A SHORT HISTORY OF THE
CANADIAN BRIDGE FEDERATION

The history of organized bridge in Canada is linked inextricably with the evolution of the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL). After the invention of contract, players in Canada organized themselves into regional entities which eventually coalesced with larger organizations centered south of the border. Eastern-Central and Western Canada followed different paths. The former was always aligned with the ACBL, even before that organization became predominant in North America. Western Canada, on the other hand, was originally a part of the Pacific Bridge League which amalgamated with the ACBL fairly recently, in 1955. These two separate histories are reflected today in the size difference between eastern-central and western Canadian units: the latter usually are smaller geographically.

By the 1960s Canadian membership in the ACBL had surpassed 10,000, due mainly to the stimulus provided by the Leagues club and tournament programs. As much as Canadians enjoyed ACBL bridge, they still lacked an organization that linked them directly. And so the Canadian Bridge Federation (CBF) came to fill this void.

The impetus for creating the CBF was a new opportunity for international competition created by the fledgling World Bridge Federation: The 1960 World Bridge Olympiad.This was a competition where each country would be represented by its own national team. By then, Canadian experts such as Eric Murray, Sammy Kehela, Bruce Elliott, and Pearcy Sheardown had made their mark on the North American scene. They, and a younger phalanx of budding Canadian superstars, took up the challenge of playing for Canada. Canadas effort at the first Olympiad was moderately successful. Things improved in 1964 when our country finished an impressive fourth. It soon became obvious that some sort of entity was needed to organize national competition for selection of our international teams, and, if possible, to provide them with both moral and financial support. Eric Murray, whose energy and drive are legendary, was the prime instigator of the new, as yet unnamed, organization. The organization began as an informal coast-to-coast network of supporters which gradually evolved into a more concrete structure.

Canadian ACBL units responded favorably to Erics plans to build a formal organization. Meetings on this theme were held whenever bridge players gathered. At the 1965 Nationals (now called North American Bridge Championships) in Chicago, a group of Canadian organizers and enthusiasts, led by Eric, made the historic decision to create the CBF. This would be a voluntary association of Canadian ACBL units where each member unit would decide the level of its financial contribution. Besides Eric, the Chicago group included: Henry Smilie, Vancouver; Doug Cannell, Winnipeg; Chuck Jane, Woodstock; Bill Robinson, Al Lando, and Doug Drew, Toronto; Aaron Goodman, Montreal; and Don Dobson, Halifax. Together, these individuals represented more than 80% of Canadian ACBL members.

A strategy meeting was held at Erics Toronto home following the Chicago Nationals. There, the founders of the CBF, including most of the Chicago nucleus, decided to hold a further meeting with official unit representatives at the Denver Nationals in 1966. The founders would present a plan for the formation and structure of the CBF, to be approved by unit officials. The latter would provide further direction on policies governing selection of our international teams through national trials, and funding of selected players.

Chuck Jane undertook the mammoth task of devising the first trials format and organizing a nationwide group of volunteers to conduct local events for qualification to a national final. The CBFs first playdown culminated in a national final held in Winnipeg in September, 1967.

The CBF has grown and changed since those early years. The current constitution provides for six zones, each represented by a Zone Director. The zones comprise units which are grouped more-or-less according to geography.

Units remain the cornerstone of the CBF since they elect the Zone Directors and continue to contribute financially on a voluntary basis. A historic event occurred recently in 1990 when the ACBL agreed to levy CBF membership fees from individual Canadian ACBL members and turn these funds over to the CBF. The implication is that the CBF has now become a legitimate membership organization, in addition to being a federation of Canadian ACBL units. The CBF now represents all players, not just champions vying for international competition. This has required a rethinking of the aims of the organization and the CBF is now in the process of developing programs having broad appeal including, for example: flighted national championships; a magazine tailored to a wider readership; various educational initiatives; and promoting bridge in a broader spectrum of Canadian institutions.

The CBF Board administers five separate funds:

• Charitable Fund: The charitable fund takes in monies raised through ACBL charity games held in Canada. These monies are then used exclusively to assist national and regional Canadian charities. The Zone Directors act as trustees for the Charitable Fund.

• International Fund: Revenue for the international fund comes from varying sources: CBF International Fund Regional (introduced in 2004), from ACBL International Fund Games held in Canada by clubs and Sectional Tournaments and surtaxes on Canadian National Final entry fees. These monies are used to provide financial support to our international representatives.

• General Operating Fund: Supports the day-to-day running of the organization which entails the following costs: a salaried manager, or “CBF Executive Assistant”; a CBF office; publication of a national bridge magazine (Bridge Canada); annual meeting of the CBF Board of Directors; cash prizes for some events at Bridge Week; providing Internet Vugraph of our CNTC-Flight A two day final; and other minor expenses.

• Junior Development Fund: Revenue for the Junior Development Fund is derived mainly from Junior Fund games held at clubs throughout Canada. These funds are used to run the Junior Program which selects, trains, and subsidizes junior teams to represent Canada in the various University, Youth and Schools Team World Championships. In addition, the Junior Development Fund is used to support grassroots events that help bring more young players into bridge.

• Erin Berry Memorial Trust Fund: Erin Berry, who was one of Canada’s up and coming young players, was tragically killed in a car accident in 1998. This fund was established in 2001 as a trust fund set up by Erin’s father, Larry Berry. The Trust Account is meant to help Juniors 19 or younger with expenses incurred to attend bridge events. The Memorial Fund will be used to help subsidize Youth Category Canadian players, who are members of the CBF, for bridge related activities. In no case will any individual receive more than 75% subsidy to the bridge activity.

Historically, both the international and general operating funds have experienced a seemingly perpetual financial crisis. The future of the international fund is uncertain; the addition of new sources of revenue in recent years has helped but we are still a long way from being able to give adequate financial support to our Canadian representatives. The general operating fund improved greatly with the implementation of individual membership fees. However, in recent years the decline in members paying the CBF yearly membership fee (only about 50% of Canadian ACBL members pay CBF membership fees) has again put pressure on this fund.

Canadians can be proud of the CBF’s 40+ years. Looking ahead, the future of the organization will depend in large measure on the continued support of an informed membership. However, enlightened and dedicated leadership will also be a telling factor. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the CBF. At the grassroots level the smooth running of national championships depends on the selfless contribution of club and unit officials. This commitment has always been forthcoming. May it continue in the future! At the zonal and national levels, the CBF has luckily been blessed with talented leadership, men and women who have given of their time and energies through this first 40 years. Ladies and gentlemen, we Canadian bridge players salute and thank you for your efforts!

This historical item was written by Aidan Ballantyne, in collaboration with Doug Drew, and published in the CBF 25th Anniversary Booklet, November 1991. Updates have been made to parts of the article in 2007.

For more information feel free to contact any CBF Board member. For contact information, click on CONTACT US on the CBF home page