of years. As a curler, Don has already been recognized for his contributions to the sport. As a coach, he gave generously of his time for many years touching the lives of so many high school boys and girls in and around Maxville enriching their lives with a lasting experience with sports. To this day, at social gatherings in the area, a Don Bond sports related story always comes up that ends with a chuckle and a wish that one more game could have been played. We welcome Don Bond into the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame. Don Bond has spent his entire life participating in sports as a player, a coach, or an organizer in some capacity. Born in Vankleek Hill, he attended VCI where he played hockey, football and held three track and field records. Don also played semi-pro football for Hawkesbury in the Quebec Rugby Football League for several years in the late 50s before coming to Maxville to teach at the local high school in 1965. During the next 30 years Don spent countless hours volunteering his time to coach high school sports including football at Maxville from 1965 till 1974. He moved on with the school to Tagwi where he continued coaching football until 1987 when the football program was cancelled. He coached high school hockey as well, running an invitational school hockey tournament for seven years. As well, he introduced curling to both boys and girls, coaching it from 1986 until he retired in 1995. As a coach, Don had the reputation as a fierce competitor, one who always brought his teams ready to play and give their opponents a test, whether it be on the field or on the ice. Don’s 60 year curling career began in 1953 playing on natural ice in the Hill. Later, playing out of the Glengarry Curling Club in Maxville, he skipped teams for many years all across Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Besides local executive positions, he served as President of the Ottawa Valley Curling Association in 1986-87. He was also on the executive of the Ontario Curling Association. In recognition of his contributions to the sport, he was elected into the Governor-General’s Curling Club in 1989, a club formed in 1874 by Lord Dufferin, then the Governor-General of Canada. Since that time the main focus of the Club has been to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to curling, whether it be locally, provincially or nationally, not only as competitive curlers, but also as builders and administrators. Don became one of the only 100 members of the club. In 1998 he was on the Canadian team which won the Strathcona Cup, a prize competed for every four years by Scotland and Canada. He served as president of the club in 2000-01 and was awarded Membership Emeritus in 2005, an honour held by only 25 members. As a result, Don has also organized curling exchange on a regular basis which has taken many area curlers to Scotland and has resulted in receiving many Scottish curlers in return. Don has always been a strong leader in the sports community of Maxville. He became a director of the Glengarry Highland Games, becoming the Chairman of Heavy Sports in 1965, a post he held until 1992; on the way, Don helped to turn the Heavyweights from an informal competition into one of the premiere Highland sports events in Canada. He also served as President of the Highland Games in 1992-1993 and is still an active member, presently in charge of the Tug O’ War event. Don also found time to judge the Heavyweight competition at the Canmore Highland Games in Alberta for 5 years. Don’s involvement in the community’s affairs does not stop at sports. He has been a member of the Masonic lodge for more than 43 years and served as District Deputy Grand Master of Masons in 1979-80. Don’s skill as a chairman at meetings has brought him great respect and he is still chair of the past Presidents Committee of the Glengarry Highland Games, chairing the annual meetings Don is a good golfer and is a member of the Glengarry Golf and Country Club where he had a hole-in-one in 1977. Besides playing a lot of golf since he retired, he is still an active motorcyclist and is planning a trip on his bike to Cape Cod this summer. Don also has a pilot’s licence and has flown for a number of years. As a curler, Don has already been recognized for his contributions to the sport. As a coach, he gave generously of his time for many years touching the lives of so many high school boys and girls in and around Maxville enriching their lives with a lasting experience with sports. To this day, at social gatherings in the area, a Don Bond sports related story always comes up that ends with a chuckle and a wish that one more game could have been played. We welcome Don Bond into the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame. |
As the only female Physical Education teacher, she ended up coaching every sport in which girls were allowed to compete, at that time basketball, volleyball and track and field. Blessed with numerous natural athletes, to learn the skills she would need to teach and coach these sports, Jackie went to Queens for two summers.
