Two northern Ontario bowlers to receive national recognition

Sudbury -

Two northern Ontario bowlers are set to be inducted into the Canadian 5 Pin Hall of Fame next month.

"When you're inducted into the Canadian 5 pin, you're the best of the best in all of Canada," says Kim Goedhuis from the Cambrian North Bowlers Association.

Inductees Yvette McLellan and Pat McNamara are both from Sudbury.

McLellan will receive the award in the bowling category and McNamara will receive the posthumous nomination in the builders' category.

McLellan, a master bowler with numerous medals under her belt, will be the first person inducted in this category from northern Ontario. She says she was shocked to receive the letter in the mail.

"I had no clue whatsoever and when I received the letter I was being inducted I was proud and honoured," she said.

McLellan got her start bowling in her hometown of St. Charles, saying it began as a fun activity to play with friends. After she moved to Sudbury, she quickly became involved in the sport, entering tournaments and then working in the league.

She has competed as a single bowler and on ladies' teams, competing in Northern Ontario 5 Pin Open Provincial Championships for over 30 years. She is also a Master and coaches youth 5 pin bowlers at Plaza Bowl two times a week, and has trained young people on a provincial and national level.

Goedhuis bowled with McLellan for 15 years, and says she helped her improve and many others.

"She's also helped all of her competitors. She's not just there for herself. She helps everybody," Goedhuis says. "She's an awesome bowler, an awesome friend."

McLellan says she loves watching youth grow to love the sport and improve.

"They are going to be the ones to continue to make this sport grow so the more you can teach them and get them involved is what matters," she said.

McNamara's family will be accepting the award in his honour.

Pat McNamara's daughter, Kelly McNamara, said it makes her happy that her dad is receiving the recognition.

"I saw as a child how much time and effort he put into it and knowing what everyone thought of my dad, it means the world he's being recognized in this way." .

McNamara was the founder of the Northern Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers' Association and is viewed by many as someone who grew the sport up north.

"He was very well respected throughout Canada and when he passed away that left a big hole in northern Ontario," said Goedhuis.

In his early years, McNamara worked at a bowling alley in Hamilton as a pin setter, where the job had to be done by hand. Kelly believes that's where his love of bowling began and grew from there.

"He was a YBC coach, a youth coach, from 1971 until the time he passed away," she said. "He believed in the sport of 5 pin bowling."

Kelly and her three siblings grew up bowling with their dad, which she says she remembers fondly.

"I think we were rolling balls before we could walk," she laughs, adding that she and her siblings still bowl.

There is an award in McNamara's name given out each year to a bowler in northern Ontario.

Kelly says her father was a humble man, who never did anything solely for recognition.

"I'm sure he'd name other people he thought were more deserving," Kelly says. "He never did anything for any sort of recognition or thanks. He just did what he loved. And he loved the sport."

McLellan and McNamara will be inducted into the Canadian 5 Pin Hall of Fame on June 3 in Edmonton, Alberta.