Wilf Barlow joined his first bowling league in 1927, and this association with our sport lasted 60 years.

Born in England, Wilf came to Canada in 1908 with his parents at age seven. By sixteen, Wilf began a 36-year career at Stelco and it was there he met his partner, Don Donaldson. Both Wilf and Don wanted to form their own business as they could see that Stelco was working three shifts, twenty-four hours a day. By 1948, Wilf sold his house and Don had raised some funds to open a bowling business but, as fate would have it, an industrial accident took Don’s life and Wilf was on his own. However, in 1950, in memory of his partner, Wilf opened Bar-Don Lanes, a six lane centre on Mountain St. in Stoney Creek. Three years later, Wilf expanded to twelve lanes and bowling would never be the same.

Wilf started the first youth bowling league in Hamilton, long before the youth Bowling Council had become popular. Wilf’s efforts expanded to other centres such as Westdale, Mountain Lanes, Ancaster and the winter Garden and before long, the youth bowlers had a city-wide association.

With bowling expanding, Wilf was approached to put a team in the Niagara District Pro League. Wilf not only put one team in he put two, and between them, they won the league title for the next twelve years. In addition, his ladies team entry also won twelve times in thirteen tries.

Wilf was called a real “bowlers” proprietor and he was very supportive in the formation of the bowlers’ association in Hamilton and supported the bowlers with many local tournaments, the most popular of which was held on Good Friday. Bowlers actually lined up outside, usually in very cold weather, waiting to get in.

Wilf not only influenced five pin bowling, but he also was a prime mover in the Optimist
Club in Stoney Creek, the Credit Union, golf, soccer, and little league baseball.

In 1971, Wilf was named Stoney Creek’s Citizen of the Year, and the Optimist Club followed that with an award as Ontario’s number one Optimist in 1976.

Wilf passed away in 1987, leaving his wife Jessie, sons Jim and Don, and ten grandchildren. Bob Coulter, a lifelong friend, read the eulogy and said, “Wilf, your name was synonymous with things worthwhile, with strength to do the right things,with honour, truth, integrity, square-dealing, with a love of life.”