ABOUT US

Manitoba fire fighters are very proud to have been a part of these great associations since their inception in 1960.

Fire Fighter Aubrey Neff of Vancouver, BC had a dream and a vision of gathering fire fighters from across Canada for a national curling championship.  In 1958/59 he sent bulletins to all the major fire departments in cities across Canada.  The instantaneous response from many cities especially across the Prairies was very gratifying.  Provincial associations were formed and BC, Alberta and Saskatchewan declared champions although a playoff did not materialize that year.  However in the following season, 1960, everyone knew Aubrey was on the right track as teams from BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Northern Ontario met in Regina for a playoff.  The hospitality of the host curlers was largely responsible for the success of this first and all important meeting.  It was here that the Dominion Association was formed with Aubrey Neff as the President and our own Howie Smith on the board of directors.  1961 saw Winnipeg hosting the championship and Southern Ontario was added to the mix.  Over the years we grew until, in 1983, there were 12 teams competing from all across Canada and the Territories.

Aubrey’s dream had become a reality, the Canadian Fire Fighters Curling Association.  This is the only competition that gathers fire fighters from every province and territory in Canada to compete for a national championship.  Every province and territory has also hosted this event.

Sadly, Aubrey Neff passed away in Chilliwack, BC on March 9, 1997, at the age of 74, after losing a courageous battle with cancer.  The memory of his legacy will live on in the hearts of every fire fighter who participates in this curling championship.  One man’s dream remains a reality for all who continue to champion his cause…

Aubrey’s son Dale has been attending the Canadian Championships for a while now and is considered an integral member of the fire fighter family.  Dale is a very soft spoken, gentle man who thinks the world of the fire fighters and he is always so pleased to be a part of such a great organization.

At the 50th Canadian in Charlottetown, PEI one of the guest speakers spoke about how amazing it was to him that an organized event such as ours has taken place for 50 years.  How special the bond is between fire fighters across the country to keep this event going.  How amazing it is that curlers, directors, executive and host committees work so hard to keep to keep the dream alive.  He impressed upon all curlers attending the Canadian to continue to work in their own provinces towards keeping the event going until we reached our 100^th anniversary, to recruit new curlers and continue to hold provincial championships and send representatives to the Canadian each year.

Manitoba has been a very large part of keeping this great Canadian association together.  Manitoba has had someone on the Canadian executive for 45 of its first 50 years of existence.  For those of you who don’t know, our own Winnipeg FD’s Lyle Wiebe was the Canadian President for 14 years, which shows his own personal commitment to this organization.

We are also very proud to have had 6 of our own members inducted as Life Members of the CFFCA over the years.  

Howie Smith – Howie was on the first Team Manitoba in 1960 and even played in Manitoba’s 50^th Provincial Championship in 2010.  He always had a zest for life and enjoyed curling in the daytime Winnipeg Fire Fighters Curling league until about 2016, in his eighties.  Howie served on the CFFCA Executive for 12 years (3 as President) and was inducted as a Life Member in 1972.   

Bill Metzler – Bill curled many years in our provincial championships and is a 4 time Manitoba champion  and came out of curling retirement to participate with Howie in Manitoba’s 50^th provincial.  Bill served as Manitoba President and for several years as the Canadian Vice President.  He was inducted as a CFFCA Life Member in 1998.

Bob Swarbrick – Bob served on the CFFCA executive for 10 years with 5 as the CFFCA President.  As a skip, Bob won the 1972 Manitoba provincial championship.  He was also inducted as a CFFCA Life Member in 1972.

John Allan – John was inducted as a CFFCA Life Member as a Builder.  Over his many years of involvement in the MFFCA, John won 6 Manitoba provincial championships.

Lyle Wiebe – Lyle served as Manitoba President for 2 years and then served as President of the CFFCA for 14 years.  Lyle is a 2 time Manitoba champ.  Lyle was inducted as a CFFCA Life Member in 2003 and brought the CFFCA to a new level.  The CFFCA is seen as a first class organization and one to be copied by others.  Lyle and his wife Jennifer were at the 50^th in Charlottetown celebrating his final year on the CFFCA executive.

Bob (R.H.) Poole – Bob was inducted as a CFFCA Life Member at Charlottetown in 2023.  Bob is a former MFFCA President, 2 time Manitoba champion and has been the CFFCA & MFFCA website manager and history curator since 2004.  He keeps the CFFCA historical display of data and plaques updated at the Winnipeg Firefighters Museum.  He has been a MFFCA member since 1979.

We would like to recognize our own Manitoba (MFFCA) Life Members who have worked tirelessly to keep our provincial association alive and well.  Without their previous hard work, we would not be where we are today.

Howie Smith     George Hobson     Bob Swarbrick     John Allan     Bill Metzler     Ray McDermid     Harold Purpur

Tom Chernetz     Andy Odell     Brian (B.J.) McGuire     Lyle Wiebe     Gord Cole     Reyn Klassen     Bob Innes

Henri Lecuyer     Bob (S.R.) Poole     Ken MacLeod     Bob (R.H.) Poole     Guy Senecal     Dan Michalchuk

Thank you gentlemen, for all your hard work and dedication to the MFFCA.

Muscular Dystrophy Canada is the major charity of Fire Fighters Curling across Canada.  The MFFCA and CFFCA have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years for this worthwhile charity.