Celebrating a Legacy of Golf and Curling in Elgin County
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING – CNC/CAM CLOSE TO HOME Mike Baker, retired Museum Curator, noted the intertwined histories of curling and golf in the area, particularly their Scottish origins. “It was the Scots who flocked to Canada in the 18th and 19th centuries who brought both curling and golf with them,” Mike explains. The first curling club in Canada was established in Montreal in 1807, and the country’s first golf club followed in 1873, also in Montreal. By the late 19th century, Elgin County had its fair share of Scots descendants, which likely fueled the early local interest in these sports. “The St. Thomas Golf & Country Club was one of the first golf courses in Canada, and is celebrating 125 years this year,” Mike adds. “It first started in Pinafore Park, and then, in around 1910, they went up to Talbot Street, where the big box stores are now. That was a nine- hole golf course until they moved out to their current location in Union.” This fall, the Elgin County Heritage Centre (460 Sunset Dr., St. Thomas) invites the community to explore the rich histories of two sports that have long held significance in the region -- golf and curling. The new exhibit, Power & Precision: Elgin’s Golf and Curling History Explored, runs from September 3 to December 7, 2024, and delves into the local legacy of these sports, highlighting the achievements of players, the evolution of clubs, and the deep roots of these activities in Elgin County. The timing of this exhibit is fitting. As autumn approaches, many Elgin residents will soon transition from swinging golf clubs on the green to sweeping brooms on the curling rink. These two sports, often seen as seasonal complements, attract enthusiasts who appreciate the pursuit of the perfect shot and the camaraderie accompanying each game. MECHANICAL ENGINEERING – CNC/CAM CLOSE TO HOME
The St. Thomas Curling Club, first established in 1878, saw a resurgence in 1893 with the formation of the Granite Curling Club, which constructed a covered rink on Metcalf Street. This foundation laid the groundwork for a thriving curling community in the region, producing notable figures like St. Thomas-born Jim Waite. Waite, a retired schoolteacher and principal, is no stranger to precision. As a four-time Canadian Men’s Olympic Curling Coach, he led teams to two silver and two gold medals. His contributions to curling are celebrated in the exhibit, where visitors can view his Olympic memorabilia, including the torch he carried during the 2010 Olympic torch relay through St. Thomas. Waite’s stories from his time on the ice are legendary. Museum Curator Maddy Howard, with Mike Baker and Former Olympic Men’s Curling Coach Jim Waite.
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For more information contact: Wayne DeJong Program Coordinator 519-633-2030 Ext: 30033 wdejong@fanshawec.ca fanshawec.ca/stthomas 519-633-2030 Ext: 30033 wdejong@fanshawec.ca fanshawec.ca/stthomas For more information contact: Wayne DeJong Program Coordinator
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Page 8 Hometown St. Thomas • October 2024
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