Softball Canada 50th Anniversary

Published by Gilles LeBlanc 

Published on February 17, 2015

(Ottawa, ON) The Canadian Amateur Softball Association (CASA), commonly known as Softball Canada, is kicking off a yearlong celebration of its 50th Anniversary in 2015. The celebration coincides with the proclamation of 2015 as the Year of Sport in Canada made by the Governor General of Canada, His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston in a ceremony on Parliament Hill in October. The Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport) was also present.

“Softball Canada is very proud of its history and looks forward to creating an excellent future in the sport of Softball” stated Softball Canada President Kevin Quinn. “We have planned many activities and promotions across Canada in 2015 to honour those who have created our history to date and to pave the way for future growth and expansion. We have come a long way in the past 50 years through the development of numerous outstanding programs and championships and look forward to accelerated growth as we move forward.”

Softball Canada got its start at the Marlborough Hotel in Winnipeg, Manitoba on Victoria Day (May 24) weekend in 1965. Prior to the meeting, Canadian softball was divided into two major groups. The Western Major Fastball Association was composed of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and the Lake Head (Thunder Bay) area of Ontario, while the Ontario Amateur Softball Association and the Maritime Softball Association (consisting of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) formed the second group. Quebec functioned independently and competed in some inter-provincial events with border towns in Ontario and New Brunswick.

The Newfoundland Amateur Softball Association served as a catalyst in the creation of Softball Canada as they joined the Western Major Fastball Association at the 1965 meeting, grouping five provinces together with one on each end of the country. As a result, the Federal government, the International Softball Federation (ISF) and the Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) recognized the newly formed Canadian Amateur Softball Association as the sport’s governing body in Canada. Soon after, Ontario and the Maritime provinces joined the association the following year in 1966. Quebec later came on board for the 1969 Canada Summer Games in Halifax, with Yukon and the Northwest Territories later joining in the early 1970’s.

The theme of Softball Canada’s 50th Anniversary celebration will be “Celebrating the Past and Building the Future”. Softball players and fans are passionate, and behind each and every one of them is a moment that started it all. This theme celebrates that moment, whether it happened in the past or whether it is happening right now, kick starting future generations of players and fans.

Softball Canada will be incorporating this theme throughout the year with a 50th Anniversary website (www.softball.ca/50th), social media posts and contests (#SC50th), and at its Annual General Meeting and Congress which will take place November 12-14 where it all began, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Three of Softball Canada’s National Teams will be active in competition in 2015, as the ISF Men’s World Championship will take place June 26 to July 5 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, the Canadian Open Fastpitch International Championship will include the Junior and Senior Women’s National Teams July 6 to 14 in Surrey, British Columbia and the 2015 Pan American Games will feature both men’s and women’s softball in Ajax, Ontario from July 12 to 26. The Junior Women’s National Team will also compete at the ISF Junior Women’s World Championship August 9 to 15 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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For more information, please contact:

Gilles LeBlanc
Manager – Marketing and Communications
Softball Canada
(613) 523-3386 ext. 3105
gleblanc@softball.ca