lrm·mrl — about/history.php

During the 1960's Mr. Sam Jacks was the Director of Parks and Recreation in North Bay, Ontario. He dedicated a great deal of time and enthusiasm to developing youth activities and one of his particular interests was to develop an on-ice skating game for females. He named the fledgeling game "ringette" and the first-ever ringette game was played in the winter of 1963-64 in the Northern Ontario town of Espanola. Ringette has never looked back. It is now played in half a dozen other countries around the world.

1963

Sam Jacks invents what we know today as Ringette. Jacks, the late Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of North Bay, Ontario, Canada, introduced the game to the Northern Ontario Directors Municipal Recreation Association.
Red McCarthy, Recreation Director for Espanola, is asked to experiment with the basic set of Ringette rules by the Northern Ontario Directors of Municipal Recreation.

1963-64

Original rules are experimental in several Northern Ontario communities, including Espanola, where the first Ringette game ever, is played by an Espanola high school women's hockey team.

1964

Original rules of Ringette introduced to Québec (Town of Mount Royal) by Herb Linder, a personal friend of Sam Jacks.
First complete set of rules for Ringette are composed on behalf of the Society of Directors of Municipal Recreation of Ontario (SDMRO).

1966

First community associations formed in Sudbury and North Bay.

1967

Ringette is introduced to the Province of Manitoba, in Fort Garry.

1969

First Ringette provincial sport governing body is formed - the Ontario Ringette Association - under Dave Bass, its first President.

1971

First Invitational Ringette Tournament is held, initiated by Oshawa Ringette Association in Ontario.

1972

Manitoba Ringette Association is formed under Barry Mattern.

1973

Québec Ringette Association is formed (later renamed Fédération sportive de ringuette du Québec and then Ringuette Québec) with Pierrefonds Lois Logan as inaugural President.
Ringette makes its way over the Rocky Mountains and is introduced to Langley, B.C.
The Ontario Ringette Association hires its first full time staff member, Marjorie Keast.

1974

Ringette is introduced in Alberta.
Nova Scotia Ringette Association is formed under the leadership of Herm Wills, their first President.
First invitational tournament is organized in Winnipeg; and first invitational tournament for Belles is organized in Kitchener.
British Columbia becomes the fifth province to form a Provincial Ringette Association.
Representatives from Ontario, Manitoba, Québec and Nova Scotia form a steering committee for Ringette Canada, the national sport governing body.
Ringette Canada founded in November, with June Tiessen of Waterloo, Ontario, as its first President.

1975

First invitational tournament held in Pierrefonds, Québec, becomes the second inter-provincial tournament in Canada (the first was in Oshawa).
Ringette receives first major television exposure as Pierrefonds' Lois Logan coordinates a "Hockey Night in Canada" intermission feature film.
First newsletter for Ringette, ORA Newsletter is published.
First Ringette Week is organized and held in February.
Howard Pierce of Kingston, Ontario becomes second President of Ringette Canada.
First regional and provincial championships are held in Ontario.

1976

First invitational high school Ringette tournament held in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.
Provincial Association formed in Alberta under direction of Nelson Ball.
Ringette played for the first time in the Ontario Winter Games.
First Ringette Canada Annual General Meeting held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. June Tiessen returns as President (1976-77).
Saskatchewan Ringette Association becomes the seventh provincial sport governing body under Bob Gotts.

1977

First Annual Provincial Summer Sports Camp for Ringette players is held in Toronto.
Ontario Ringette Association Hall of Fame is initiated.
Manitoba's Barry Mattern is elected third President of Ringette Canada.

1978

Ontario Ringette Association hires full time Technical Director, Wes Clark.
Manitoba Ringette Association hires part-time Administrative Director, Barb Smith.
Fédération Sportive de Ringuette du Québec withdraws from Ringette Canada but returns in 1981.
Coaching and officiating certification programs established for the first time in Ontario.
Ringette Canada National Coaching Committee, with ORA's Wes Clark as Chairman, develops the first Level 1 technical coaching manual for certification courses sanctioned by the National Coaching Certification Program.
First Ringette Canada planning seminar held in Banff, Alberta, to determine the direction for the national organization.

