Sheila Rowan

Athlete (1996)

Curling & Softball

Sheila Rowan has achieved Canadian championship success on six occasions - twice in softball and four times in curling.

Sheila was born in Young, Saskatchewan, on April 22, 1940, and moved into Saskatoon in 1955. Sheila played softball while growing up in Young and Saskatoon and started to curl while attending Sion High School in Saskatoon.

The Imperials became a strong contender in women's softball in 1966, were runners-up for the Canadian championship in 1967 and 1968, and then defeated Toronto to win the Canadian title in 1969. The Canadian finals were held in Saskatoon in 1970, the Imperials beat Toronto, 4-0, in championship game and then went to Japan and lost to the world champions from Japan 2-0.

Sheila curled third on the rink, skipped by Vera Pezer, which made Canadian history by winning three straight championships. They won in St. John's, Newfoundland, in 1971, in Saskatoon in 1972 and in Charlottetown in 1973.

Sheila became skip of a Saskatoon rink, which included Joyce McKee, Doreen Thomas and Donna Trapp, which swept its way to the 1994 Canadian senior women's title at Nipawin. The Saskatoon rink beat British Columbia, 6-5, in the seesaw final, which went to an extra end. Rowan made a hit-and-stick for the victory on the extra end.