Mary Currie
Bowling Athlete — Inducted 1978
Mary Currie was one of Canada’s most accomplished five-pin bowlers and a dominant competitor representing Calgary and Western Canada over an outstanding 32-year career.
During her competitive career, Currie represented Calgary and Western Canada on 24 occasions and earned recognition for her exceptional consistency and skill. She captured the Western Canada Ladies Championship four times and achieved national prominence in 1954 when she became the Canadian Ladies Singles Champion — the first woman ever to win the title. That same year, she also helped lead her teammates to the Canadian Ladies Team Championship.
Known for her scoring ability and competitive excellence, Currie set the Ladies Team High Single record of 418 in 1960, a remarkable achievement that stood for more than two decades. Her performances earned her selection to five Western Canada Ladies All-Star Teams, with her final selection coming in 1971.
Beyond competition, Currie was a dedicated supporter of youth development in bowling. Throughout each season she volunteered her time to instruct young bowlers, helping grow the sport at the grassroots level.
In recognition of her sustained excellence and contributions to five-pin bowling, the Canadian Bowling Congress presented her with the prestigious All-Time Award in 1973.
After Induction
Following her induction into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame, Currie remained respected as one of Canada’s pioneering five-pin bowlers. Her historic accomplishments continued to be celebrated within the sport for decades.
In 2009, she was named among the Top 100 Bowlers in Canada by the Canadian 5-Pin Bowling Association as part of its Century of Excellence celebration marking 100 years of organized five-pin bowling.
Mary Currie passed away in 2010.
Awards and Honours
- 1954 — Canadian Ladies Singles Champion (First Ever Winner)
- 1954 — Canadian Ladies Team Championship
- Four-Time Western Canada Ladies Champion
- Five Western Canada Ladies All-Star Team Selections
- 1960 — Ladies Team High Single Record (418)
- 1973 — Canadian Bowling Congress All-Time Award for Continued Excellence
- 1978 — Alberta Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
- 2009 — Canadian 5-Pin Bowling Association Top 100 Bowlers — Century of Excellence
Career Highlights
- Represented Calgary and Western Canada 24 times during a 32-year career
- Set Ladies Team High Single record of 418 in 1960 (stood for over 20 years)
- Ten-game total of 2692 to win the 1954 Canadian Singles Championship
- Active youth bowling instructor and mentor
