Early in 1960, through the organizing abilities of W.A.N. (Bill) Macdonald, of the Southeastern New Brunswick Tourist Bureau, with representatives of the three Moncton Curling Clubs, plans for an early fall bonspiel were discussed. Arrangements were finalized in September with the Curling Clubs agreeing to cover any deficits.

All curling clubs in the East were contacted. Forty rinks were accepted for the 1960 event, nineteen of which were from outside the Moncton area. The deficit of that first bonspiel was $700. The entry fee was fifty dollars per rink. Nine trophies with prizes awarded.

Residents of our city are referred to as Monctonians, and it was decided to name the event the “MONCTONIAN BONSPIEL”.

The entries increased to sixty rinks in 1961, with forty-one outside teams. It was decided that the maximum number of rinks that could be handled on the fifteen sheets of ice available in the city would be seventy-two. Another major decision was that the local clubs would be limited to two entries each.

On the occasion of our twentieth anniversary, we again increased the entries to 80 teams. That year the Moncton Clubs were limited to one team each. However, the following year the Committee saw fit to maintain the eighty team entry, but reverted to the two teams from each Moncton Club. Entry forms are sent out in the Spring with the first seventy-four entries being accepted. The Moncton teams are drawn by lot in their respective clubs.

The Monctonian crest, which is made up of the City of Moncton’s coat of arms and the year of the bonspiel is proudly displayed on curling sweaters wherever the game is enjoyed.

The first year of the bonspiel we hosted the World Champion Richardson team from Regina. The next year Billy Walsh and his team from Winnipeg won the Monctonian. Each and every year we have entertained teams from the four Maritime Provinces, Quebec and Ontario, with the twenty-fourth year winner coming from Saskatchewan.

Early in the bonspiel it took on an International flavour and we hosted teams from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachussetts, Connecticut and Illinois. Many members of these teams have been awarded the ten and twenty year pins.

As a further illustration of the high regard some curlers have for the Monctonian, on the occasion of our twentieth anniversary, Ron Rowe, a member of Jim Templeton rink, flew in from Saudi Arabia for the three day event.

Registration is held on Wednesday evening, and in order to entice entries to arrive on time it was arranged by a select Monctonian committee to barbeque a young steer weighing between 350 and 400 pounds. This event was called the Donkey-Bar-B-Que.

In 1962 the Donkey Club was formed. This was made up of a select group of Participants and Committee personnel. It was the practice to have this group meet, following the Donkey-Bar-B-Que, at some pre-scheduled place. The purpose of the meeting was to induct new members, followed by a fitting initiation, that included our symbol, a live donkey. Each member was presented with a Donkey Crest and a Donkey Pin along with an official membership card, on which was printed the creed of the Club and the official password. Should any member be questioned by another member as to whether or not he was a Donkey and the proper password was not given, it cost the questioned person a drink. Many free drinks were obtained in this manner.

In 1976 the Monctonian Committee decided to make all the participants in the Bonspiel members of the Donkey Club and initiation was suspended.

Teams have been allowed to register more than four curlers, some show with as many as nine.

Opening night remains as one of the most popular affairs. Besides the barbecuing of the steer and the registration, the opportunity to fraternize with other curlers is well used. Opening ceremonies are held with the Mayor of Moncton throwing the first stone. This is followed by the carving of the steer which is served to participants.

Another feature, which has proven popular with the curlers and is covered by the entry fee, is the noon lunches, the same menu being served at all clubs.

The annual banquet, which is held Friday evening, is a well attended event during which special awards are made honouring long time participants. A highlight of the banquet is the guest speakers. Over the past years we have been entertained by such greats as Lefty Gomez, Red Storey, Sam Richardson, Yvon Durell, Warren Chapman, Bill Lee, Eugene LeBlanc, Jimmy Flynn, Jimmy the Janitor, Mabel De- ware and General John CabotTrail as well as by longtime participants such as Euclid Hannabury, Lou Christie and Grant Allen.

A dance is held after the banquet on Friday and a closing Winner’s Circle where the winners of eight trophy events are rewarded with suitable prizes. Other presentations are made to the runners-up in each event, and special performance awards to selected individuals.

Besides the three hundred participants who come to Moncton, many other people make arrangements to be in our city during Bonspiel week to enjoy the activities that go on. Some annual sales meetings have been purposely scheduled in Moncton during the Monctonian.

Our first Chairman, W.A.N. (Bill) Macdonald became Secretary-Treasurer of the Monctonian in 1961 and remained in this position until his death in 1977. His widow, Theresa, took over the duties of this position until her passing in 2008, when the position was taken over by Bob MacInnis.

In 1969, the Tenth Anniversary of the Monctonian, a special “OldTimers” section was instituted. A suitable pin was commissioned to honor those who had participated continuously in the Bonspiel each year, or were recurring members of our committees. Twenty-two curlers and twelve committeemen became Charter Members.

In 1970 the Bonspiel Committee decided to continue the “Old Timers” section of the Monctonian and pins would be presented to ten year men each year, whether the years were consecutive or not.

Seventeen curlers were recognized that year. In addition the committee decided to award to the “Old Timer” who did the most for the Bonspiel by his presence, the distance he travelled and so on, an “Old Timers Trophy”. This trophy was an instant success and is still the most coveted of all bonspiel awards.

On November 15th, 1975 the sixteenth annual Monctonian Bonspiel wound up with the Winner’s Circle at the Beausejour Curling Club. Shortly after the “Beau” was completely destroyed by fire. All the Monctonian Trophies and many other valuables were lost. During the off season your committee were successful in replacing what had been lost and the 17th Bonspiel was played with a slightly altered schedule on ten sheets of ice.

Most competitors were satisfied with our modifications and were more than happy to return in 1977 to the old format with a new and expanded Beausejour Club.

Another change was to add a parting breakfast on Sunday morning. The Beausejour members accepted this challenge and staged the event in their temporary quarters, at the old Brunswick Hotel. This affair has become a yearly event for those who wish to attend.

The year 1979 was our Twentieth Anniversary and a special cap and crest was presented to all participants. In addition, a “Twenty Year” pin had been commissioned and is presented to those who have participated in the Bonspiel 20 years.

The 30th Anniversary was celebrated in 1989 with a gala banquet at the Hotel Beausejour and entertainment was provided by jimmy Flynn who appeared from a giant birthday cake.

A Monctonian first ocurred that year when Brian Harrison’s team from Amherst Curling Club, skipped by Ron Cormier along with Bud Rayworth, scored the Monctonian’s first Eight-ender. This feat was duplicated a few years later by the Al Forsythe team from M.C.A.

Over the years the total number of teams participating has varied between 64 and 80. In 1991, the Monctonian was dedicated to the memory of W.C. “Hoppy” Hopkins who had worked over thirty years on the committee, chiefly as drawmaster.

Paul Kavanaugh teams from Toronto of 1978, ’79, ’80 and ’86 are the only four time winners of the Monctonian. A total of seven teams have been two-time champions.

Two special curlers, Jim Murphy and Eric Garland from Saint John, have competed in the first forty Monctonians. John Lambert and Maurice MacDonald of Moncton have been participants or committee members since 1960.