1979

First-ever edition of Ringette Review is published.
First Canadian Ringette team travels overseas to Europe (Finland).
First Canadian Ringette Championships are held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Ontario Juniors from Oshawa, the Ontario Belles from Ajax and the Ontario Debs of Kitchener, become the first Canadian Ringette Champions.
National Level 1 coaching certification program takes effect.

1980

Nova Scotia hires half-time Technical Co-ordinator, Sandra Alexander.
Nova Scotia is designated as the host province for the 1982 Canadian Ringette Championships.
Second Canadian Ringette Championships are held in Waterloo, Ontario after Saskatchewan withdraws bid: The Ontario Juniors of Sudbury, Belles of Waterloo, and Debs of Etobicoke win Canadian Championships.
Fédération Sportive de Ringuette du Québec hires its first full-time employee, Technical Director Serge Lamontagne.
Ontario Ringette Association hires first full-time Program Co-ordinator, Diana Ceccol.

1981

Molly Pirie of Nova Scotia is named Host Chairman for 1982 Canadian Ringette Championships and is selected Ringette Canada's Executive of the year.
The third Canadian Ringette Championships are played in Sudbury, Ontario. The Ontario Juniors of Kitchener, Belles of Gloucester, and Debs of Fort Richmond-Winnipeg, Manitoba win the Canadian titles.
Manitoba Debs, coached by Garry Johnson, are first non-Ontario team to win a Canadian Ringette Championship title.
Québec teams participate in Canadian Ringette Championships for first time, represented by teams from the Lac-St.-Louis Regional Ringette Association.
Ringette Canada adopts expanded, corporate structure for its Board of Directors. Terry Youngman of Saskatchewan becomes fourth President of Ringette Canada.
New Brunswick becomes the eighth provincial Ringette Association with Gilles Laplante as first President.

1982

Newfoundland forms the ninth provincial association with Francis Walsh as its first President.
The fourth Canadian Ringette Championships are held in Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, N.S., with Sudbury Juniors, Gloucester Belles and Kildonan Transcona (Winnipeg) Debs capturing Canadian crowns.
Newfoundland Belles participate for first time in the Canadian Ringette Championships in Dartmouth.
First Ringette Canada Public Relations Planning Conference is held in Ottawa.
First Ringette Canada Women's Leadership Workshop is held in Ottawa.
Ringette Canada achieves full residency status at National Sports and Recreation Centre in Ottawa.
Ringette Canada hires first full-time employee, Executive Director, Wes Clark.
Ringette Canada officiating program is developed, complete with manuals and resources for the certification series.
Shoppers Drug Mart becomes first major sponsor of Ringette Canada.

1983

Ringette Canada gains control of the official Ringette rules and Ringette rulebook copyright with co-operation of Ontario Ringette Association.
Second Ringette Canada planning seminar - Vision '83 - is held in Ottawa with representation from all 10 provinces.
Ringette Canada hires first bilingual office secretary, Jo-Ann Gallant.
Ottawa's Betty Shields becomes the fifth President of Ringette Canada.
The fifth Canadian Ringette Championships are staged in Sherwood Park, Alberta. The Waterloo Juniors of Ontario, and Transcona Belles and Kildonan-Transcona Debs of Manitoba, win the Canadian Ringette Championships.

1984

Tom Mayenknecht, Ringette Canada Director of Public Relations wins first-ever national sports award for Ringette. The Ringette Review is awarded the Doug Gilbert Media Medallion at Canadian Sports Federation National Awards, selected best Canadian amateur sports magazine produced by a volunteer editor.
Ringette Canada coaching program and officiating manuals achieve bilingual status.
The sixth Canadian Ringette Championships held in Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Micron becomes Official Skate of Ringette.

1985

Doug MacQuarrie is hired as Ringette Canada's first Technical Director.
Ringette Canada representatives travel to the Soviet Union, Finland and Sweden to promote Ringette.
Ringette is introduced in Soviet Union ('Ringette in Russia') by St. James Ringette Association of Winnipeg.
Itech joins Shoppers Drug Mart and Micron as part of our team of national sponsors.
Ringette is introduced in Japan by Barry Mattern.
Betty Shields secured the Jeanne Sauve Cup as a symbol of Deb supremacy at the Canadian Ringette Championships.
Ringette Canada breaks 20,000 barrier in player registrations.
P.E.I. becomes the 10th provincial member. Their first President was Vimmy Gregory.
Ringette Canada holds first marketing meeting.

