BBC at 95

A wintry Tuesday in November 1930, smack dab in the middle of the Great Depression could hardly have been an auspicious day to start a badminton club. 12 persons didn't ponder the imponderables but rather braved the future in becoming the directors for the Bowmanville Badminton Club based on a resolution passed in the Council Chamber.

Fast forward 95 years later. Chance. Fate. Synchronicity. Call it what you will but the genesis of this project was a random locker-room conversation with Matt, our Instagram Lead and in turn, Matt's conversation with his Mum, Jo-Ann James about the club's history. That conversation yielded some extraordinary pics from our club's past. Nicholas' sleuthing then yielded hard evidence about on our club's founding date. All in the space of a week! 

The Fates smiled on us because we found out just in time for the ExCom to pivot, plan and hold a 95 year celebration. We're very grateful to everyone who made this happen on 11/17/2025 (our closest playing date) with an extremely short runaway. 
 

This however, is more than just about sports and nostalgia. It's more than the collective and entirely justifiable pride in being honoured with celebratory certificates from both the provincial & federal members of parliament. We're more than “just a local badminton club”. This is more than putting up the nets every Monday & Thursday, planning tournaments. It’s more than the ongoing digital transformation (refreshed website, social media presence, electronic registration etc) essential though it be. It's more than doing any number of the important things we collectively do to keep the club going.
 

This is about who we are. We come from different walks of life and have hailed from diverse geographies. Our most common thread is that we are Canadians. We stand on the shoulders of giants and we look forward with belief. For we are bound not just by love of a common sport, but by a common ethos forged over 95 years. An ethos of community give-back, of resiliency, of adaptability, of an unshakeable belief in our ability and commitment to leave a lasting legacy for the next 95.