Bowls, also known as lawn bowls or lawn bowling, is a sport in which players try to roll their ball (called a bowl) closest to a smaller ball (known as a "jack" or sometimes a "kitty"). The bowls are shaped (biased), so that they follow a curved path when being rolled. The game is played either in teams or one against one. The game was first played in the 13th century. The game is played on grass, although other surfaces are sometimes used. Matches are held either until one player gets to a score, or when a number of ends are played. Lawn bowls is played in 57 countries around the world on every continent with millions of players worldwide. It has been part of the Commonwealth Games since 1930 (inaugural Empire Games). It has been an exhibition sport in the Olympics and has been a sport in the para-Olympic games.
Abbotsford & District Lawn Bowling Club was formed and was located adjacent to Jubilee Park at 33660 South Fraser Way / 2552 McCallum Road (with club meetings being held in the old CPR Railway Station). The greens were developed by volunteers with time and equipment donated. It started with one green and developed to eight greens over time.
After World War II the Club continued to grow adding lighting for night play, improving the Jubilee Park greens and adding ditches. As the Club grew there was a growing desire to add a Clubhouse to create a place for community and fellowship.
Private donors (Club members) and Matsqui-Abbotsford Recreational Commission provided funds for the construction of a permanent clubhouse next to the greens adjacent to Jubilee Park (clubhouse opened June 6, 1977, by Mayor George Ferguson)
The Club continued to thrive during these years. The Club was incorporated on September 19, 1987 and the name was changed to Jubilee Park Lawnbowling Club. The Club was host to other Clubs across BC and in 2006 hosted the BC Seniors’ Games.
The Jubilee Park location was taken over by the City (bowling ceased October 2018) and demolition of the greens and clubhouse started with the promise of a better home at Mill Lake Park. The City prepared the new facility at Mill Lake Park but a new clubhouse was not provided. An ATCO trailer substitutes as a temporary clubhouse. By 2020 the greens were completed but bowling could not go ahead due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Bowling began in May 2021 with some COVID restrictions still in place. The Club changed its name to Abbotsford Lawn Bowling Club in October 2021 (to better reflect the move away from Jubilee Park and similar to the original name in 1935). The first full season at Mill Lake Park began in May 2022.
The Club continues to grow in numbers, fun, and depth of community. In 2024 the Club added croquet two evenings per week. The 2025 season was very successful with an increase in membership, bowling on alternate Sundays, and social events including a “Barbeque and Bowl” as well as luncheon get-togethers in the fall and early in the New Year.