1986

Change in rules to 'extended zone' concept is approved by members.
Northwest Territories becomes the 11th provincial member with Denis Fedun as the first president.
Betty Shields becomes a finalist for the Air Canada Executive of the Year.
International Ringette Federation is formed under President Betty Shields, with Terry Youngman and Wes Clark on the Board of Directors. Canada, Finland, France, Sweden and the United States are the founding countries.
IRF approves the constitution written by Terry Youngman.
First Finnair International Ringette Tournament is held in Finland.
Ringette is introduced to Australia and New Zealand by the Maples Ringette tour.
New fundraising program begins -'Clingmaster Wrap'.

1987

New format adopted for the Canadian Ringette Championships.
Graeme Rodden wins Doug Gilbert Media Award from the Sports Federation of Canada.
Player registration tops 27,000 level.
Ringette Week experiences increased promotion due to the Micron sponsorship.

1988

Air Canada becomes a major sponsor of the Canadian Ringette Championships, with Club Laverendry (of Winnipeg) as a co-sponsor.

1989

Player registration tops the 28,000 level.

1990

The first ever World Ringette Championships are held in Gloucester Ontario. Team Alberta takes the gold and the all new Sam Jacks Trophy.
C.T.V. televises the Canadian Ringette Championships from Calgary, Alberta. Rod Black does the play by play.

1991

Ringette participates in the 1991 Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island.
T.S.N. televises the Canadian Ringette Championships from Hull, Québec. Gino Reda does the Play by play. R.D.S., the french network re-transmitted the event.
Ringette Canada completes the level 3 technical component of the National Coaching Certification Program.

1992

The Royal Bank of Canada becomes a major sponsor.
The second World Championships are held in Helsinki, Finland. Russia, United States, Sweden, France, Finland and two teams from Canada participate. Canada West wins the gold.
T.S.N. televises the Canadian Ringette Championships from Port Coquitlam, British Columbia. Gino Reda does the play by play.
Experimental rules are introduced for the 1992-93 season and the 1993 Canadian Ringette Championships.

1993

Canadian Airlines International becomes a major sponsor.
T.S.N. televises the Canadian Ringette Championships from Kitchener, Ontario. Vic Rauter does the play by play.

1994

The Third World Championships are held in St-Paul, Minnesota. Finland wins the gold.

1995

Ringette participates in the 1995 Canada Winter Games in Grande Prairie, Alberta.
T.S.N. broadcasts a one hour special on the 1995 Canadian Ringette Championships in Winnipeg.

1996

The Fourth World Ringette Championships are held in Stockholm, Sweden. Canada wins the gold. Final result: 1-Canada, 2-Finland, 3-USA.

1997

RDS broadcasts highlights of the gold medal games from the Canadian Ringette Championships in Montréal.
Ringette Canada's national marketing campaign launched.

1998

The first-ever truly national ringette team travels to Europe to participate in an International Summit Series against Finland. The Finnish national team won the series three games to two, with two games in Turku, Finland, one in Gothenburg, Sweden, another in Osnabruck, Germany, and the last one in Colmar, France.
TSN broadcasts a one hour special on CRC's in Edmonton.

1999

Ringette is part of the Canada Winter Games in Corner Brook, Newfoundland
Ringette Canada announces the Women's National Team program, player selection camps are held across the country.

2000

TSN broadcasts a one-hour special on the 2000 Tim Hortons Canadian Ringette Championships from Prince George, British Columbia.
The fifth World Championship is held in Helsinki, Finland. Finland wins the gold medal and Canada takes silver.

2001

TSN broadcasts a one-hour special on the 2001 Tim Hortons Canadian Ringette Championships from Moncton, New Brunswick.
Ringette Canada begins transition to Competency Based Education Training (CBET) for coaches (August).

2002

30-second shot clock rules come into effect for the junior, belle and open divisions.
Participant Development Model (PDM and Coach Development Model (CDM) produced and approved by Ringette Canada's Board of Directors in January.
Community Sport - Initiation (CSI) workshop developed in May. CSI workshops are piloted in Calgary, Alberta in June and Halifax, Nova Scotia in July.
Ringette Canada presents their CSI workshop model at the Coaching Association of Canada's Partner Days in September.
Agnes Jacks is inducted as a Member of the Order of Canada on October 26, 2002 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
First Leadership Retreat for High-Performance Women Coaches takes place in October.
Canada hosts the sixth World Ringette Championship in Edmonton, Alberta. Canada reclaims the world title after posting a 3-1 win over Finland. A sell-out crowd of 3,850 attends the final game, which was also televised live on CBC Sports to 144,000 viewers.

