Introducing the gentleman, who is responsible for getting the "pickle train" on the rails and rolling - Chuck Lefaive.
 
After completing 30 years in pharmaceutical sales with Wyeth Ltd, soon to be Pfizer Corp., Chuck retired in 2003.  He and wife Rita raised two sons. Chuck says, “our grand-daughters, Summer and Madeleine, are now the focus of our lives.”
 
Chuck’s first goal was to see Canada, so he and Rita took a four and a half- month tour from coast to coast, also including St. Pierre and Miquelon (French Islands) off the Newfoundland coast.  In 2005, they went to Canyon Lake, Texas, and learned to play Pickleball in a hangar that had been converted to a rec center.  In 2008, Rita and Chuck took a two and a half month Eastern seaboard trip from Montreal to New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Richmond, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, Beaufort, Hilton Head, and Florida. “We saw many pickleball programs, and encouraged a few to become ambassadors-at-large”, says Chuck.
 
Upon return, Chuck accepted the role of regional ambassador for the USAPA, Canada West.  He had already operated the local White Rock, South Surrey Pickleball Association for three years. The region grew from four places to play Pickleball to 70, and continues to grow.
This year, in April – May, with the help of the founding members - Pickleball Canada was launched at the spring tournament in Kelowna, BC.  The winners of this tournament are pictured on okpickleball.ca.  This club has the longest running program in the West, therefore, a most appropriate location for the launch.  Chuck says “the response for membership has been very encouraging and Kelowna leads with the most registrations in Canada.”
 
Finally, Chuck hopes “that we will soon see a national tournament in Canada-- perhaps the Canada Cup or Canadian Open, eh”.  We will also attempt to lead the international efforts for the sport - at least five countries have Pickleball now.  Contact has been made with Sports Canada.  “As founding members, and until our numbers are sufficient to hold a meaningful election, I and the founders will be at your service to answer questions, to respond to requests for help in setting up programs, or to help in any other way we can”.