The Ottawa Tennis & Lawn Bowling Club Celebrates 125 years
The Ottawa Tennis & Lawn Bowling Club opened the doors on its 125th year on May 6th. The ribbon-cutting honours were performed by Paul Dewar, local Member of Parliament. “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything”, Dewar said, “It’s a family tradition”. Dewar’s mother, Marion Dewar, cut the ribbon to celebrate the Club’s 100th opening day when she was Ottawa’s mayor.
On Opening Day, Saturday May 6th. David Rhynas, President OTLBC, Don Shropshire, Past President, OTLBC, Paul Dewar (MP), Clive Doucet (City Councillor), David Chernushenko (Deputy Leader, Green Party), and Michael Jenkin, President, OSCA.
This synchronicity highlights the OTLBC’s colourful history, closely linked with the history of Ottawa itself. It was founded as the Ottawa Tennis Club in the fall of 1881 under patronage of then Governor General Lord Lorne. Initially located in what is now Centretown, members played at the Cartier Square Armouries until the first grass courts were ready in 1882. These were located on Elgin St. where Knox Presbyterian Church now stands. A larger facility was opened in 1888 beside Cartier Square on Lisgar St. near the Canal. This served the Club until 1902 when the property was expropriated to construct “The Driveway”.
The OTLBC moved to what is now the Glebe, temporarily renting land on the south side of Patterson Avenue between Metcalfe St. and The Driveway. In 1906 the Club purchased its fourth location, between Third and Fourth Avenues west of Lyon. The four tennis courts and an eight-rink bowling green were rapidly inadequate to serve the expanding membership so the Club leased land belonging to St. Paul’s Methodist Church and built four additional courts in 1919. The St. Paul’s Church building became the Glebe Community Centre and the former OTLBC clubhouse and courts on the leased property survive as the St James Tennis Club.
Due to further growth in membership the OTLBC moved to its present location on Cameron Avenue in Old Ottawa South in 1923. “Our 18 clay courts make the OTLBC one of the largest clay-court facilities in Canada” says club General Manager Camille Lewis, “We also have two bowling greens, an outdoor swimming pool and a clubhouse with a licensed restaurant facility that is open to the public.”
“This is a great family club”, remarked David Rhynas, Club President. “We run sports camps for kids, and we have a lot of beginner and intermediate players – we’re really targeted to the community, but we often host some very high-level tournaments – city-wide, provincial and national, so there’s something for everyone”.
The OTLBC will be celebrating its 125th anniversary on June 3rd with a Vintage Sports Day, and a gala evening with music, food and a silent auction to raise facility renovation funds for the non-profit club. The public are welcome to come out to the club and enjoy the riverside atmosphere from 12:30 until 4:30 p.m., which coincides with Doors Open Ottawa - the club's second year of participation.