2003

Ringette is part of the Canada Winter Games in Bathurst/Campbellton, New Brunswick. Ontario wins gold, Manitoba takes home silver and British Columbia claims bronze.
The 2003 Canadian Ringette Championships are held in Waterloo, Ontario.
Facilitator training for CSI workshop takes place in Waterloo, Ontario in April.
The 40th anniversary of ringette is celebrated throughout Canada.
In September, the CSI workshop will be launched across Canada and the first pilot of integrated CSI workshop for ringette and Special Olympics floor hockey coaches.
2nd Annual Leadership Retreat of High-Performance Women Coaches (October).

2004

The 2004 Canadian ringette championships are held in Calgary, Alberta.
The National Ringette League is launched (November), which features Canada's elite athletes participating on 17 teams in three divisions across the country (Western - eight teams, Ontario - four teams and Quebec - five teams).
Sweden hosts the seventh world ringette championship in Stockholm. Finland reclaims the world title after defeating Canada 9 - 3.

2005

The first edition of the Ringette eReview is posted on the Ringette Canada website. The online publication replaces the former Ringette Review (a print publication) and is published every two months during the ringette season.
The 2005 Canadian ringette championships are held in Winnipeg, Manitoba from April 11 - 16.
The National Ringette League enters its second season with 19 teams participating in four divisions across the country (Western - five teams, Central - five teams, Ontario - five teams and Quebec - four teams). The inaugural NRL championship game was held in Montreal, Quebec on April 1, 2006 and the Cambridge Turbos came away with the win.

2006

The 2006 Tim Hortons Canadian ringette championships are held in Longueuil, Quebec from April 3 - 8.
The National Ringette League enters its third season with 16 teams participating in three divisions across the country (Western - seven teams, Ontario - five teams and Quebec - four teams). The NRL championship game is held Halifax, Nova Scotia on April 10, 2007, with Edmonton WAM! claiming the league title.

2007

The 2007 Tim Hortons Canadian ringette championships are held in Halifax, Nova Scotia from April 9 - 14.
The National Ringette League enters its fourth season with 17 teams playing in two Conferences across Canada - a Western Conference with seven teams and an Eastern Conference with ten teams. An NRL Championship tournament replaced the Open division at the Canadian ringette championships and the Cambridge Turbos won the league title.
Canada hosts the eighth world ringette championship in Ottawa, Ontario. Finland holds onto the world title after defeating Canada 5 - 4 in overtime.

2008

The 2008 Tim Hortons Canadian ringette championships are held in St. Albert, Alberta from March 31 - April 5.
The National Ringette League enters its fifth season with 18 teams playing in two Conferences across Canada - a Western Conference with six teams and an Eastern Conference with twelve teams. The NRL championship tournament is held in Charlottetown, PEI, with the Cambridge Turbos winning the league title.
The first ever world club ringette championship is held in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario from November 5 - 8. Four teams from Canada's National Ringette League participated, along with the top two club teams from Finland. The Cambridge Turbos captured the world club title after defeating the Finnish team, LuKi - 82, Luvia.

2009

Ringette is featured on the CBC TV show The Rick Mercer Report. Over 1.1 million viewers tuned in to watch Rick Mercer learn ringette with the Cambridge Turbos.
The 2009 Tim Hortons Canadian ringette championships are held in Charlottetown, PEI from April 6 - 11.
Canada Post issued a set of four stamps celebrating Canada's sporting inventions, including ringette, basketball, five - pin bowling and lacrosse.
The inaugural U19 world junior ringette championship takes place in Prague, Czech Republic in from August 4 - 8. The event included two teams from Canada (East and West) and two teams from Finland (White and Blue). Finland Blue captured the world junior ringette title after defeating Canada East in the final.
The National Ringette League enters its sixth season with 18 teams playing in two conferences across Canada - a Western Conference with six teams and an Eastern Conference with twelve teams.

2010

The 2010 Tim Hortons Canadian ringette championships, which include the National Ringette league championship tournament, will be held in Saskatoon, SK from April 5 - 10.