Previous/other names: N/A
Prominent date(s) of activity: 1953 - present
History: The UNB/STU Fencing Club is the longest running fencing club in Atlantic Canada. Talk of encouraging the practice of fencing dates as early as 1947, but evidence suggests the first official practice did not occur until Hienz Wie Hager—a WWII veteran of the German army on the Russian Front—began giving lessons to Fredericton residents in 1953. Heger had held several fencing titles in Europe before immigrating to Canada.
(Joe Stone fonds, Series 1, Box 1, File 1814)
Activities: Members participate in fencing practices at all skill levels, with a focus on improving endurance, fitness, reflexes, and mental strength.
Note(s): UNB's first fencing tournament took place on March 24, 1953, with Sandy Figdor winning every one of his six matches. Seven club members attended, each playing against the other six players, but Figdor had the left-handed advantage. Only foil matches were held during the tournament, with sabre fights being cancelled due to broken sword.
Alfred Knappe (1933-2010), Chief Technician in the Chemical Engineering Department at UNB from 1966 to 1995, was invited in 1966 to coach at the newly formed fencing club at UNB and became the first president of the New Brunswick Fencing Association in 1969. The annual Alfred Knappe Team Fencing Competition he initiated is currently held at the Currie Center.
(Joe Stone fonds, Series 1, Box 13, File 11663)
The club held the 2009 Atlantic University Fencing Champions title.
In 2010 UNB hosted three events over the course of a weekend: The 2010 UNB Shield, the Atlantic Fencing Championship, and the Atlantic Team Fencing Championship. Editors from UNB and STU's rival papers took the opportunity to duel it out during this event, calling the challenge the "Duel of the Hill". Mayor Brad Woodside also participated in the event, volunteering to duel against the winner of an on-line auction.
Source(s):
- The Brunswickan, vol. 67, no. 5, 1947, p. 1.
- Scrapbook, 1952-1953, unnumbered pages.
- The Brunswickan, vol. 74, no. 6, 1953, p. 5.
- Up the Hill, 1990, p. 97.
- The Brunswickan, vol. 143, no. 22, 2010, p. 14.
- The Brunswickan, vol. 143, no. 23, 2010, p. 14.
- UNB Student Union, Clubs and Societies, [Fencing Club]
- Alfred Knappe, Findagrave.com
- Fencing-Escrime New Brunswick, History of FENB