Sport: Curling
Position: Skip
Year of Induction: 2013
Sport: Curling
Position: Skip
Year of Induction: 2013
Peter was born in 1882 and was raised in Ridgetown where he threw his first curling stone in 1899 at the age of 17. He went on to successfully curl competitively for 59 years up until 1958. From 1911 to 1931, he lived in Rosetown, Saskatchewan before returning to Chatham and founding Maple City Gas and Oil. Representing the Chatham Granite Club, he and his rink, comprised of Jim Harrington and sons, Gord and Bob Gilbert, won two Provincial Championships and competed in two Canadian Championships. During these competitions, Peter skipped the team, throwing lead rock while Gord threw last rock. In all, he competed in over 400 bonspiels in his career. Peter passed away in Chatham in 1960.
While in Rosetown, Saskatchewan, he introduced curling to the community and was instrumental in building the curling arena. In Chatham in 1939, the present curling club which housed hockey and public skating was put up for sale by the city. Peter wrote his own personal cheque for the arena and ensured that it would be for curling only as it is today. Because of his lengthy and intense involvement in the sport, he was called “Mr. Curling” by Smoke Reynolds and he was recognized by the Ontario Curling Association when he received a Honourary Membership in that organization.