Executive, bowler, coach and proprietor, these are just a few of Owen Moreau’s credentials that have brought him to the pinnacle of success as a Hall of Fame Builder of the York Simcoe 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association.
Owen and his twin sister Janice were born on September 19, 1951. While their three older stepbrothers were born in England, Owen and Janice were born in Sudbury. When it was all said and done, another three sisters and one brother would round out the Moreau family.
After graduating from high school, Owen made the move to Toronto. It was with his Dad’s connections that he began his electrical apprenticeship with Ontario Hydro.
While living in the Thornhill area, there really wasn’t that much to do. Looking for a night out, Owen happened upon Allencourt Lanes in Richmond Hill. A devastating fire in 1972 destroyed one of the most modern centres at the time and forced all the leagues to look for another place to bowl. That place was ABC Bowl, home of Hall of Fame members Frank and Pauline Price. It was here where Owen’s lifetime commitment to the sport of five-pin bowling began and his days as a single man would come to an end.
It is said that bowling builds lifelong friendships, thus Diane Woolley and Jack Hill are two names that would have an everlasting effect on Owen’s life. While both Diane and Jack bowled on the Wednesday Night Mixed league, it was only a matter of time before Owen and Diane would get married and Jack would ask Owen if he would be interested in helping him with the Lane Certification.
Shortly after their marriage in 1974, Owen and Diane, along with her daughter Elizabeth settled down in Island Grove. Two more girls, Tara in 1976 and Crystal in 1979 completed the Moreau family. As a bowling family, Owen registered the girls in the Youth Bowling Council in Bradford. It was here where Owen joined the Master Bowlers’ Association and started attending the York Simcoe meetings as the House Rep for Bradford.
All along Owen’s bowling continued to improve. While carrying a 240 average, Owen started qualifying for the York Simcoe Open teams. In total Owen qualified on five Mixed teams and one Men’s team. Owen also coached the 1994 Men’s team that included Hall of Fame members Shawn Morris, Mike Rancourt and Geoff Stevens.
In 1990 a new phase of his bowling career began. After Diane’s sister, Hall of Fame member Lauretta Wright and her husband Len, decided to sell Island Grove Bowl in 1985, it was Owen and Diane who took over the reins as Proprietors. This phase only lasted five years as Owen’s work re-located him to Welland.
As an executive with York Simcoe, Owen is second to none. In his sixteen-year period, Owen can boast about the nine different portfolios he has held. The list includes one year as the Big Brothers Co-ordinator, two years each as Booster, Lottery, Record Scores chair and Tournament Director, four years as Lane Certification agent and Vice-President and five years as House Rep for Bradford and Island Grove. In fact, in 1984, Owen held down four positions, Vice-President, Booster and Lottery chairs and Tournament Director. Owen is the second longest serving President, behind Hall of Fame member Heather Cresswell. In the incentive awards department at the Provincial level, Owen received top honours as the Tournament Director of the Year in 1985. As President, Owen guided the zone to the top position as Association and President of the Year in 1991 and again in 1993. It was these two wins that Owen considers his greatest accomplishments. Influenced by his sister-in-law Lauretta Wright, Owen served on the O5 Board of Directors for three years, looking after the Fundraising and Record Scores portfolios.
Following Diane’s passing in 2001, Owen re-married and with his wife Bonnie and her son and daughter now live in Parry Sound. After forty-three years with Ontario Hydro, Owen retired in 2013 and now enjoys an occasional game of golf. Today there are eight grandsons and five granddaughters to keep him busy.
As we welcome Owen into the Builders’ division of the Hall of Fame, one can only wonder what would have been if that fire in 1972 didn’t happen. The York Simcoe 5 Pin Bowlers’ Association is the definite benefactor of that devastating evening.