The History of Darts in Southern Ontario

The National Darts Federation of Canada launched the National Championships in 1977 in Toronto Ontario. Initially, the event was open only to men, with a ladies’ division added in 1980.

The youth program began in 1986, when a youth team from Ontario competed in Halifax. Ontario has been sending adult teams to Nationals as early as 1984, based on available records.

In 1986, the Nodor Cup was introduced at the National Championships, and Ontario’s women’s team claimed the title in Halifax. That same year also saw the introduction of the Canada Cup, which Ontario won—going on to win the title for the next two years.

A major structural change occurred in 1995 when the Northern Ontario Darts Association (NODA) split from Darts Ontario, which then became focused on Southern Ontario. NODA held its first Provincial Championships in 1996 and began sending players to Nationals in 1997.

In 2023, Darts Ontario ceased operations following the National Championships due to financial challenges. Shortly afterward, two new organizations were formed to support competitive darts in Southern Ontario: The Western Ontario Darts Association (WODA) and the Eastern Ontario Darts Association (EODA).

For the 2023–2024 season, Ontario was represented by three organizations: NODA, WODA, and EODA. Prior to its closure, Darts Ontario consisted of 18 zones. These were evenly divided between WODA and EODA, giving each organization 9 zones.

The restructuring has been welcomed by many, as it creates more opportunities for players to qualify for Provincial teams. However, others fondly remember the larger, highly competitive events where all players gathered for a single, busy weekend.

This reflection serves as a look back at the rich history of players who have competed at Zones, Provincials, and Nationals across Southern Ontario. While some historical records have unfortunately been lost over time, the legacy of competition and community remains strong.