60th anniversary sparks plan for alumni lounge, legacy display

LAURIE WEIR

For decades, the Smiths Falls Bears weren’t just a hockey team. They were the town’s beating heart. From the 1960s through the 1970s, the Bears packed the arena, united the community, and inspired generations of young players to lace up their skates.

Now, a group of alumni is working to ensure that legacy lives on.

Proposing a permanent home

Led by alumni Dave McFadden and team advocate Hugh Colton, the group has approached the Town of Smiths Falls with a proposal to create a permanent alumni lounge, with support from current team owners Nick and Josh Filoso.

Joan Culliton, who leads sponsorship and community engagement with the current Bears, called it a perfect fit.

“The celebration of 60 years of Bears hockey in Smiths Falls is the perfect time to launch a legacy project in honour of the many players and fans who have offered unwavering support to the team,” she said. “We are proud to be participating in this initiative with the Bears alumni and look forward to celebrating their contribution in a lasting and meaningful way.”

The proposed space would showcase the team’s storied history through memorabilia, interactive exhibits, and a gathering place for former players, families and fans.

“This hockey team was a huge part of this town,” McFadden said during a recent meeting with Stephanie Clark, the town’s director of community services. “It wasn’t just a team — it was the entire town rallying around it. Every kid wanted to grow up and play for the Bears.”

A growing movement

What began as a conversation about the 60th anniversary has grown into a wider movement, with more than 20 alumni involved — and more joining every week.

Their vision includes displays of jerseys, trophies, photos, and even a bench salvaged from the infamous Whiskey Row — a stretch of seats behind the home bench where the loudest fans once heckled visiting teams. But they don’t want a static museum.

“It’s more than just something on a wall that people walk by,” said McFadden, who played in the 1970s. “It’s about interaction, interpretation and connection. We want a place where our kids, grandkids and even great-grandkids can learn what this team meant to this town.”

Working with the town

Clark said the town is open to creative solutions despite space limitations at the arena.

“We have enough space to do something,” she said. “It might not be exactly what you’re envisioning right now, but we can start somewhere and build from there.”

She suggested repurposing wall space along the walking track, collaborating with the town’s Heritage House Museum and local artists to create an evolving display, or even reserving an alumni section in the stands.

Tying past and present together

“We want to integrate the current Bears team and its fans with this history,” Colton said. “This isn’t just about looking back. It’s about inspiring future generations and keeping the Bears spirit alive.”

He noted the group is eyeing part of the current hall in the arena, or possibly the space above the Bears’ bench, similar to the media room.

The proposed lounge could also host community events, game-day gatherings and alumni nights.

“If a kid walks in and sees the history of this team, maybe they’ll think, ‘Instead of going somewhere else, I should come to Smiths Falls to play,’” McFadden said.

No cost to the town

The initiative is still in its early stages, with the alumni working on a formal proposal. Colton said the project would not cost the town anything, as funding would come from donations and in-kind support — similar to how the Gerry Lowe Community Group organized the Sens outdoor rink.

“This is way more than space on a wall,” Colton said.

More than hockey

“It’s about community,” said Clark. “It’s about connection. And it’s about reminding people why they matter.”

There is also talk about the Bears joining in the fun with a float for the Old Home Week parade in August.