Hall of Famers: 2013

Pelletier, Paul
BUILDER
Inducted 2013

Paul Pelletier learned to curl at the curling club in his home town of Portage la Prairie, MB. He joined the Ft Rouge Curling Club in 1967 and has been a life-long member. In 1970 Paul joined the Board of the Ft Rouge Curling Club and became president in 1980. As a board member he chaired many committees including Juniors, Interclub, Bonspiels, Membership , Roster , Canteen , Lounge and Prizes. Indeed a busy ten years! He is an Honorary Life Member of the Ft Rouge C.C. (1992). In 1981, as Past President of the Ft Rouge, he was their representative to the Manitoba Curling Association.

He was elected to the MCA Council in 1982. In a 10 year association with the Manitoba Curling Association, Paul chaired several committees including Prizes, Mixed Playdowns and Publicity.

He assumed presidency of the Manitoba Curling Association for the 1991 – 1992 season. At the provincial, national and world level he has been a willing and enthusiastic events volunteer. Paul was president of the Interclub Committee, served as an advisor on the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame and was a director of the Manitoba Curling Foundation. In 1998 he was Chairman of Facilities of the Brier Patch at the Brier and on the Board of Directors of the 1991 World Curling Championship.

He was made an Honorary Life Member of the Manitoba Curling Association in 1994.

Cliff Wise was born in Prince Edward Island in 1897. He moved to Winnipeg in 1905 with his parents. The Strathcona Curling Club opened in 1909 and at the age of 12 in 1909, he threw his first curling rock. He applied for membership in 1911 but was refused because of his youth. He was admitted in 1912. In his first venture as a skip he won the City Championship in 1915 at age of 17! Winnipeg has since developed many “kid” rinks but in 1915 this was the youngest ever to win a major event. Their average age was just under 17 years. He was president of the Strathcona Curling Club and was an Honorary Life member of that club.

Cliff Wise also made 13 British Consols appearances from 1926 to 1955 playing with his brother Ness on several occasions. Cliff was City Champion 3 times in 1915, 1922 and 1926. In the Winnipeg Bonspiel he won trophies 8 times which included the Governor General’s Grand Aggregate in 1929. In 1959 and 1975 he won the Stovel Trophy in the Veteran Men’s Bonspiel. In 1965 Cliff won the Manitoba Seniors title curling lead for Strathcona’s Leo Johnson. They went on to win the Championship at the first Canadian Championship at the seniors level.

Cliff Wise was made an Honorary Life Member of the Manitoba Curling Association (1959).

The 1965 Leo Johnson Senior Champion team was inducted into the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in 2016.

Wise, A. Clifford
CURLER
Inducted 2013

Wise, J. Ness
CURLER
Inducted 2013

Ness Wise, the elder of the two Wise brothers was born in 1896. In 1909, he became interested in curling by helping the ice-maker at the Strathcona after school hours. Along with his brother, he managed to play several games a week when not being chased out of the rink by the members who at the time could not see that this was a game for the young boys! Ness became a member of the Strathcona in 1912, became president in 1930-31 and is an Honorary Life Member of the club (1954).

Ness made 13 British Consols appearances from 1925 to 1955; and was City Champion 4 times; in 1915, 1922, 1927 and 1946. In the Winnipeg Bonspiel he won at least 14 events including the Grand Aggregate twice in 1927 and 1929. In 1954 Ness won the Stovel Trophy in the Veteran Men’s Bonspiel.

Ness Wise was made an Honorary Life Member of the Manitoba Curling Association (1959).

The 1965 Canadian Men’s Champions skipped by Terry Braunstein included Don Duguid – third; Ron Braunstein – second; and Ray Turnbull – lead.

In 1964 the team was formed and curled out of the Granite Curling Club in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They competed in the 1964 Winnipeg Bonspiel, and had very poor results that year. In 1965 they won eight out of nine bonspiels, and won the provincial championship with an 8W – 1L record.

In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan they earned the Canadian Championship with a 9W – 1L record. This Brier was played before record crowds with Manitoba needing to beat British Columbia in their final round robin game. This they did after some brilliant play, and prevailed with a final score of 10-9.

The 1965 Canadian Champions, with Gordon McTavish replacing Ron Braunstein, finished the Scotch Cup World Championship with a 4W – 1L round robin record, tied with Bud Somerville (USA). A semi-final win over Scotland’s Chuck Hay advanced the Canadians to the final against Somerville, who beat Sweden in the other semi-final.

After six consecutive Scotch Cup championships by Canadian teams, it may have been inevitable that a loss was a real possibility. The Braunstein foursome lost the final game 9-6 to the United States, the first non-Canadian team to win a world title.

Don Duguid is a member of the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in the Team category (1987) and in the Curler category (1999). Don Duguid is also a member of the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame (1974) and was inducted into the World Curling Hall of Fame (2013).

Terry Braunstein is a member of the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame as a Curler (1990)

Ray Turnbull is a member of the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame as a Curler/Builder (1992), and is also a member of the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame (1994).

Braunstein – 1965 TEAM Canadian Champions
Inducted 2013

Fry – 1973 TEAM
Canadian Champions
Inducted 2013

The 1973 Canadian Mixed Champions included skip Barry Fry, Peggy Casselman at third, Stephen Decter at second, and Susan Lynch at lead

The team from Winnipeg’s Maple Leaf Curling Club were undefeated at provincial playdowns; completing the event with a record of 5W-0L.

In Charlottetown, PEI they lost their first game and then went on to win nine games in a row to win the Seagram`s Canadian Mixed Championship title. This was the third Mixed Championship title for teams from Manitoba. Barry and Susan were selected as all-star skip and lead at this event.

Barry is already a member of the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in the curler category ( 1994 ) and with his 1979 Men’s Champion team (2014). Peggy Casselman is also a member of the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in the Team category (1988).

The 1932 Canadian Men’s Champions featured Jim Congalton as skip joining forces with Howard Wood (Sr.) playing third along with Bill Noble – second, and Harry Mawhinney – lead.

Curling out of the Granite Curling Club in Winnipeg, Manitoba the Jim Congalton team won the British Consols to represent Manitoba at the 1932 Canadian Brier Championship at the Granite Club in Toronto, Ontario. Jack Campbell was replaced by Howard Wood Sr. for the Canadian Championship. Howard Wood was a returning Brier winning skip (1930).

After round robin play Manitoba and Alberta were tied for first place. In a playoff, Manitoba defeated Alberta by a score of 13 to 8. Manitoba’s final record in 1932 was 6W – 2L. This was the fifth Brier win for Manitoba since 1927.

Jim Congalton is a member of the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in the Curler category (1997) and in the Team category (2012). Howard Wood Sr. is a member of the Manitoba Curling Hall of Fame in the Curler category (1988) and Team category (2012).

Jim Congalton and Howard Wood Sr. are also members of the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame – Congalton (1975), and Wood (1974).

Congalton – 1932 TEAM Canadian Champions
Inducted 2013