Pickleball Canada Celebrates 70,000 Members

Posted on 18 July 202418 July 2024 by Elizabeth Werner

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

Pickleball Canada Announces the Location and Date of the 2024 Central Regionals

Posted on 5 July 20245 July 2024 by Elizabeth Werner

Ottawa, ON – July 5, 2024 – Pickleball Canada is pleased to announce that Pickleball Quebec has been selected to host the 2024 Pickleball Canada Central Regional Championship, which will run August 10 – August 11, 2024 in Laval, Quebec.

The event will take place at Tennis 13 and be played on 24 indoor courts. Franklin will serve as the official ball for the 2024 Pickleball Canada Central Regional Championship, under their partnership as the official ball and paddle for Pickleball Canada.

Pickleball Quebec’s hosting efforts for the 2024 Pickleball Canada Central Regionals are made possible through the support of their partner Sports Experts.

“Pickleball Canada is very pleased to see Pickleball Quebec host our Central Regionals. We are counting the days until the event!,” said Pickleball Canada President Val Vollmin.

Over the course of the two days, it is expected that over 300 players from all over the Central Region of Canada will be in attendance with competition categories that 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.

Registration for this event has already opened so please head to this link to sign up for the competition: https://pickleballbrackets.com/ptd.aspx?eid=d48840e2-fd6c-4c86-877f-ead70ee971f0

For more information please contact:

info@pickleballcanada.org

Stéphane Brière, Executive Director

Pickleball Quebec:

dg@pickleballquebec.com

PICKLEBALL CANADA – ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING HIGHLIGHTS

Posted on 28 June 20243 July 2024 by Elizabeth Werner

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:

Wendy Pattenden, Surrey, B.C
Geoffery Biss, Shelburne, ON
Lester Esteban, Saskatoon, SK
Mark Borgares, Regina, SK
Luc Grenon, Thornbury, ON
Ronald Marion, Windsor, ON
David Perfetti, Ottawa, ON
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

PICKLEBALL CANADA’s ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, June 27th, 2024

Posted on 16 May 202416 May 2024 by Elizabeth Werner

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.

Registration is Open for the 2024 Western Regional Championship

Posted on 16 April 202416 April 2024 by Elizabeth Werner

Registration for the 2024 Pickleball Canada Western Regional Championship has officially opened. This event will be held from July 25 – July 28, 2024, in Vernon, British Columbia located in the beautiful Okanagan Valley.

More than 600 players from all across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and the Yukon are expected to compete in this marquee event. Competition categories include men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Interested players must be members of Pickleball Canada at the time of registration.

“Come and join us for some great pickleball at the Western Regionals in Vernon. We are looking forward to seeing you there! The Okanagan in July is beautiful!” said Val Vollmin, Pickleball Canada President.

“We look forward to hosting the top players and referees in Western Canada in Vernon in the heart of the summer. There has been a very strong registration and are looking at ways we can accommodate more players. Stay tuned!”, said Tournament Director Richard Chambers

To register for the event please head to Pickleball Brackets at: https://pickleballbrackets.com/ptd.aspx?eid=9f0bb38c-3b21-47d5-9ed9-01252e313f81 . Registration will remain open until May 10^th, 2024.

For more information please contact:

Richard Chambers, Tournament Director: pcwrc2024@gmail.com

Pickleball Canada: info@pickleballcanada.org

Registration is Open for the 2024 Atlantic Regional Championship

Posted on 5 April 20245 April 2024 by Elizabeth Werner

Pickleball Canada is please to announce that registration has opened for the 2024 Pickleball Canada Atlantic Regional Championship. Atlantic Regionals will be held from June 13^th – June 16^th, 2024 in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Around 400 players from across Newfoundland, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island are expected to compete for the coveted title of the Atlantic Region’s best pickleball athletes in a broad range of events. Competition categories include men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Interested players must be members of Pickleball Canada at time of registration.

“Excitement is building for the Atlantic Regionals. This tournament opened on April 1 and currently has over 450 players! Pickleball Canada looks forward to seeing you in Moncton!” said Pickleball Canada President Val Vollmin.

“We are excited to be hosting these great athletes and welcoming them to Moncton. We are also thrilled to announce that we are bringing in four of the top Canadian Pros for exhibition matches on the Saturday night; free of charge for all who register to the tournament. So get ready, you may be invited to join them!” said Moe Belliveau, President of Pickleball Moncton.

To register for the event please head to Pickleball Brackets at: https://pickleballbrackets.com/ptd.aspx?eid=a6baeee7-85a0-4a9b-b50e-a2eb39664522 . Registration will remain open until May 31, 2024.

