Hall of Famers: 1992

Buxton, Noel
BUILDER
Inducted 1992

Noel Buxton (1910-1988) was best known in national curling circles for his 13 years of dedicated service to the Canadian Curling Association, leading to the attempt to establish a permanent home for the Curling Hall of Fame. He brought forth the original idea in 1972, headed the initial investigative committee, and served as the CCA’s Hall of Fame Development Committee Chairman for nine years.

Noel was one of the founders of the Curling Hall of Fame and Museum of Canada Inc., the CCA’s incorporated company that handled fundraising and planning intended to create the Hall of Fame in Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park Pavilion. Buxton was the company’s first and only president from 1974 to 1985.

Buxton’s curling background dates back to 1928, when he joined the Deer Lodge Curling Club in Winnipeg. He was Finance Chairman and Treasurer, managed three automobile raffles that led to the means and construction of a new building, and was Deer Lodge president in 1961-62. He went on to serve on the Executive Council of the Manitoba Curling Association for 12 years, including his presidential year of 1971-72.

Noel was also a community leader in Winnipeg. He was a director of the Red River Exhibition Association for 25 years, was a charter member of the Manitoba Travel and Convention Association, and was a past president of the St. James Scholarship Foundation and of the Kiwanis Club of St. James. He was an honorary Warden of the St. James Anglican Church, a member of the St. James Cemetery Board, and a United Way volunteer. He had further involvement in Hall of Fame activities as a member of the selection committee of the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame.

Noel Buxton is an Honourary Life Member of the Deer Lodge Curling Club and the Manitoba Curling Association. He was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame, as a Builder, in 1987.

Ina Light proved her excellence on the curling ice as a third on four consecutive Manitoba Mixed Championship teams (1964, 1965, 1966, and 1967) as well as two Canadian Mixed Championship teams in 1964 and 1966. The same Ernie Boushy team earned a Silver Medal at the inaugural Canada Winter Games in 1967.

As well as her noteworthy mixed curling accomplishments, Ina curled provincially in numerous women’s, senior women’s, and masters women’s competitions She made four more national appearances all on teams skipped by Elaine Jones – as Manitoba Senior Women’s champion in 1997 and as Manitoba Masters Women’s champion in 2002, 2004, and 2007.

Throughout her curling career, Ina worked tirelessly for curling at all levels.

At the Heather Ladies Curling Club, Ina served in all executive positions, ending as president in 1972.

Ina was working delegate to the MLCA from 1968 – 1973. After being elected to the MLCA Executive Council in 1972, she chaired committees every year between 1972 and 1981, culminating as MLCA President and Chairman of the Manitoba Lassie Championship.

Ina has served on the CLCA as Junior Observer and Senior Delegate. In 1984-85 Ina was chair of the Canadian Scott Tournament of Hearts. With the ICF at the international level, Ina worked from 1983 to 1987 as Observer and Representative and served on several committees. From 1989-1991, Ina was Vice President in charge of Promotions for the Winnipeg World ’91.

Ina is a certified Level 2 coach with Level 3 Technical. As a result she has coached Junior Women’s and Men’s teams at the Junior Canada Games, as well as at club, provincial, and national competitions.

Honorary Life Memberships have been awarded to Ina from the Heather Ladies’ Curling Club and the Manitoba Ladies Curling Association. Ina is also a member of the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame (inducted 1990) as part of the Ernie Boushy team. In the same year she was inducted into the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame as a Curler-Builder.

Ina exhibits, as well as any curler in Manitoba, the perfect combination of dedication to excellence and service to curling.

Light, Ina
CURLER-BUILDER
Inducted 1992

Turnbull, Raymond CURLER-BUILDER
Inducted 1992

Ray Turnbull (1940-2017) did it all – and did it with both enthusiasm and class. Raymond William Charles Turnbull was a player, an administrator, teacher, official and finally a media reporter for the sport he loved so much. It began in the early 1950’s when Ray first took up the sport in Orillia, Ontario. His curling career then switched to the Granite in Winnipeg where he and his brother Ken joined the junior club at the urging of their father, Reg (the original Moose) Turnbull. Ray joined the Braunstein brothers team in 1956, when they picked him up at a bus stop on their way to the Granite for their first ever game at the Granite Junior Curling Club. He was still curling with his close friend 40 years later when Ray and Terry won Manitoba Senior titles in 1994 and 1995 as the front end for Barry Fry & Don Duguid.

