Family Feud

Like most Canadian towns fortunate enough to have a hockey arena rec hockey has been played by many local residents for generations. On a Sunday morning in 1984 a group of guys got off the ice and noticed that a family had rented the arena after them. Many of the guys in the dressing room took note of the idea, and with last names like Hunt, Palmateer, Rashotte, Murphy, and Cassidy the potential was there for a ‘friendly' competition between families. With that the well-known ‘Tweed Family Feud' was born. The first Feud would take place later that year in a weekend tournament style competition. The tournament would become an annual event, and as the success of the tournament carried on so too did the number of teams.

Sport enthusiasts in Tweed often play hockey in the winter and Baseball in the summer. Therefore, the year after the hockey competition a ‘Tweed Family Feud' mixed softball tournament was created. Now families would have the opportunity to compete annually in their two favourite sports.

The Feud was initiated as a way for families to get together, a homecoming of sorts throughout the community. It is a way to use sport as a vehicle to build camaraderie, friendly family relationships, and to ultimately spend some good times together. For years these two annual events have drawn in family from out-of-town, people returning to the community for the weekend, and renewing old acquaintances.

Annual Baseball Tournament - Labour Day Long Weekend

Today’s Family Feud

Today's ‘Feud' features 18 hockey teams playing almost around the clock all weekend long at the Tweed Community Centre the first weekend of April. As well as 24 baseball teams playing Friday night, Saturday and Sunday on four ball diamonds across the community on Labour Day Long Weekend. What began with strict rules as to who was eligible to play for what teams and quite competitive has evolved over the years to accommodate the changing dynamics of the families within the community. While most teams are made up of primarily the extended family, the odd time teams need to pick up a support player to fill a roster. Teams still vie for that very valuable opportunity for bragging rights, but the tournament is primarily for fun, and that's what keeps community members and out-of-town family coming back year after year…….

The Municipality of Tweed acknowledges this as an important community event. In many ways it defines the type of small town, tight knit, family orientated community that we value. Lots of money is spent in town and it always raises funds to help with recreational projects in the community.

For more information on the Feud visit the Tweed Heritage Centre. In 2010 the Tweed Family Feud presented the Heritage Centre with photos throughout the 25 years of operation, along with a $5,000 cheque in support of the Centre.

Contacts:

Ed Hunt (Hockey) – 613-478-6982

Moe Gunning (Baseball) – 613-478-3225