For more information please contact:

Pickleball Canada Atlantic Regional Tournament Team,

atlanticregionals2024@gmail.com

Pickleball Canada,

info@pcikleballcanada.org

Registration is Open for the 2024 Myoflex® Pickleball Canada National Championship Presented by Think Turkey

Posted on 22 March 20245 April 2024 by Elizabeth Werner

Pickleball Canada is pleased to announce that registration has opened for the 2024 Myoflex® Pickleball Canada National Championship Presented by Think Turkey. This event will be held from August 20^th – August 24^th in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Competition categories include men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Events will take place at the Atlantic Tennis Centre. As a Pickleball Canada sanctioned tournament, current international rules will be in effect, and interested players must be members of Pickleball Canada at time of registration.

“I am excited to see the launch of registration for our National Championship. Over 660 competitors in the first 24 hours of registration. That is fantastic! Come and join us in beautiful Halifax in August!!,” said Pickleball Canada President Val Vollmin.

“Pickleball Nova Scotia is proud to have been chosen to host the 2024 Myoflex® Pickleball Canada National Championship Presented by Think Turkey. The tournament will be an exciting display of Pickleball talent from across the country. The inclusion of multiple skill levels and age groups makes this a tournament for everyone,” said Pickleball Nova Scotia President & Tournament Chair Don Johnston.

As the capital of Nova Scotia, Halifax is a wonderful tourist destination, with plenty of amazing sights to see and experience. Indulge yourself in Nova Scotia’s fabulous seafood cuisine, take in the incredible ocean scenery, and explore the multitude of historic sites.

Join us for the 2024 Myoflex® Pickleball Canada National Championship Presented by Think Turkey … Stay for the Maritime Hospitality!

To register for the event please visit https://pickleballbrackets.com/ptd.aspx?eid=b152e3a7-8790-42ae-9300-70b9369da74f

To find out more about Halifax please visit https://discoverhalifaxns.com/event/myoflex-canadian-national-pickleball-championships/

For more information on the event, please contact:

Don Johnston, President of Pickleball Nova Scotia & Tournament Chair,

2024pbnationals@gmail.com

Pickleball Canada,

info@pickleballcanada.org

Pickleball Canada Thinks Turkey for National Protein Partnership

Posted on 28 February 202428 February 2024 by Elizabeth Werner

Partnership aims to position turkey as the perfect protein for pickleball players

TORONTO, ON, February 28 – Today, Pickleball Canada named Think Turkey as the National Protein Partner of Pickleball Canada and Presenting Partner of the 2024 Myoflex® Pickleball Canada National Championship. The partnership will establish turkey as the protein of choice for active Canadians, while also supporting the growth of the sport in Canada.

“As a lean and nutritious protein, turkey can keep professional and everyday athletes at the top of their game,” said Darren Ference, Chair, Turkey Farmers of Canada. “Through our partnership with Pickleball Canada, we hope to tap into the thriving pickleball community and introduce more Canadians to this family-friendly sport.”

As part of the year-long partnership, Think Turkey and Pickleball Canada are cooking up exciting activations ranging from athlete appearances to pop-up courts, giveaways, grassroots facets such as new youth programming to come, as well as partnership of the Pickleball Canada Regional and National Championships.

“We are proud to welcome Think Turkey to the Pickleball Canada family of partners,” said Val Vollmin, President, Pickleball Canada. “Turkey and pickleball are the perfect match for a healthy lifestyle, and we look forward to sharing that message with pickleball players and fans this year.”

Pickleball has surged off the charts in popularity in recent years, with nearly 1.4 million Canadians participating in the sport currently, marking a 37% increase over the previous year. The rise in popularity can be attributed to pickleball being a fun and social sport that boasts a variety of health and fitness benefits.

“Like a turkey dinner, Pickleball brings people of all ages together,” said Mark Hubert, President and CEO, Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors. “We’re thrilled to team up with Pickleball Canada and its star athletes to bring exciting new collaborations and engaging activations to communities throughout the year.”

To celebrate the partnership and encourage more Canadians to try pickleball and turkey, Think Turkey is hosting a contest for a chance to win 1 of 5 pickleball paddle sets! All entrants during the contest period will also be eligible for a grand prize draw for a chance to win 1 of 10 $100 grocery gift cards to stock their fridge with turkey for pre-and post-game meals.

For more information and healthy recipes, visit ThinkTurkey.ca

About Think Turkey

Turkey Farmers of Canada, in partnership with the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors’ Turkey Primary Processing Sector Members launched Think Turkey^TM / Pensez Dindon^MC in 2019 – a national, bilingual campaign aimed to boost turkey consumption. The fully integrated program includes advertising, digital, retail, PR, influencer, paid social and more, and focuses on engaging primary meal planners to raise awareness of the benefits of turkey, drive year-round demand and increase overall consumption.

