Roper, Barbara

Year Inducted / Année Intronisé:

1976

Province / Province:

Prince Edward Island

Category / Catégorie:

Builder

Biography / Biographie:

Barbara was well known to fellow curlers as a tireless worker in her home club, the Charlottetown Curling Club, as well as in curling circles across the Island and Canada.

She served as vice president of the Charlottetown Curling Club, Ladies Branch in 1954/55 and as their president in 1955/56. Barbara convened several annual fashion shows at the club and, although these events have become a thing of the past, the fashion shows were significant fund raising opportunities for the Ladies Branch of the club.

Barbara was a delegate to the Prince Edward Island Ladies Curling Association from 1955 until 1965. During this time, she served as the Association’s vice president in 1955/56, and as their president in 1956/57. She again took on the role of vice president in 1963/64, and served as president of the Prince Edward Island Ladies Curling Association in 1964/65.

Barbara was a delegate to the Eastern Canada Ladies Curling Association from 1956 to 1960 and served as their Secretary in 1958/59 and 1959/60.

In 1956/57, she was a delegate to the All Canada Council to discuss forming a Dominion Bonspiel for Ladies. Four years later, in February 1960, 21 representatives from nine provinces, including Barbara from the Island, met in Toronto at a history-making meeting and formed the Canadian Ladies’ Curling Association. Sponsored by Dominion Stores Limited, the first Dominion Ladies Curling Championship was held in 1960, in Ontario.

During the 1964 Canadian Men’s Curling Championship, held in Charlottetown, Barbara was the chairperson for the women’s activities associated with the week.

In 1972, even though seriously ill, she worked with the organizing committee as ceremonies chairperson for the 1973 Lassie, the Canadian Women’s Curling Championship, which was held in Charlottetown.

Barbara was a charter member of the Charlottetown Curling Club, Ladies Branch and was active in the club up to the time of her death in November 1972.

Barbara was also active in the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE) for more than 25 years, was a past regent of the Earl of Hillsborough chapter, held several offices in the provincial chapter and was on the provincial executive since its inception in 1962.

She was, as well, keenly interested in music and amateur theatre, and was a choir member and a director and actor in many local amateur shows.

Barbara was elected to the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame as a builder in February 1976.