It’s no easy task to sum up the remarkable athletic career of Barbara Marie McKeil, a woman who excelled in softball, bowling, curling, golf, and even stock car racing.
Born in 1935 in Spryfield, Nova Scotia, Barb’s competitive spirit was evident from a young age. In 1957, she married her lifelong partner Doug, and the couple moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba. After seven years, they returned to Nova Scotia, settling in Kingston to raise their family
Career Highlights
Softball: Member of the Halifax Wilson Chipetts, winners of the 1956 Nova Scotia Women’s Championship
Bowling: Member of the Greenwood Ladies Bowling League; part of the team that won the 1971 Maritime Bowling Championship
Curling: Skip of multiple bonspiel-winning teams throughout Western Nova Scotia. In 1994, her team came within one end of representing Nova Scotia at the Canadian Senior Ladies Championship.
Stock Car Racing: Three-time champion of the Powder Puff Derby at Meadowvale Racetrack, driving her VW Bug
Golf (her greatest passion):
• 23 Ladies Paragon Club Championships
• 3-time Nova Scotia Ladies Amateur Team qualifier
• 9-time Senior Women’s Provincial Team Member
• 2-time Nova Scotia Senior Women’s Champion
• 2-time Nova Scotia Mother/Daughter Champion with her daughter, Linda
• Represented Nova Scotia at Canadian Championships in every province
Quick Facts
Born: 1935 – Spryfield, NS
Hometown: Kingston, NS
Sports: Softball, Bowling, Curling, Golf, Stock Car Racing
Passed Away: July 25, 2022 (age 86)
Legacy
Barb was a fierce competitor whose humility and grace often masked her drive to win. Whether victorious or not, she remained grateful for the opportunity to play the sports she loved. Her competitive career was cut short in 1993 following a cancer diagnosis, but her influence endured long after she left the competitive scene.
Barbara McKeil’s legacy of excellence, sportsmanship, and community spirit continues to inspire athletes across Nova Scotia