Author: Elizabeth Werner

Position Type:                       Full time – 37.5 hours per week

Application Deadline Date:  January 17, 2025

Location:                                Remote

Expected Start Date:            February 15, 2025

Supervisor:                            Executive Director

The employer is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability.  The employer welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities.

Pickleball Canada is the national sport organization that governs, promotes, and leads the development of pickleball in Canada. We are seeking an individual with extensive knowledge of the sport of pickleball and pickleball in Canada, with good interpersonal skills and a positive attitude. The main responsibility of the Program and Events Director is to help build Pickleball Canada’s sport department, while reporting to the Executive Director.

 General Duties:

• Supervision of volunteer development pathway positions in the areas of Coaching, Officiating and Player Development
  • Coaching
    • Develop and administer direction of coaching support efforts
    • Liaise with Coach Certification Program leads
  • Officiating
    • Implement enhanced officiating development programs and monitor provincial delivery and administration
    • Administer Officiating Certification Program
  • Player Development
    • Development and implementation of a long-term player development model
    • Development of a High-Performance Program
• Program budget creation and maintenance
• Maintenance of all program administration
• Oversight of National Championships

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• A strong knowledge of, and passion for, the sport of Pickleball.
• Knowledge of the Canadian sport system.
• Minimum two (2) years of sport administration/business experience and/or event management experience and/or sponsorship experience, or any other relevant experience.
• Ability to build and maintain excellent working relationships with staff, volunteers, and external service providers.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to set priorities, multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated expertise in Microsoft Office, Google Drive and Adobe Acrobat Pro, Zoom and Google Meet.
• Demonstrated comfort and ability to learn and work with web-based applications.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment that comes with an emerging sport with tremendous growth.
• Strong team player, with the ability to work independently.
• Experience in developing and delivering programs.
• Understand the principles of Safe Sport.
• Understand the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
• Commitment to the vision, mission, and values of Pickleball Canada.

Commitment: 

• Possibility of some evenings and weekends.
• Possibility of some overnight travel and away-from-home work.   

NOTE:  Bilingualism (French/English) is an asset.

A satisfactory police records check will be required as a condition of hire.

APPLICATION PROCESS – Apply in confidence by sending your cover letter and resume by January 17, 2025, to: hr@pickleballcanada.org.

Position Type:                       Full time – 37.5 hours per week

Application Deadline Date:  January 17, 2025

Location:                                Remote

Expected Start Date:            February 1, 2025

Supervisor:                            Executive Director

The employer is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability.  The employer welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities.

Pickleball Canada is the national sport organization that governs, promotes, and leads the development of pickleball in Canada. We are seeking an individual with extensive knowledge of the sport of pickleball and pickleball in Canada, with good interpersonal skills and a positive attitude.

General Duties:

• Serve as Staff Resource in support of Task Teams and Work Groups
• Provide administrative support to the Board of Directors and Standing Committees
• Provide administrative support to the National Pickleball Advisory Council
• Human Resource tasks including:
  • Development of personnel procedures 
  • Drafting and delivery of Human Resource policies (as approved by the Board)
  • Management of volunteers and staff appointed to operational positions within the organization
• Insurance Policy maintenance, renewals and supervision of day-to-day administration by Coordinators 
• Administrative support to the Executive Director 

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities:

• A strong knowledge of, and passion for, the sport of Pickleball.
• Knowledge of the Canadian sport system.
• Minimum two (2) years of sport administration/business experience and/or event management experience and/or sponsorship experience, or any other relevant experience.
• Ability to build and maintain excellent working relationships with staff, volunteers, and external service providers.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to set priorities, multi-task and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated expertise in Microsoft Office, Google Drive and Adobe Acrobat Pro, Zoom and Google Meet.
• Demonstrated comfort and ability to learn and work with web-based applications.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and oral.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment that comes with an emerging sport with tremendous growth.
• Strong team player, with the ability to work independently.
• Experience in developing and delivering programs.
• Understand the principles of Safe Sport.
• Understand the principles of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.
• Commitment to the vision, mission, and values of Pickleball Canada.

Commitment: 

• Possibility of some evenings and weekends.
• Possibility of some overnight travel and away-from-home work.   

