Based on a belief that your purpose in life is “helping others”, Glen McGhie has volunteered over 30 years to the benefit of others.
Born in Windsor, Ontario, Glen made a wise decision and joined the military in 1964 and specifically, he qualified for the Air Force. Despite being only 18, Glen was a gifted athlete. In his teens he played baseball with Hall of Fame pitcher, Ferguson Jenkins, and also ran with Canadian Hall of Fame track star, Bill Crothers. In the military Glen was classified as a Recreation Specialist and his volunteer spirit was born.
Following postings in Winnipeg and Moose Jaw, Glen was transferred to Summerside, Prince Edward Island where he met Sheila Dunn and in 2016, Glen and Sheila will be celebrating 50 years of marriage. In all, there were three children, Dale, Shawn and Shelley. Shawn would become an Ontario champion, winning the Provincial Open singles title in 1994.
As Glen solidified his military career, he enjoyed a stint in Lahr, Germany, before returning to Canada; first going to Winnipeg before settling in Kingston. In all these stops Glen was connected with 5 pin bowling as our sport and recreation was extremely popular with all branches of the military. In Lahr, Glen was the manager of eight lanes that were installed on the base, a rarity for any bowling installation outside of Canada. Glen organized a Youth Bowling Council (YBC) program and affiliated his bowlers with the Ontario proprietors, even receiving crests for his young bowlers. In Winnipeg, Glen was Supervisor and YBC Director of Lipsett Hall Lanes, which were located on the military base. While there, Glen also joined the Master Bowlers’ Association and he was a member for 25 years.
In 1982, Glen was transferred to Kingston as the military was in the process of building a 10 lane centre on the base. With his experience and background, Glen was appointed the first Manager at the centre, called Garrison Lanes and he held this position for 27 years. With his knowledge of the bowling industry, Glen began to organize the bowlers at the new centre. Of special note, the YBC program peaked at 189 members, the highest in the area. In 1982, with the help of Ken Barter, he co-founded the Kingston and District 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association. The original grouping included two other centres, Celebrity Lanes in Kingston and Delaney Bowl in Gananoque. This group functioned as a decentralized association for several years. Upon the closing of Celebrity Lanes, Garrison went on its own and the association continues to this day.
In 1992, Glen began a Special Olympics program in Kingston and with another volunteer, Doug Bird, started a bowling league at Garrison and this initiative laid the foundation for other Special Olympic programs to begin. Today bowlers from Kingston are regular participants in the annual Invitational Doubles tournament conducted by the Master Bowlers’ Association of Ontario.
Glen continued his philosophy of giving and, not only organized the local blind bowlers group in Kingston, but also co-founded the Bay of Quinte Youth Bowlers Hall of Fame. Their first dinner was held on November 11, 1989 and Glen was honoured along with co-founders, Hall of Famer Harold Stoddart and Marilyn Haggerty.
In addition, as the proprietor of Garrison Lanes, Glen was elected as President of the Bay of Quinte Proprietors’ Association. As well as being a master bowler, he also assumed the role of zone delegate for his area. While President of the Proprietors’ Association, Glen proposed a motion to create a ring to recognize a perfect game in the zone. To his credit, he wears one of these rings for the perfect game that he bowled at Garrison in 1983. As well, in 2000, Glen was recognized as Proprietor of the Year by the Ontario 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association.
Glen loved the coaching aspect of sports, especially bowling. Certified at Level 3, Glen has coached at all levels. Specifically at the Provincial Open, where Glen has coached for 27 years. This feat, equalled only by Ken Gorman and Jim Muir, was selected as number 30 in the top 50 memorable moments in the 50 year history of the event.
Off the lanes, Glen has continued his bowling involvement. He attended all the conventions, taught coaching courses, volunteered with the Kingston Civitan Club and also sat on the board of the Bingo Association of Kingston. Today, as Glen and Sheila enjoy retirement, they take great joy in attending antique car shows. As proud owners of a 1958 Chevrolet Biscayne and a 1977 Pontiac Parisienne, they participate at car shows, two or three times a week during the summer months, in Eastern Ontario.
Glen says that our purpose in life is to help others. Be assured, Glen has done his job and done it well.