The P.E.I. Curling Hall of Fame and Museum will welcome five new members on Monday, Oct. 22.
The Hall is set to host its 12th annual induction ceremony at O’Leary’s Maple Leaf Curling Club, which has been designated as the new official home of the P.E.I. Curling Hall of Fame and Museum.
The inductees are being honoured for their achievements and contributions to the sport of curling — Derek MacEwen, Stratford; Susan McInnis, Milton Station; Clifford Poirier, Summerside; Ernie Stavert, Cornwall; and Clair Sweet, O’Leary.
Each of the inductees has excelled in their sport:
Derek MacEwen
Without a doubt, MacEwen is the person responsible for bringing curling into the internet age on P.E.I. —providing provincial championship event coverage via web pages and introducing websites for the Cornwall Curling Club and Curl P.E.I. in the early 2000s, which he maintains to this day. He has advanced the sport by using technology to make curling information readily available. He will be inducted as a builder.
Susan McInnis
An impressive curling career has been highlighted with eight P.E.I. Women’s Curling Championships, six P.E.I. Mixed Curling Championships and one senior women’s curling championship. She will be inducted as a curler.
Clifford Poirier
For 35 years, Poirier has worked as a volunteer in curling. He has an extensive resume — in a few words — he has done it all and a lot of it when it comes to officiating, umpiring and conducting courses, as well as organizing and running events. He will be inducted as a builder.
Ernie Stavert
Since 1969, Stavert has been involved in curling as a competitor, an administrator, a promoter of the sport to youth in his role as a high school teacher, as well as a key component in the growth of stick curling on P.E.I., where he can be described as the initiator, chief organizer and key administrator. He will be inducted as a builder.
Clair Sweet
A member of the Maple Leaf Curling Club since it opened in 1978, Sweet has been an active member in the curling community in his club and in the provincial association serving in administrative and officiating capacities. Sweet will be inducted as a builder.
“Recognizing the accomplishments of curlers and builders who have dedicated their time and energy to the sport of curling is an important component of our curling history,” says Jerry Muzika, chairman of the P.E.I. Curling Hall of Fame and Museum.
Muzika notes that the annual induction ceremony marks the first time the event has been held at the Maple Leaf Curling Club.
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 P.E.I. (“builder” category).
The event, with host Paul H. Schurman, gets underway at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door.
