Duncan Macdonell
Success is measured in terms of the contribution an individual has made to fellow human beings and community. To this day, Duncan Macdonell has dedicated himself to his home community of Glengarry County through his involvement in sports, sponsorship, coaching and his contributions in the areas of politics, the Curling Club, the Friends of the Ruins and the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame. He has touched many lives and on many levels and has proven himself to be a true example of success.
Duncan’s roots are firmly planted in St. Raphael’s West where he was born February 27, 1926 to Angus A. Macdonell and Marjorie MacKenzie. The youngest of seven and only son began his lifelong interest in sports at an early age in the school yard of Iona Academy and the outdoor hockey rink in the village.
Duncan graduated in 1945 and went on to run the family’s general store and later the St. Raphael’s Egg Grading Station, with his young wife Marie Paule Ménard. In these early years he played softball for the Glengarry Aces (this league included Bainsville, Dalhousie, Glen Robertson and Apple Hill), and the Glengarry Junior Farmers. Duncan was a member of the Charlottenburg Junior Farmers and served as President in 1950-51. A meeting held at his home in October of 1951 was cut short by the arrival of Duncan and Patch’s first daughter.
After relocating to Alexandria in 1960, Duncan helped organize its first fastball league. He served as President of the league and also sponsored the Atlantic Hotel Team which won the championship in 1963 and 1964.
uncan also developed a love for hockey over the years. He played for such teams as the Alexandria Maroons and the Green Valley Rockets who won the Border League Championship in 1953-54. As his three boys became involved in our country’s winter pastime, Duncan coached minor hockey in the “old” arena in Alexandria.
One of Duncan’s greatest contribution has been to the Alexandria Curling Club where he has been an active member since 1956-57 (over 45 years). He served as President from 1964 to 1965.
Duncan was a member of the Red Caps Curling team (with Roger Roy, Gilles Roy and Donnie Cameron) for 5 years. This team went on to win 5 trophies in the 1963 curling season.
He helped initiate the famous Moose Bonspiel at the Alexandria Curling Club with Paul Roy, (who chaired the event for the first three years) and chaired this event for many years.
Duncan has competed for the prestigious Quebec Challenge Trophy on several occasions. This is one of the oldest competitions in North America in continuous play. The Quebec Challenge is a two rink competition where curling clubs from Quebec and Eastern Ontario only get a chance to compete once every eight or ten years. In 1962 Duncan played third on one of the rinks at the Jacques Cartier Curling Club in Quebec City, where Alexandria won and took home the trophy. Later in Granby, Quebec, Duncan played skip and won, helping our Alexandria Curling Club bring the trophy home again.
Duncan also participated in the Quebec International Bonspiel for 28 years and was the area director for 2 years. Beyond Quebec, he played in the Monctonian Bonspiel where he won “The Raymond Smith Bonspieler Award” in 1989. The award is presented to the curler who best exhibits sociabilities and fellowship qualities.
On December 9, 1968, Duncan became a member of the Eight Ender Club at the Alexandria Curling Club. This is a dream to many curlers and can be compared to a hole-in-one in golf.
During these many years Duncan also served on numerous other organizations in his community. He is a life member of the Alexandria Lions Club and served on two terms as president. He also worked with another dedicated Glengarrian, Angus H. McDonell to organize the early Sports Awards Dinners and Chaired this event for many years.
As owner of the Atlantic Hotel for many years, Duncan has also had some involvement in Broomball. As sponsor of the Atlantic Hotel broomball team from 1960 on, Duncan was proud to see them win 3 consecutive championships.
Duncan is also a past president of the Alexandria Rod & Gun Club. He helped build a trap shooting facility on the Pat Brunet farm where Duncan and Patch live today.
Duncan is also a past director of the Glengarry Sports Hall of Fame where he served for over twenty years in fundraising and various other committees. Duncan is also a founding director of the Friends of the Ruins, who purchased the Ruins from Charlottenburg Township. With this organization, he participated as fundraising chair and carried out numerous other responsibilities with the board he continues to serve on.
Duncan has also had involvement in area politics. He has served a term as councillor and one as reeve for the town of Alexandria. He has represented Alexandria on the county council of S.D.&G. and the Raisin Region Conservation Authority and later represented the township of Lochiel for one year.