NOTE:  Bilingualism (French/English) is an asset.

A satisfactory police records check will be required as a condition of hire.

APPLICATION PROCESS – Apply in confidence by sending your cover letter and resume by January 17, 2025, to: hr@pickleballcanada.org.

Ottawa, ON – December 13, 2024 – Pickleball Canada is thrilled to announce that Pickleball Manitoba has been selected to host the 2025 Myoflex® Pickleball Canada National Championship. The event will be held from August 19^th to 24^th, 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Pickleball Manitoba has had great success with hosting pickleball specific evens in the past. Most recently they hosted the 2024 and 2023 Manitoba Provincial Championships, which brought together a number of players from all over the province of Manitoba.

“Today, we’re proud to announce that Winnipeg, Manitoba will be the home for upcoming the 2025 Myoflex® Pickleball Canada National Championship. This is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of community, spirit, and the love of the game. We look forward to welcoming athletes from around the country to Winnipeg,” said Val Vollmin Pickleball Canada President.

Over the course of these five days, it is expected over 700 players from all over Canada will be in attendance to compete. Competition categories will include men’s and women’s doubles, men’s and women’s singles, and mixed doubles. The tournament will follow Pickleball Canada’s sanctioning criteria.

“We are incredibly excited and honored to host the 2025 Myoflex® Pickleball Canada National Championship,” said Ted Fardoe, President of Pickleball Manitoba. “This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Manitoba’s thriving pickleball community and our commitment to growing the sport. We can’t wait to welcome our fellow athletes and fans from coast to coast to experience our hospitality and love for the game.

Winnipeg is located in the heart of Canada surrounded by history, and natural beauty. The city offers an immersive experience in both culture and history. Winnipeg is home to the famous Forks Market, where local flavours and crafts come alive, or the iconic Red River trails perfect for walking, biking, or just relaxing.

For more information, please contact:

info@pickleballcanada.org

In mid November, Pickleball Canada reached 80,000 members!

Last year around this time Pickleball Canada reached 63,147 members. Looking back in November of 2022 Pickleball Canada had 36,985 members.

This achievement would not have been possible without the tireless support from Pickleball Canada’s incredible group of dedicated volunteers, sponsors, officials, board members, and members who have all played key roles in developing the sport in Canada.

Val Vollmin, President of Pickleball Canada said, “Reaching this milestone in membership is a reflection of the passion, dedication, and teamwork that drives our community. Every new member strengthens our foundation, and together we grow the sport of pickleball”.

Pickleball has seen incredible growth amongst all ages. In 2024 Pickleball Canada commissioned a national research company to look at the trends in pickleball participation levels across Canada. It was found that in 2024 there was the largest increase in the ages 35-54 age category between from January 2023 to January 2024. There was also a 16% growth in Gen Z participation compared to 2023.

Through the power of numbers, individuals and affiliated organizations, through Pickleball Canada, receive benefit from access to:

• A comprehensive package of insurance products;
• a National Coaching Certification Program;
• a national program for accreditation of officials;
• preferred pricing for software tools (for tournaments, pickleball programs, etc.); and
• Canadian Tournament Player Ratings.

Pickleball Canada would like to thank their phenomenal members who continue to support each of Pickleball Canada’s initiatives to help grow the sport!

For more information, please contact:

info@pickleballcanada.org  

In early July, Pickleball Canada reached 70,000 members! This is an incredible achievement for the sport of pickleball in Canada.

In July of 2022 Pickleball Canada had 31,312 members and in July of 2023 Pickleball Canada reached 53,143 members. Pickleball Canada has seen extraordinary growth over the past few years and is counting to work towards this growth throughout the remainder of the year.

“I am immensely proud of Pickleball Canada for achieving this remarkable milestone. It reflects our collective dedication and unwavering commitment to our mission. Together, we have set a new standard of excellence and impact, and I look forward to even greater achievements ahead, “said Pickleball Canada President Val Vollmin.

Pickleball has seen incredible growth amongst all Canadians. In 2023 Pickleball Canada commissioned a national research company to look at pickleball participation levels in Canadians. In 2023 it was found that more than 1.37 million individual Canadians are playing pickleball at least once per month, with more than half playing four or more times per month. 

