A Brief History
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On May 24, 1974, a group of Bridgewater and area residents who were interested in organizing a kennel club met to consider and discuss the requisites for such a proposal. All interested parties were enthusiastic and positive. At their next meeting, a month later, the late Ellis Davis volunteered to serve as President and to gather information regarding kennel clubs. Mary Daye, the President of the Halifax Kennel Club, was invited to attend and outline the procedures to follow in order to become recognized as an official kennel club by the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC). The decision was made to name the new club the South Shore Kennel Club. (Several years prior to this time, there had been another club with the same name. However, it was no longer in operation, and none of its members were involved in the new South Shore Kennel Club).
This very dedicated and energetic group of canine enthusiasts fulfilled all of the CKC’s requirements to become a sanctioned club. The Constitution and Bylaws were formulated; fees, meeting dates, location, club logo, and colours were decided upon. The club’s Nominating Committee presented its full slate of officers, with Dr. Alexander Steeves assuming the position of President.
Immediately, the club planned and carried out Sanction Matches in order to be able to sponsor, as soon as possible, All Breed Championship Dog Shows under the CKC’s rules and regulations.
The first set of All Breed Championship Dog Shows was held in June 1976 and included three shows: one on Friday evening and the other two on Saturday and Sunday. This same format was followed until 1980, when the present schedule of two shows was adopted. Today, the club would not venture to hold a Friday evening event. How brave those club members were!
During 1975–1977, obedience classes were offered to the public. Obedience Sanction Matches were held, which fulfilled the CKC’s requirements and allowed the club to hold All Breed Obedience Trials in conjunction with its All Breed Championship Dog Shows. The first two All Breed Licensed Obedience Trials were held in June 1978. This format has not been changed.
Since the first events in 1976, the South Shore Kennel Club has held all of its Shows and Trials in the historic town of Lunenburg, with the exception of 1980, 1981, and 1982 (when the venue was changed to Chester).
In 2014, the members voted to have Rally Obedience offered to it's trials as well as offering the Baby Puppy class to it's conformation shows.
In 2015, it was decided to follow the winds of change and a 4 show conformation show was adopted, two shows on Saturday and two shows on Sunday. The Obedience and Rally Trials would remain the same.
Raymond and Gloria Fielding are the only two members of the original May 1974 group who are still in the club today.