About Pickleball Canada

Pickleball Canada is the national governing body for the sport of pickleball in Canada. The Canadian Pickleball Association was established in 2009 and then incorporated as Pickleball Canada in 2011. The organization works to promote and develop the sport at all levels, from grassroots to high-performance. Their mission is to promote the growth and development of pickleball across the country by providing leadership, resources, and opportunities for players of all ages and skill levels. Pickleball Canada is responsible for the coordination and delivery of pickleball events across the country, including the National and Regional Championships, which brings together top players from across Canada to compete for the title of national champion. With a growing number of players and clubs across the country, pickleball is Canada’s fastest growing sport and Pickleball Canada is at the forefront of this exciting movement. For more information, please contact info@pickleballcanada.org or visit pickleballcanada.org.

For more information:

Dane Gomez
Sponsorship Canada
Business Director, Partnerships
dane@sponsorshipcanada.com
C: 647-784-4112

Jessica Smith
Zeno Group
Account Manager
jessica.smith@zenogroup.com
C: 905-733-8518

Pickleball Canada is hiring a Membership and Event Services Coordinator

Posted on 16 February 202415 February 2024 by Elizabeth Werner

Position Type: Full time – 37.5 hours per week

Application Deadline Date: March 15, 2024

Location: Remote

Expected Start Date: May 1, 2024

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 excellent interpersonal skills, a positive attitude, event delivery experience and knowledge of the sport of pickleball and pickleball in Canada. Reporting to the Executive Director, the Membership and Event Services Coordinator will assist in building Pickleball Canada’s membership services department.

General Duties:

Assist Work Groups, Task Teams and Provincial/Territorial Organizations (PTSOs) with the day-to-day coordination and administration of programs.
Update program documentation for posting on the Pickleball Canada website and social media and ensure that all sport communications are in English and French.
Provide relevant information to the Project and Communications Coordinator to promote programs, highlight players, tournaments, etc.
Assist with the creation of annual programming budgets.
Ensure that all events and programs are monitored and evaluated for effectiveness on a regular cycle.

Partner Servicing:

Liaise with Pickleball Canada corporate partners in the execution of sponsorship agreements.
Coordinate the delivery of programming in conjunction with Pickleball Canada PTSOs and corporate partners.

Pickleball Canada Major Tournaments:

Act as the key liaison between Pickleball Canada and the host club, providing answers from the appropriate area lead.
Assist the Project and Communications Coordinator to develop a social media and website content plan promoting the various Pickleball Canada Championship tournaments.

Tournaments:

Lead Pickleball Canada’s tournament approval process.
Work in the Pickleball Brackets software to manage sanctioned tournament approvals.
Manage the Pickleball Canada online calendar of sanctioned tournaments.

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.
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 March 15, 2024, to: hr@pickleballcanada.org

A Look Back to National Pickleball Day 2023

Posted on 15 February 202415 February 2024 by Elizabeth Werner

Saturday, August 10, marked National Pickleball Day 2023 in Canada. This day is marked as a day for celebration to promote the pickleball across the country. This day is an excellent way to increase awareness to new players and promote the social inclusion and health benefits this game brings to all.

This last National Pickleball Day was celebrated from coast to coast to showcase that pickleball is an incredible sport that is fun for everyone.

A few highlights of the stories received include:

Shediac, New Brunswick – The Shediac Pickleball Club’s National Pickleball Day event had open play pickleball. They served a corn boil for lunch with around 60 members in attendance including some Shediac Town staff and councillors
St. Thomas, Ontario – The St. Thomas Pickleball Club posted signs at their outdoor courts inviting any and all to try pickleball. They mixed up club members and non-club players to create the social/fun side of the game.
L’ Ange-Gardien, Quebec – A group in the town of L’ Ange-Gardien, Quebec invited fans of the sport to familiarize themselves with activity. They offered a fun social event for all.
Powell River, British Columbia – A group which formed in 2020 by Barb Struch who organized a learn-to-play program for seniors in the area hosted a reunion for the group. There were dinking games, court play, two barbecues during this event.
Miltonvale, Prince Edward Island – In Miltonvale they celebrated National Pickleball Day with a fun tournament. There were two categories, recreational and advanced. For a number of the players in the recreational category it was their first-time experiencing tournament play. There was a hotdog/ hamburger barbecue lunch between the categories. It was a good time had by all!

Mark the date for Saturday, August 10, 2024, on your calendars for National Pickleball Day 2024! We can not wait to see how this day is celebrated this year! Make sure to submit your story to info@pickleballcanada.org this National Pickleball Day to be featured.