While regional associations of bowling centres did exist in Ontario as early as 1932, Bowl Ontario 5 Pin did not come into existence until 1953 when bowling centre proprietors from Toronto amalgamated with bowling centre proprietors from Hamilton to create the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of Ontario (BPAO).
In 1963 the BPAO formed what is now Youth Bowl Canada (YBC), with the first national championships being held in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1965. Since its inception, the Ontario Division of the YBC has been a dominant force on the national stage accumulating over 120 national titles. With over half a million registered bowlers since its founding, the Ontario Division of Youth Bowl Canada is a shared experience that connects generations and communities.
The association has also been successful advocating for the best interests of bowlers and bowling centres. Whether it be obtaining the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit for youth bowlers, or working with the government to fix unfair licensing laws, the bowling industry is better positioned in part due to the efforts of the association.
In 2015, the association (then operating under the name Bowl Ontario), restructured into two separate associations, one for the sport of 5 Pin bowling, and the other for Tenpin bowling. This brings us to today, as Bowl Ontario 5 Pin.