Coaching in those days moved from one season to the next with no letup. With no late buses, all practices after school, and many games on Saturdays, Jackie ran her own mini bus line, driving her girls from MacCrimmon to Bainsville in her VW Beetle, many times getting home herself to a late supper. As the school grew, additional female teachers were hired and she could then choose which sports she wanted to coach. Coaching still almost year round, she chose soccer, gymnastics, and track and field. In her career, she coached basketball and volleyball for 10 years, winning several Glengarry Prescott Russell (GPR) championships. Her five years coaching cross-country resulted in SDG championships and athletes ranking at OFSSA, the all Ontario championships. In 18 years coaching gymnastics, her teams won six consecutive SDG titles, six consecutive EOSSA (Eastern Ontario Championships), with athletes ranking at OFSAA. In 30 years of track and field, her teams won ten GPR titles. On the soccer field Jackie’s teams won 13 SDG titles for both junior and senior girls as well as eight EOSSA titles for both levels, a record for which any coach would be more than proud. In 1989, Jackie was given the OFSAA Leadership Award in School Sports for her results in soccer. The same year, she won the Pete Beach Award, a provincial award given for Educating through Sports. Coaching has given Jackie the opportunity to try to instil values into her teams, “how to lose with dignity and how to win with humility. Winning is not everything. It’s what one learns from the game and how one plays are that really matters.” As well as teaching full time and coaching Jackie also found time to use her talents to become very engaged in other facets of education. Chair of the School council of Ecole Elda Rouleau for eight years and co-chair of GDHS School Council for three, Jackie also was heavily involved in the AHS-GDHS 50th Reunion in 2003. She has been president of the SDG Athletic Association as well as permanent Secretary for EOSSA From 1980 until 1985 she was the Chair of the Board of Governors of St. Lawrence College. From 1986 to 1991, Jackie was a member of the Ontario Council of Regents, Ministry of Colleges and Universities, a member of various Interministerial steering committees such as French Language Initiative and the Nursing and Nursing Assistant Programs Standards Review. As well she also chaired their Francophone Affairs committee. Jackie is also involved in Hôpital Glengarry Memorial Hospital and health care in general. At times, she has been the Chair for Ontario East for the educational program “Jump Rope for Heart”, a member of the Ontario East Regional Board of the Ontario Heart and Stroke foundation, a member of the Champlain’s LHIN task force on Governance, President of the HGMH Auxiliary as well as Chair of the Pastoral Care committee. She also uses her talents to instruct senior citizens in physical fitness. At present, she is a member of the Board of Directors of HGMH, a member of the Board’s Quality committee, and Chair of the Board’s Governance, Nominating and Evaluating committee. She is also the Chair of the Nominating committee of the HGMH Auxiliary as well a member of the Pastoral Care committee. Jackie’s contributions to her community have resulted in her nomination for Woman Athlete of the Year for the Gala de la Femme, Glengarry, in 2009, as well her nomination for Carefor Caring for Life Award for SDG-GPR in 2008. In 2009, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from North Glengarry. She is also a member of the Finance committee engaged in fundraising for the Radio Communautaire Francophone,Cornwall-Alexandria as well as active in Paroisse du Sacré-Coeur in Alexandria. Still very active in sports, in the last few years, Jackie has participated in the Ontario Senior Games, winning a Gold Medal for Bocce in the District 8 Senior Games in 2009 as well as a Silver Medal the same year for Prediction Walking in the Provincials. In 2010, she won a Gold Medal for X-Country Skiing as well as a Bronze Medal for Bocce in District 8 Competition. In 2011, she won Gold in the District 8 Senior Games for Prediction Walking as well as a Silver Medal in the Provincial Competition for Individual Prediction X-Country Skiing, along with Gold as a member of the Team Prediction X-Country Skiing. Jackie lives in Alexandria with her husband, Stanley (himself an Inductee in 2009). They have three children and two grand-children. In spite of her many accomplishments and the recognition she has received since retiring from teaching, when asked about her most memorable moment, Jackie’s response was her being chosen as one of the Olympic Torch bearers in 1976 along with a few of her students. They were track stars; she wasn’t and had to train for the tryouts. She remembers training, running from St. Finnan’s to the golf course with Stanley holding the stopwatch. In typical Jackie fashion, her moment included sports, community involvement, and especially, students. For more than 30 years, she was a large part of the sports life of Glengarry girls, teaching them skills and setting standards to live by for hundreds of girls. For her many accomplishments in the community, and especially for her contribution to girls sports in Glengarry, we welcome Jacqueline (Matte) Fraser into the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame. |
