Kevin McConnell is an elementary school teacher, and 35-year member of the Balmy Beach Club (BBC) who has lived in “the Beaches (there are more than one, you know)” since 1970. As a favour to BBC President and Club Historian, Ken Bingham, McConnell scanned more than 13,000 historical items having to do with the club in order to preserve them. Part way through the process, it occurred to him that all the items should be collected into a book, “if only for the BBC members.”
The History of the Balmy Beach Club is a wonderful, four-year-long labour of love presented in a coffee table format book. It is loaded with photos – past to present – and historical information documenting the story of the Beach(es?) athletic/social club that has been part of this area since 1904 (the first official clubhouse was opened in 1905).
There will be a special book launch evening at the club, at the foot of Beech Ave. on September 25 beginning at 7 p.m. Along with the book launch McConnell will be screening a film that he made about the club. Tickets are available to Club members, as well as the general public for $60 which includes a copy of the book (tickets are available at the bar during business hours). McConnell is donating all the profits from the initial print run of The History of the Balmy Beach Club to the club. There will be period entertainment supplied by a keyboard artist, as well as refreshments.
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Are copies of this book still available?
Yes. You can buy them at the bar!