Donald A. MacDonald

Donald Sandfield, as he was familiarly known throughout his life, inherited the characteristics of a sport builder from his grandfather, the Hon. D.A. MacDonald and his father, Col. A.G.F. Macdonald, founding editor publisher of the Glengarry News.

In 1913 Alexandria fielded the Ontario lacrosse finalists with Brampton, to play home and home games, total score, for the provincial championship. That was the calibre of the Ottawa Valley champions. Lack of funds prevented the final series.

World Was One shredded not only that lacrosse team but our town’s hockey champions as well. That sport situation prevailed throughout Canada. In 1920 there was much talk of reviving the grand old summer game. But not much action.

Donald A. Sandfield Macdonald was by this time a budding young lawyer. His office was opposite the now police station-old post office, Realizing action had to be taken, Donald Sandfield bought and paid for two dozen lacrosse sticks. He kept them allowing first year AHS students, like this writer, to have the privilege of carrying an armful of those sticks east on Catherine Street, by the high school and through the open field to the fairgrounds for an evening practice. That was the revival of lacrosse in Alexandria, thanks to the leadership and money of Donald Sandfield.

Curling in Alexandria began about 1986. The rink was built where the nursing home is now, previously the family home of druggist John McLeister. Eventually due apparently to lack of interest the rink housing the “Roarin” Game ceased in Alexandria.

Now we will move along to the post World War One era known as the Golden Twenties. Donald A. Macdonald once again shouldered the Sandfield sport heritage by organizing a charter curling club that rebuilt the long gone curling rink of the 1890s. This was 1923-24.

Donald A. Macdonald was the elder son of Col. A.G.F. Macdonald and his wife the former Eugenie Hebert Montreal. Donald A. Macdonald’s wife was the former Fernande Roy, also of Montreal. They had three daughters, Claire, Louise, and Beatrice.