That same summer Gene and his brother Ron, a fellow golfer, spent a few hours scouting locations in and around Alexandria for a proper golf course setting. After checking various properties, they settled on the present property east of Alexandria owned at that time by two brothers, Frank and Stuart McCormick. This land appeared to have all the necessary requirements: water, trees and a proper terrain. It was “an ideal natural setting with the Gary River winding through it ands with its wealth of trees. Many large city golf courses have been started without the natural attributes you have here,” remarked golf pro, Alistair Kerr, brought in to look over the site. And on the property, as well, was the previous home of famous Canadian Artist Stuart McCormick which could be and was used as the first clubhouse
In 1961, the property was obtained. A front page article of the News in May 1961 headlined “Plan Golf Course at Alexandria” told of the progress, promising playable fairways by midsummer. A seven man provisional committee had formed and a 90 day option had been taken out on the property. Besides a keen interest in golf these men had the ability to get things done. Eugene Macdonald, Editor of the Glengarry News was in charge of collecting charter memberships; Bruno Lemieux was in charge of ground improvement as the land had to be transformed; Hugh A. McDonald, a hydro worker, was experienced in clearing and cutting of trees as well as being an avid gardener; Ronald Macdonald’s expertise was in the area of finance and bookkeeping and as such was a great asset. Lloyd (Red) McHugh and Arthur Contant, well known hotel keepers and businessmen, brought business experience to the group. Bernard Villeneuve, a popular Alexandria dentist, rounded out the group of seven. After a meeting on May 22, Gabe Aubrey, an Alexandria lawyer, was asked to apply for a charter and the quest for members began. A golf pro was brought in to lay out the fairways and temporary greens, but before the course could be laid out, the clearing of the land was started by Hugh Allan and Bruno Lemieux. With a chain-saw, Hugh Allan began cleaning the tangle of thorn-apple trees and brush blocking the area that would become the first hole. Bruno was busy removing fences and bringing the grass under control. Later bulldozers were brought in to finish the job. Ads went out to attract shareholders and charter members. One hundred charter members was the goal each contributing id=”mce_marker”00. As an indication of how popular the idea of a golf course was is that membership totals grew from 18 to 75 in one week. More editorials from The News followed as well as a large ad seeking members. A front page article in June 15, 1961 announced that some fairways were ready to hit a ball around and that membership had reached 93. Regular reports in the News had five holes ready by the July 1st weekend in areas relatively tree and brush free, although with no greens ready. Thirty golfers had played that weekend and membership stood at 101. The first organizational meeting of the Glengarry Golf and Country Club was held on July 3, 1961 drawing 40 of the 105 members at the time. With five holes in play, yearly memberships were set at $20, with green fees of id=”mce_marker”.00. By July 20, the golfers had taken over a room in Stuart McCormick house and turned it into a 19th hole and pro shop. By August 3rd, the News reported 92 green fees paid in the first two weeks of play. By September 7th, an editorial announced that six fairways and three temporary greens were ready and that 25 new charter members would provide the funds to complete the nine holes by next year. By September 15, it announced that the three final holes would be completed that fall. Letters Patent were received under date of October 16, 1961, naming the original seven members of the Provisional committee as Charter Directors of the Glengarry Golf and Country Club Limited. In 1962, the first nine holes opened for play. The club’s first competition was held July 5, 1962 with 52 golfers out. One of Canada’s top golfers from earlier times, Ben Kerr, arrived in July to oversee construction and to promote the course and give lessons. Over the course of the next 35 years continual improvements were made to the golf course including the addition of an irrigation system. In 1971, the current clubhouse was completed. In 1989, the back nine designed by the present day Mayor of Glengarry, Grant Crack, opened for play and brought an added challenge to the course by bringing the Delisle River and Marcoux Stream into play. In 1990, a new Pro Shop was built and includes a large showroom for equipment as well as an office, storage area and a repair facility. This year, on the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the Glengarry Golf and Country Club, the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame will induct the original seven directors: Eugene Macdonald (previously inducted in 1981), Arthur Contant, “Red” McHugh, Hugh A. McDonald, Bruno Lemieux, Ronald Macdonald and Bernie Villeneuve. Their dream of a local golf course, their ability to see rolling farmland and envision fairways and greens, as well as their skills and hard work created the gem which thousands of Glengarrians and others have enjoyed over the last half century. We thank these seven, and we welcome them into the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame. |
In the early sixties as well, he played soccer in the Glengarry Soccer League for one season. In lacrosse Roger was a tough capable player for the Junior Glens in the years 1963 to 1965. In 1965, he played senior lacrosse for Hawkesbury in the Quebec League, one of only four players chosen from the Alexandria area but played only one season because of the travelling involved.
