
2024 Year in Review: What a Year!
It feels like only yesterday we opened The Barn in May 2022, yet here we are, wrapping up a phenomenal 2024! Buckle up for a recap of the arrows we’ve nocked, the targets we’ve hit, and the fun we’ve had this year.

January to March: Aiming for Greatness
We kicked off the year by participating in the Archery Canada Indoor Mail Match. It was a great way to start 2024, with everyone trying to hit targets from the comfort of ‘The Barn’—no frozen fingers here!
February: Frozen Finger Shoot
In February, we braved the cold for the Frozen Finger Shoot hosted by Glooscap Archers in Windsor. Our brave archers returned home with some hardware. Clearly, our fingers were frozen but our spirits were high!

April: Championship Season
April was a busy month! The 2024 3D Canadian Indoor Championships, where over 20 Barn Archers volunteered and helped organize the event across three venues. Our efforts paid off as we snagged 4 gold and 2 bronze medals! Not to mention, we also participated in the Indoor 3D Provincials—because why not double our chances of winning?
May: Phil Nelson Challenge
May brought us the Phil Nelson Challenge, an invitational shoot that had everyone on their toes. A lot of stories and fun!

June: Cape Breton Bowmen Shoot
In June, 17 Barn Archers took part in the Cape Breton Bowmen Shoot. We might not have won all the medals, but we definitely won at friendship and fun!
July: TAANS Shoot Extravaganza
July was a highlight with the inaugural TAANS shoot hosted at The Barn on the Metro Rifle and Pistol Club shooting range. Over 50 archers from Atlantic Canada and Quebec attended, bringing home an impressive 9 hardware pieces. We also had an incredible turnout for this event with food galore, including BBQ fare and even a “Best Campfire Story Challenge.” Talk about shooting arrows and sharing laughs!

August: Outdoor Championships & Summer Sizzle
August was sizzling hot with two major events: the 2024 Canadian 3D Outdoor Championships, where 15 of us competed and won 8 pieces of hardware, followed by our very own Summer-Sizzle-Shoot. Talk about a summer to remember!
September: Francis Shebib Memorial Shoot
As summer faded into fall, we participated at the annual Francis Shebib Memorial Shoot—a wonderful way to honour tradition while enjoying some friendly competition.

October: Spooktacular Barn Trophy Member Shoot
October was all about fun with our Barn Trophy member shoot and Halloween get-together. Costumes were encouraged, and let’s just say there were some spooktacular shots taken!
November: Frosty Frenzy Shoot
November rolled in with our annual Frosty-Frenzy-Shoot, where we embraced the chill with warm hearts (and maybe a few hot chocolates).

December: Christmas Cheer & Awards Night
Finally, December wrapped up our year with the annual Christmas get-together and awards for our Barn Champions of 2024. It was a night filled with laughter, stories, and a few more “sticks” donated to our collection—because who doesn’t love a good archery story?
Meanwhile, we added some new arrows (literally) to our collection. A big shoutout to Belu’s Designs for our awesome Barn-themed colouring book—it’s a hit!
John’s Archery: Teaching, Outreach, and Adventure
What didn’t John’s Archery do this year? Between lessons, coaching, and events, John and team kept the Cape Breton archery spirit thriving:
Participated in the CBRM Active Weeks for kids and adults, sharing the joy of “Try Archery.”
Supported Caleb’s Courage with flair and finesse.
Represented at the BANS Bang-Up 3D Shoot as a vendor.
Welcomed the community at our Open House in July.
Became a proud dealer for Bodnik Bows (fancy, huh?).
Showcased at the Sydney Mines Fishing, Hunting, and Outdoor Show.
- Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games – 2024 Membertou: Held in August, John’s Archery was thrilled to assist with all things archery, sharing our love for the sport and supporting this incredible cultural celebration.
- In October, we were honoured to participate in the celebration of 40 years of Chief Terry Paul’s leadership in Membertou. As part of the festivities, John’s Archery brought “Try Archery” to the event, letting attendees experience the thrill of the bow and arrow firsthand.

Looking Ahead
As we look forward to 2025, we’re excited about launching the new Barn Winter-Wind-Up match, running from January to March.
Plus, our beloved Ladies Night will return from April to September—because archery is even better when shared with friends!
2024 was a year of growth, adventure, and many, many arrows flying through the air. Thank you to everyone who made this year unforgettable—our archers, volunteers, supporters, and friends. Whether you shot a gold-medal round or just enjoyed a hot coffee while cheering on the sidelines, you’re part of The Barn family.
Here’s to an even more exciting 2025! 🎯

As we deck the halls and prepare for the holiday festivities, we want to send a big, warm, and slightly goofy Christmas and New Year wish to all our fabulous members and friends of The Barn!
Thank you for making this year a blast—your enthusiasm has been the secret sauce in our archery mix! We hope your Christmas is filled with joy, laughter, and maybe just a little too much holiday pie (we won’t tell if you don’t!).
As we aim for 2025, may your New Year be packed with new adventures, exciting challenges, and plenty of time to shoot arrows (and maybe dodge a few flying fruitcakes).
Merry Christmas and a Hilarious New Year! 🏹🎄✨
Barn Archers and John’s Archery
Bridget, Joe, Karen, and John
