Rickey Burns – Inducted by his daughter, Amanda Burns
Most of my fondest memories from childhood were either at the ballfield, the bowling lanes or the rink. I loved when dad used to let me mark the scorebook in the dugout when he was coaching minor ball. When I was allowed to stop down to the lanes and watch just a bit of the Men’s League. I can remember always wanting to bowl as well as my father and his team mates. To sit at the rink and watch a game just so I could watch Dad drive the Zamboni and clean the ice. Every time it seemed smoother than the last.
My father started bowling in 1956. He was setting pins and bowling at the Charlottetown Bowling Lanes. He became involved with the youth bowling in 1982. He was always amazing with the kids in the program focusing on the values of inclusion and teamwork. He brought in a lot of the top adult bowlers in the city to help with coaching. He worked very closely with the manager of the Basilica Rec Centre bowling lanes Vince Carragher. The Youth Bowling Council grew to have over 200 kids involved in the sport.
Every Saturday morning we would jump in the car and head down to the lanes. That place was my happy place. I know it was and still is Dad’s happy place too. He always made sure that every child felt included and was having as much fun as possible. In the middle of the 2nd game Dad would be on the move looking to see if anyone looked like they weren’t enjoying themselves to the fullest. He would have a quick chat with whoever he found needed it. He would also take a quick look at their scoresheet then he would be on the move again. Dad would then announce to everyone that if they had a certain amount of pins in a certain frame they would get a token for a free sundae at Dairy Queen. Of course, that would include the child’s score he just looked at shortly before. Spirits lifted and having fun once again.
Dad has always had a great ability to read a situation and was able to do something to improve it. This carried over into the “elite level” of coaching. He could tell what someone was feeling or how they would feel in certain situations. He knew when his payers needed a confidence boost or were feeling tense and he always had a solution.
The highest provincial and national level for Youth Bowling would be 6 youth ranging from ages 5 to 18. Each competing in individual competitions. Whether it was youth from Charlottetown or other parts of PEI, dad made sure they were all part of a team.
Up until 1992 PEI youth bowlers had many close calls for the Podium at the national level. With 1 bronze in 1988. From 1993–2002, dad led PEI youth bowlers to the unimaginable, 12 different youth bowlers were able to call themselves national champions. Several of them earning multiple National titles. Every one of them coached by my father. Johnny Walsh, Andrew Bryenton, Kelly Walker and Cory Gallant, just to name a few.
In 1998 the Canadian 5 Pin association introduced a team competition for youth. This was right up dad’s alley. He led PEI to the national title in 2000 and followed with another championship 2 years later making PEI the first province to win 2 national titles in the event.
When you age out of YBC you are still able to compete competitively. Dad has been coaching at the competitive level with the adults since 1984. This year dad will join Johnny Walsh in the Canadian 5 pin Hall of Fame as the only 2 members from the Maritimes. There are a lot of us going away to compete at the end of May that have been coached by dad since YBC. Dad has been his coach for as long as I can remember.
Dad has been involved with the Special Olympics for over 20 years. He has been a Provincial games Coach over 12 times and has been a National games Coach seven times. Dad has volunteered as a coach in bowling and floor hockey. He is a well-respected volunteer and has been honored by Special Olympics PEI multiple times. My younger brother Blair was a special Olympic athlete for years. Now my nephew, Brandon, is an athlete too. Dad uses humor to connect with the athletes. Lots of jokes between him and most of the athletes. All of you that know dad know he is always up for a laugh.
Some of the many awards that Dad has received,
Charlie Ryan Award
David Andrew Memorial Award and
Male Coach of the Year 2015
Grassroots Coach of the Year 2018
Governor Generals Souvenirs Medal
City of Charlottetown Natal Dad Award
1st Forbes Kennedy Volunteer of the year
Sport PEI President’s award
Canadian 5 Pin Hall of Fame
And this, ladies and gentleman, is my hero, my father, Rickey Burns.
Rickey Burns passed away in September 2025