Ray, at the tender age of 18, played second on the “Pablum Kids” team that won the Manitoba Provincial Championship in 1958. That team, which is still the youngest ever to compete in the Brier, finished with an 8W – 2L record, tied for first with the legendary Matt Baldwin, but lost the title in a special play-off. Seven years later Ray, along with Don Duguid and Ron and Terry Braunstein, won the Canadian Championship in Saskatoon and finished runner-up in the world championship to Bud Somerville of the USA. This provided him with another, but more dubious distinction, being a member of the first Canadian team to ever lose the world championship. Ray was also a member of teams that won three MCA Grand Aggregate titles and two cars.

Always imaginative and innovative, Ray along with Don Duguid, founded the first ever curling school in 1968. He also wrote the original technical instructional program used around the world. His international instruction took him around the globe to teach curlers in the USA, Scotland, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany and Japan. Ray, through his teaching, spawned several world champions including Otto Danielli, Kristian Soerum, Eigil Ramsfjell and Dordi Nordby, to name just a few. He was also an experienced umpire on the national and international scene, having served as Chief Umpire at the Canadian Ladies Curling Championships and the International Curling Federation for seven years, 1978-1984.

For 25 years from 1985 to 2010, Ray worked with TSN as their colour commentator for curling telecasts, where he most likely gained his most fame. His exposure to all the executive positions at the Granite Curling Club made him a well-known figure at his home away from home.

Ray Turnbull served as President of the Granite Curling Club in 1982-83 and was an Honourary Life Member of the Granite. He is an honoured member of the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame, inducted in 1993 as a Curler-Builder; the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame, inducted 2009 as Builder; and the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame, with the 1965 Canadian Champion Braunstein team, inducted in 2013.

Grant Watson (1905-1977), playing third on the Ken Watson team, won Manitoba and Dominion Championships in 1936, 1942, and 1949. They also won the Manitoba Championship as well in 1943 (there was no Brier due to World War II).

Grant curled for Ken Watson until Ken retired in 1950. However, after moving to Ontario, Grant added a Northern Ontario Championship to his credits in 1953.

Included in Grant`s long list of incredible winning ways are eight MCA Bonspiel Grand Aggregate trophies (in 1939, from 1942 through 1947, and in 1951); 20 MCA Bonspiel event trophies, and two car bonspiels.

Besides being an excellent curler, Grant exhibited prowess in other sports. In tennis he was Manitoba and Western Canadian singles and doubles champion.

Grant Watson was inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame (2012) as well as the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame in 1974 and the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame (2013) with the Ken Watson 1936, 1942, and 1949 teams.

Watson, Grant
CURLER
Inducted 1992

Duguid – 1967 TEAM Canadian Champions
Inducted 1992

The 1967 Canadian Women’s Champions represented the Fort Garry Business Girls and included skip Betty Duguid with third Joan Ingram, second Laurie Bradawski and lead Dot Rose

Initially, the four women curled independently in club play and joined together to form a team to enter the MLCA Bonspiel. In 1963, they won the aggregate title, and again in 1965, when they also won the main event North Star Oil, and missed out on the triple crown by losing in the final of the Lady Eaton.

The team joined forces as a regular competitive unit in 1966, winning their club and district play downs, and making a fine showing in the 1966 provincial. Then in 1967, came the culmination of their dream – going undefeated through club and district play downs, and through the provincial playdowns, to represent Manitoba in the final Diamond D Ladies Championship in Montreal, where they also were undefeated. A record of 27 consecutive games without a loss is a feat no other team has accomplished since.

Joan, Dot, and Laurie are members of the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame as individual curlers – in 1989, 1999, and 2000 respectively.

Joan (2002) and Dot (2008) have also been inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame in recognition of individual Curling and Softball accomplishments.

Joan, Laurie, and Dot were also inducted into the Manitoba Sports Hall of Fame as members of the 1965 CUAC Women’s Fastball Championship team.