In 1966 The Cornwall Chargers football team, created and coached by Ed Lumley, joined the Interprovincial Junior Football League playing against such teams as the Ottawa Sooners, and other teams from Montreal. Roger won and held onto the starting quarterback position for the year. A fellow teammate comments on his year:”Playing behind an inexperienced offensive line, Roger proved himself one of the toughest players on the team as he was hit hard and often while in a defenseless position passing. Even when he ran, he got hit by two or three defenders; Roger was fearless and respected by his fellow players.” He played his best game of the year when the Chargers upset the heavily favoured Sooners, tossing two touchdown passes in the process. In 1967, after missing training camp with an ankle injury suffered playing lacrosse, Roger returned to the newly renamed Mustangs for game three and played well in a close loss to the Sooners. The next game against the NDG Maple Leafs he passed for two touchdowns, including a spectacular 73 yard pass and run play. Levert had a very tough task guiding the team in their first two years of competition in a tough junior league. It was rare to have a full team at practice making the creation of a solid offense nearly impossible. Injuries compounded the problem. Despite these handicaps, Roger was a “tower of strength amid chaos” and his teammates had great respect for his strength, integrity and courage. As well as playing lacrosse and football, Roger also played Junior A hockey with the Cornwall Royals from 1964-1966, a team made up largely of local Cornwall area boys, a team that came within one minute of making it to the Memorial Cup in a playoff game in Halifax in 1966. A solid forward with a gritty style, he was regarded as the toughest player on the team and was one of the team policemen, a role he later was to turn into a profession. Roger also played in a record breaking game, scoring 5 goals and assisting on 5 others in a lopsided 43-0 win against Hawkesbury that year. In the early 70s, Roger was President of the local Intermediate Hockey League as well as a player. Through the years he played hockey in the local Border League and then the local Industrial league as well. At 30 he joined the GTL Old Timers and was a player on the team that toured Scotland and England playing against local teams there. He was on the GTL team that toured and played in Holland and Belgium a few years later. In the mid-1980s Roger coached the Alexandria Bantam hockey teams and was also a member of the Alexandria District Minor Hockey Association at this time as well. Roger hasn’t played hockey for the last ten years because of his health. After spending 29 years on various local police forces, Roger is retired as well. Married for the second time and with two sons and a daughter, he spends his time these days “puttering around” his property. For his contributions to the sports of hockey, lacrosse and football, we welcome Roger into the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame. |
In 1943 he moved with his wife and two sons, Donald Edward and Gerald. For the next three decades, the McGillis Hotel was the centre of Peterborough as a hotel, diner and drinking establishment. Donald became a prominent businessman in the city becoming active in the sporting life of the community serving on the Racing Committee of the Expedition Board and briefly the Chairman of the Memorial Centre Board. He served as well for many years on the St. Joseph’s Hospital Board. Noted for his generosity, both in time and money to sporting organizations, charities and other deserving causes, he was named Peterborough’s Citizen of the Year in 1950, the first year the award was given.
In the 1950s, cities followed their OHL Sr. B. teams as they follow their Jr. B teams today. The caliber of Senior hockey was very good. With only six NHL clubs, many talented players came home to work in their home cities and played Senior hockey. Two teams played in Peterborough at the time, the Swartz Petes and the McGillis Eagles owned by Donald. The Eagles had a large following and the rivalry was intense; in the city you were either a fan of one or the other team. The old Civic Arena was filled to capacity (1500), the action was fast and on many occasions blood was spilled. In the late 50s or early 60s, the Petes bought the OHA Jr A franchise which then was sponsored by the Montreal Canadians. Donald kept his team dominating the Senior hockey loop as he believed senior hockey was a better product and the Eagles vs the Petes rivalry ended. Not content with owning and operating a Senior hockey team, Donald also was a key sponsor and director of the Peterborough Orfuns Football Club, a very good football club playing Senior football in a league that was semi-pro back then. McGillis was named honorary president of the club in 1952. His own two sons played on this team. The Orfuns , a good club with a large following, were very successful . They were Canadian finalists in 1952 and 1954, losing the National Championship in 1952, ironically, to a Manitoba team in front of 7,000 fans in Winnipeg. They were also Ontario Football Champions in 1952-55, Eastern Canada champions in 1952, 1954 and 1955. As well they won the Dominion Football Championship in 1955. NFL football fans may be surprised to know that the Buffalo Bills played in Ontario many years before their recent games at Skydome. In August of 1955, five years before the present Bills entered the American Football League that later joined with the National Football League, the Orfuns played the Buffalo Bills who at that time were a semi-professional team in a New York/Pennsylvania League in Peterborough. The teams played one half under Canadian rules and the other half under American rules. The game ended very diplomatically in a 14-14 tie. On Nov. 12, 1955, the Orfuns football team won the Canadian intermediate title in front of over 3,000 shivering Peterborough fans. A heavy snowfall days before the event followed by rain made for some field conditions that contributed to only two touchdowns being scored, one by each team. The game was won by Peterborough on a field goal late in the game As well as these semi-pro teams, D.A. sponsored many other athletic teams in the community ranging from kids’ hockey to baseball. He always had a helping hand, whether from the use of autos to carry players or financially supporting teams of youngsters learning sports. Many Peterborough youngsters were able to afford equipment and to play organized sports because of his generosity. D.A. died after a brief illness in January, 1961. In 1980, Donald Angus McGillis was recognized for his many contributions large and small to sports in the Peterborough area by being in the first group to be inducted into the newly founded Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame. This year we welcome him home to Glengarry as a 2011 Inductee into the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame. |