To all Bowls Saskatchewan Members,

The 2025 bowls season is nearly upon us and there are many changes and updates that have occurred and will be occurring in the coming months.

First, the Bowls Sask Board would like to thank those who took part in providing feedback by completing the BCB survey regarding the change in format last year. The task force established by Bowls Canada (Sask has a member on this) drafted a proposal for future national championships which also included input from all provinces. A one-year interim format has been agreed to for 2025 giving the task force more time to consider and incorporate other suggestions brought forward. Bowls Canada circulated their interim format just over a week ago and is posted on their website. BCB is currently revising their Conditions of Play and Championship Guidelines which will be posted as soon as they are final.

Bowls Canada has elected to continue with the 5-person team Canadian Championship consisting of singles, pairs, triples, and four’s for both men’s and women’s. Provinces are given the option to send a 5-person team in each men’s and women’s or to send the gold medallist from each provincial championship for each of the four disciplines. Additionally, Bowls Canada will be offering a Para Canadian Championship as well as a U18 and U25 Canadian Championship.

Once the Bowls Sask Board had this information, they used it to finalize the changes for the 2025 Provincial Championships as follows;

– Bowls Sask will offer provincial championships in each singles, pairs, triples & fours for both men’s and women’s with the gold medallists of each to be the representatives at the 5-Person Canadian Championship. (Note*** Fours/singles and triples/pairs are played at the same time during nationals. Players can only qualify in one of fours/singles AND one of triples/pairs).

– Bowls Sask will offer provincial championships for both U18 and U25 men’s and women’s, with the gold medallists of each to be the representatives at the Youth & Junior Canadian Championship.

– Bowls Sask will offer provincial championships for Mixed Pairs and men’s & women’s Senior Triples.

IMPORTANT-Logistical Challenges within the calendar.

– The Regina Lawn Bowling Club (RLBC) notified the Bowls Sask Board and Office Manager on January 4^th, 2025 that the RLBC Board had decided NOT to host any events during the 2025 season. The rationale provided for this decision is the RLBC Board has had continued interpersonal issues with various bowlers in the province. Multiple complaints have been filed against the RLBC Board and they typically occur after the RLBC hosted an event. The RLBC Board decided they needed at least one season free from the consumption of time and energy to deal with formal complaints.

– The Bowls Sask Board immediately asked the RLBC Board to reconsider this decision, however, were notified two weeks later that RLBC remained steadfast with their original decision.

– As a result of this unexpected decision, Bowls Sask approached the other four outdoor clubs to make them aware of the situation and asked for their assistance with offering events for 2025. An immediate decision made by the Bowls Sask Board was to cancel the Bowls Sask Cash Tournament. The Board saw a need to continue with all other events plus the addition of a new provincial championship (Triples). He Board was very pleased with the support and feedback from those four clubs which came together to provide the results seen in the attached calendar.

The Board now asks for the membership’s patience, understanding, cooperation, and attendance as we enter the 2025-26 season with the events noted.

ADDITIONALLY

– The calendar and logistics page are not yet complete as we are awaiting the dates and locations for all Canadian Championships, the revised Conditions of Play from BCB as well as the Bowls Sask Board making final decisions with regards to the self-help fee and funding for those attending the Canadian Championships.

– We are currently revising the Sport for All Policies and Procedures which will be posted and notification sent to all clubs once completed. These will now include the Conditions of Play and all rules pertaining to each of the provincial championships and tournaments.

– We ask for your patience as we confirm the details noted above. A new Calendar of Events and Logistics page will be circulated once all is final.

Thank you!

Good Bowling to all,

Michael Pituley Kathleen Reynolds

President Office Manager

Bowls Saskatchewan Inc.

300 – 1734 Elphinstone Street

Regina SK S4T 1K1

Office (306) 780-9426
Cell (306)527-3100 Mon-Thurs 9-3