Individual Canadians and affiliated organizations through Pickleball Canada will receive access to:

• A comprehensive package of insurance products;
• a National Coaching Certification Program;
• a national program for accreditation of officials;
• preferred pricing for software tools (for tournaments, pickleball programs, etc.); and
• Canadian Tournament Player Ratings.

Pickleball Canada would like to thank all our members, affiliated organizations, volunteers, and partners for their continued support of Pickleball Canada in promoting the growth of pickleball as a sport for all ages.

Pickleball Canada will continue to focus on their initiatives to further promote participation, competition, and excellence in pickleball for all!

For more information:

info@pickleballcanada.org  

Ottawa, ON – Pickleball Canada held it’s Annual General Meeting held by video conference on Thursday, June 27, 2024. During this meeting Pickleball Canada’s membership voted to elect eight directors from a slate of fourteen total nominees. 

The newly elected members include:

1. Wendy Pattenden, Surrey, B.C
2. Geoffery Biss, Shelburne, ON
3. Lester Esteban, Saskatoon, SK
4. Mark Borgares, Regina, SK
5. Luc Grenon, Thornbury, ON
6. Ronald Marion, Windsor, ON
7. David Perfetti, Ottawa, ON
8. Steven Sagal, Regina, SK

“I am very pleased with the composition of Pickleball Canada’s Board of Directors”, said President Val Vollmin. “Our new Nominating Sub-Committee received and processed a number of excellent applicants and provided support and guidance to our membership throughout the process, resulting in an election result that identified a very strong group of people to lead the continued growth of pickleball in Canada.” 

Pickleball Canada also took time during the Annual General Meeting to acknowledge and applaud the very good work done by the departing Pickleball Canada Board of Directors – Cynthia Clark, Dave Edwards and Chuck MacDonald, who have all volunteered countless hours to develop the sport during its exponential growth rate across Canada.

Pickleball Canada’s Board of Directors provide an overall strategic direction and leadership for the organization to develop the sport of pickleball nationally. As pickleball remains the fastest growing sport worldwide with almost 70,000 Pickleball Canada members and growing. Pickleball Canada looks to support this membership by hosting national and regional events, while administering programs to promote and grow pickleball across the country. Pickleball Canada’s mandate and purpose is to develop and sustain a dynamic, integrated Canadian system that promotes participation, competition, and excellence in pickleball.

The 2024 – 2025 Pickleball Canada Board of Directors is as follow:

Role	Name	Hometown
President	Val Vollmin	Eckville, AB
Director-at-Large	Luc Grenon	Thornbury, ON
Director-at-Large	Rod Hamilton	Courtenay. BC
Director-at-Large	Brian Rychlicki	Winnipeg, MB
Director-at-Large	Eileen McClean	St. Albert, AB
Director-at- Large	Bryan Merritt	Thunder Bay, ON
Director-at-Large	Steven Sagal	Regina, SK
Director-at-Large	Wendy Pattenden	Surrey, BC
Director-at-Large	Geoffery Biss	Shelburne, ON
Director-at-Large	Lester Esteban	Saskatoon, SK
Director-at-Large	Mark Borgares	Regina, SK
Director-at-Large	Ronald Marion	Windsor, ON
Director-at-Large	David Perfetti	Ottawa, ON
Regional Director BC & Yukon	Heather Hood	Victoria, BC
Regional Director Atlantic	Alden Briggs	Fredericton, NB
Regional Director Quebec	France Emery	Laval, QC
Regional Director Ontario	Junior Bent	Whitby, ON

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Pickleball Canada is seeking volunteers who have a background in legal, accounting, and sport industry experience (National Sport Organizations/Multi Sport Organizations) to serve on its Board of Directors for terms beginning June 27, 2024.

For the upcoming year there will be seven (7) positions up for election each position is a two (2) year term at the Pickleball Canada Annual General Meeting.

These openings will be filled by persons having expertise in the competency areas outlined in the attached Call for Nominations of Directors Package. Interested individuals must complete the Nominee Application Form outlining their interest and experience.

The completed form must be received by Pickleball Canada no later than June 4, 2024 at 4:00pm (EDT), to the following address: hr@pickleballcanada.org.

Pickleball Canada is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse Board.  All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability.