Kingston curling legends to be honoured at the Scotties

A special ceremonial team will be featured at the official opening ceremonies of the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts, Saturday, Feb. 16 at 10:30 a.m. in Kingston’s K-Rock Centre. Ted Brown, H.E. (Lefty) McDonald, Margaret McDonald and Katherine O’Neill will be unfurling the Scotties banner to mark the opening of the Canadian Women’s Curling Championship, running Feb. 16-24. The ceremony is open to the general public. “These four people have contributed so much to the game in the Kingston region, at the competitive and organizational levels,” said Host Chair Ken Thompson. “It’s an honour to have them take part in our opening ceremonies.” Long-time participants, and dedicated proponents of the game, all four are past inductees to the Kingston & District Sports Hall of Fame. Ted Brown was a finalist in the Ontario men’s provincial championship in 1970 and, five years later, was part of the Kingston team that competed in the Canadian championship in Fredericton, New Brunswick. In 1976, he represented Ontario at the Canadian Mixed Curling Championship. By the mid-80’s, he had turned his priorities to coaching, leading the Dave Allen team to the Ontario junior men’s championship in 1989. The following year he coached the Noel Herron team that won the Canadian Junior Men’s Curling Championship. Brown is also recognized as an innovator of the game, developing the Brownie Brush that is now used widely throughout the world. Margaret McDonald’s passion for curling began in Germany in 1958. In 1961, she joined the Royal Kingston Curling Club and has gone on to achieve success in a wide range of competitions. She has been a member of 12 teams that have competed in the Ontario women’s provincial championship, and has won numerous club titles at both the Royal Kingston and the Cataraqui Golf and Country Club. McDonald has also been active at the volunteer level, taking part in the organization of various events including the 1987 women’s provincial playdowns and the 1995 Ontario men’s championship. H.E. (Lefty) McDonald began curling as a teenager in 1949, becoming a member of the Royal Kingston Curling Club in 1960.  He has participated in eight Ontario championships including the Silver Tankard, Intermediates, Senior Mixed and Men’s Masters. Beyond his competitive career, he served as club president and chaired numerous committees at the Royal Kingston. McDonald was the club’s Ontario Curling Association representative for several years, leading to the chair position for the Ontario men’s provincial playdowns, hosted by Kingston in 1995. In 1994 he was elected to the Governor General’s Curling Club in recognition of his contributions to the game, making him one of only 125 members across Canada to hold this distinction. Katherine O’Neill excelled in the sport of curling, competing in numerous provincial championships between 1960 and 1990. In 1970, she was a member of the team that captured the Ontario women’s championship. It marked the first time in the 150-year history of the Kingston Curling Club that one of its women’s teams represented the province at the Canadian championship. In 1972, O’Neill won the southern Ontario Silver Tankard and was runner-up the following year. She represented Ontario at the 1976 Canadian Mixed Curling Championship. She holds seven club championships, at the Kingston and Cataraqui clubs, and served on the Cataraqui board of directors from 1988-1993. “You Gotta Be There” for the 2013 Scotties Tournament of Hearts – from the opening ceremonies right through to the championship final. Get your tickets today by clicking here.