TIMELINE
2007 - NOW
2005
Ironically, the original chess club was called "The Summerside Chess Club" and was started in 2005. Alex Davies was a part of this chess club. The chess club attracted children, teenagers, & adults. Unfortunately, this club folded at the end of 2006.
2007
Alex Davies came up with the idea to continue hosting a chess club. Alex is a teacher. So, logically, the new ches
s club was aimed more towards teaching children. He thought about changing the club's name but decided that, since the club was held in Summerside (where he lived), he would continue the club with the name The Summerside Chess Club. However, he shortened the name by removing the word "The" from it, changing it to "Summerside Chess Club." However, when speaking, you say "The Summerside Chess Club," so he figured that would be adequate for a name change. The Summerside Farmer's Market had lost its venue at The Shipyard Market and was now held on Saturday mornings in a hallway at Three Oaks Senior High School. The Summerside Chess Club started on the hallway floor, using only 1 chess board. The (new) Summerside Chess Club comprised children aged 5 - 9. Alex was the coach, and he had 1 adult helper. The new club was held at The Summerside Rotary Library (the old train station), in "The Upper Room" (2nd floor) @ The Summerside Rotary Library.
2008
The club continued at The Summerside Rotary Library. It was a good start to the beginning of a decade of chess.
2009
We were asked to leave the library, as the upper floor was now needed to host special functions (just like the market at the Shipyard Market had to vacate... to make way for weddings). We were now located in The Board Room at Trinty United Church. As we moved, we gained a bigger space and new members. However, the club's core members were still there... though there were a handful of new children. The Summerside Chess Club joined the PEI Youth Chess Association (PEI YCA). It was now able to participate in monthly chess tournaments and provide the children with a CFC (Canadian Chess Federation) national chess rating.
2010
The Summerside Chess Club started on the floor at The Summerside Farmer's Market. Since the market now had a permanent home in the basement of the Holman Building, the chess club, too, now had a table @ The Summerside Farmer's Market.
2011
The Summerside Chess Club had to leave The Board Room (a Sunday school classroom) at the church but moved into another Sunday school classroom across the hall. Trinity United Church, The chess table at the market moved tables (we were volunteers), but we still had a table at the market.
2012
We moved to our new (& final) Sunday school classroom at Trinity United Church. We now had over a dozen children attending chess club each week, and we continued participating in the monthly PEIYCA chess tournaments. In 2 different years, 2 of our young members won the PEI Chess Championship and attended the Canadian Chess Championships. The chess club at the market moved tables again.
2013
The club at the church was still going strong, and we now had children, teenagers, and a few adults. The chess table at the market was also doing well. In June of 2013, the Summerside Chess Coach (Alex Davies) accepted a position as a teacher at an orphanage school in Uganda, East Africa. The Summerside Chess Club donated 10 chess boards to the orphanage. He also introduced chess to the orphanage and taught a chess club of over 30 kids, plus a number of the teachers, how to play chess. The Ttega Chess Club had been born.
2014
The club at the church was still going strong. The move from a smaller table to a larger table near the market entrance is why the Summerside Chess Club has done as well as it has over the years. It was an ideal fit... the table next to us was an educational table, advertising The Family Place, daycare& nursery school. Being next to the entrance, we could attract anyone who has entered or exited the market! We also now offer children different exercise books to work on.
2015
The club at the church was still going strong. The club at the market was also still going strong.
2016
The club at the church had its last meeting in January 2016. Like at The Shipyard Market, the church wanted the classroom for other purposes. The club at the market was also still going strong. After 2 years of inactivity at the orphanage, chess returned in full swing!
2017
We lost our spot at the church but gained a place at the new Summerside Rotary Library. The table at the market was also still going strong. Summerside Farmer's Market remained a significant point of interest for the children. The kids at the Ttega Chess Club were playing chess every day. Years later (while in secondary school), one of his protégés from the (original) Ttega Chess Club went on to win the Masaka Regional Chess championship.
2018
The size & location of the chess table at the Summerside Farmer's Market have been significantly reduced. Still, this table continues to provide a form of interest for children, youth, and adults.
2019 - 2022
The coach of the Summerside Chess Club (Alex Davies) returned to Uganda and lived there full-time (for the Pandemic & the 2-year lockdown). He moved to a different orphanage and was the orphanage manager & primary caregiver. Using boards donated by the Summerside Chess Club, the PEIYCA, the Charlottetown Chess Club, and other people from around the world (who donated to the orphanage), chess was always available to the orphanage children.
2022
Alex Davies has returned to Canada. It's still being determined whether he intends to stay... time will tell. The chess table at the market is still a significant point of interest to the children at the market, as well as to some of the adults. A chess class was taught at Community School (for adults & youth), held at Summerside Intermediate School. Chess club was held every Saturday at The Summerside Rotary Library. The club was only for children.
2023
The chess table at the market is still going strong (for anyone of any age and skill level). The chess club at the library is still growing. Every Saturday at The Summerside Rotary Library, from 3 - 5pm. (for children only). A chess club, only for homeschooled children, was held every Thursday at the Summerside Rotary Library (September-December) and the College of Piping and Celtic Performing Arts of Canada (January-June). Started a chess club at Parkside Elementary School.
2024
The chess table at the market is still going strong (for anyone of any age and skill level). The Summerside Chess Club, held at the Summerside Rotary Library, is still growing. We have a core group of kids who come each week, but other children are welcome to attend the club. The club is for children only. New this year are monthly chess tournaments. On the final Friday of every month, a chess tournament is held. So far, the only participants have been the Summerside Chess Club members. The chess tournaments are rated by Chess'n Math, and each participant receives a national CMA chess rating. Rating fees for Chess'n Math are $10 per tournament per child. Started a chess club at Miscouche Consolidated School.
