Don Bond

Don Bond has spent his entire life participating in sports as a player, a coach, or an organizer in some capacity. Born in Vankleek Hill, he attended VCI where he played hockey, football and held three track and field records. Don also played semi-pro football for Hawkesbury in the Quebec Rugby Football League for several years in the late 50s before coming to Maxville to teach at the local high school in 1965.

During the next 30 years Don spent countless hours volunteering his time to coach high school sports including football at Maxville from 1965 till 1974. He moved on with the school to Tagwi where he continued coaching football until 1987 when the football program was cancelled. He coached high school hockey as well, running an invitational school hockey tournament for seven years.

As well, he introduced curling to both boys and girls, coaching it from 1986 until he retired in 1995. As a coach, Don had the reputation as a fierce competitor, one who always brought his teams ready to play and give their opponents a test, whether it be on the field or on the ice.

Don’s 60 year curling career began in 1953 playing on natural ice in the Hill. Later, playing out of the Glengarry Curling Club in Maxville, he skipped teams for many years all across Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Besides local executive positions, he served as President of the Ottawa Valley Curling Association in 1986-87. He was also on the executive of the Ontario Curling Association.

In recognition of his contributions to the sport, he was elected into the Governor-General’s Curling Club in 1989, a club formed in 1874 by Lord Dufferin, then the Governor-General of Canada. Since that time the main focus of the Club has been to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to curling, whether it be locally, provincially or nationally, not only as competitive curlers, but also as builders and administrators. Don became one of the only 100 members of the club. In 1998 he was on the Canadian team which won the Strathcona Cup, a prize competed for every four years by Scotland and Canada. He served as president of the club in 2000-01 and was awarded Membership Emeritus in 2005, an honour held by only 25 members.

As a result, Don has also organized curling exchange regularly which has taken many area curlers to Scotland and has resulted in receiving many Scottish curlers in return.

Don has always been a strong leader in the sports community of Maxville. He became a director of the Glengarry Highland Games, becoming the Chairman of Heavy Sports in 1965, a post he held until 1992; on the way, Don helped to turn the Heavyweights from an informal competition into one of the premiere Highland sports events in Canada. He also served as President of the Highland Games in 1992-1993 and is still an active member, presently in charge of the Tug O’ War event. Don also found time to judge the Heavyweight competition at the Canmore Highland Games in Alberta for 5 years.

Don’s involvement in the community’s affairs does not stop at sports. He has been a member of the Masonic lodge for more than 43 years and served as District Deputy Grand Master of Masons in 1979-80.

Don’s skill as a chairman at meetings has brought him great respect and he is still chair of the past Presidents Committee of the Glengarry Highland Games, chairing the annual meetings

Don is a good golfer and is a member of the Glengarry Golf and Country Club where he had a hole-in-one in 1977. Besides playing a lot of golf since he retired, he is still an active motorcyclist and is planning a trip on his bike to Cape Cod this summer.

Don also has a pilot’s licence and has flown for a number of years.

As a curler, Don has already been recognized for his contributions to the sport. As a coach, he gave generously of his time for many years touching the lives of so many high school boys and girls in and around Maxville enriching their lives with a lasting experience with sports. To this day, at social gatherings in the area, a Don Bond sports related story always comes up that ends with a chuckle and a wish that one more game could have been played. We welcome Don Bond into the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame.

Don Bond has spent his entire life participating in sports as a player, a coach, or an organizer in some capacity. Born in Vankleek Hill, he attended VCI where he played hockey, football and held three track and field records. Don also played semi-pro football for Hawkesbury in the Quebec Rugby Football League for several years in the late 50s before coming to Maxville to teach at the local high school in 1965.

During the next 30 years Don spent countless hours volunteering his time to coach high school sports including football at Maxville from 1965 till 1974. He moved on with the school to Tagwi where he continued coaching football until 1987 when the football program was cancelled. He coached high school hockey as well, running an invitational school hockey tournament for seven years. As well, he introduced curling to both boys and girls, coaching it from 1986 until he retired in 1995. As a coach, Don had the reputation as a fierce competitor, one who always brought his teams ready to play and give their opponents a test, whether it be on the field or on the ice.

Don’s 60 year curling career began in 1953 playing on natural ice in the Hill. Later, playing out of the Glengarry Curling Club in Maxville, he skipped teams for many years all across Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes. Besides local executive positions, he served as President of the Ottawa Valley Curling Association in 1986-87. He was also on the executive of the Ontario Curling Association.

In recognition of his contributions to the sport, he was elected into the Governor-General’s Curling Club in 1989, a club formed in 1874 by Lord Dufferin, then the Governor-General of Canada. Since that time the main focus of the Club has been to recognize those who have made a significant contribution to curling, whether it be locally, provincially or nationally, not only as competitive curlers, but also as builders and administrators. Don became one of the only 100 members of the club. In 1998 he was on the Canadian team which won the Strathcona Cup, a prize competed for every four years by Scotland and Canada. He served as president of the club in 2000-01 and was awarded Membership Emeritus in 2005, an honour held by only 25 members.

As a result, Don has also organized curling exchange on a regular basis which has taken many area curlers to Scotland and has resulted in receiving many Scottish curlers in return.

Don has always been a strong leader in the sports community of Maxville. He became a director of the Glengarry Highland Games, becoming the Chairman of Heavy Sports in 1965, a post he held until 1992; on the way, Don helped to turn the Heavyweights from an informal competition into one of the premiere Highland sports events in Canada. He also served as President of the Highland Games in 1992-1993 and is still an active member, presently in charge of the Tug O’ War event. Don also found time to judge the Heavyweight competition at the Canmore Highland Games in Alberta for 5 years.

Don’s involvement in the community’s affairs does not stop at sports. He has been a member of the Masonic lodge for more than 43 years and served as District Deputy Grand Master of Masons in 1979-80.

Don’s skill as a chairman at meetings has brought him great respect and he is still chair of the past Presidents Committee of the Glengarry Highland Games, chairing the annual meetings.

Don is a good golfer and is a member of the Glengarry Golf and Country Club where he had a hole-in-one in 1977. Besides playing a lot of golf since he retired, he is still an active motorcyclist and is planning a trip on his bike to Cape Cod this summer.

Don also has a pilot’s licence and has flown for a number of years.

As a curler, Don has already been recognized for his contributions to the sport. As a coach, he gave generously of his time for many years touching the lives of so many high school boys and girls in and around Maxville enriching their lives with a lasting experience with sports. To this day, at social gatherings in the area, a Don Bond sports related story always comes up that ends with a chuckle and a wish that one more game could have been played. We welcome Don Bond into the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame.