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In January 2025, Pickleball Canada commissioned a Canadian research firm to gain insights into pickleball trends nationwide. The survey reached over 2,000 Canadian households and revealed that more than 1.54 million Canadians are currently participating in the sport.

Pickleball Canada also sought to understand why some Canadians may not be involved in the sport and to identify the barriers contributing to this lack of participation. The survey found that 21% of respondents cited a lack of information about the sport as the primary obstacle. To address this communication gap, Pickleball Canada launched the Ambassador Program.

The new initiative aims to enhance communication efforts and better connect with Pickleball Canada’s community. The program targets individuals who are pickleball leaders and passionate about advancing the sport.

Pickleball Canada received over 160 applications for spots in the program.  After a selection process was undertaken, 17 individuals from across the country were selected based on their community involvement and dedication to our sport. 

‘This initiative represents a game-changing opportunity for us to engage more meaningfully with our stakeholders. I believe it will not only enhance our ability to collaborate but also empower every individual within our organization to connect, share ideas, and contribute to our shared vision in exciting new ways. I couldn’t be more excited to see where this journey takes us!’ said Pickleball Canada Executive Director Barry Petrachenko. 

Pickleball Canada is excited to announce the following individuals as the 2025 Pickleball Canada Ambassadors: 

• Asaan Maherali – Sooke, B.C 
• Lindsay Brown – Surrey, B.C
• Veronique Dewilde – Airdire, Alberta
• Yan Zhao – Edmonton, Alberta 
• Amy Klassen – Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 
• Eduardo Skiarski – Winnipeg, Manitoba 
• Gina Robinson – Newmarket, Ontario
• Jessica Toth – Niagara on the Lake, Ontario 
• Mehdi Salemi – Ottawa, Ontario 
• Marc-Andre Boivin – Mirabel, Quebec 
• Camille Ste-Marie – Montreal, Quebec 
• Michael Lanuevo – Halifax, Nova Scotia 
• Bryce Dauphinee – Kentville, Nova Scotia 
• David Summers – St. John’s Newfoundland 
• Alison Hickman – St. John’s Newfoundland 
• Melissa Clark-Brennan – Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick 
• Danarea Sommerville – Iqaluit, Nunavut 

Stay tuned for more information surrounding the program by staying up to date with Pickleball Canada’ social media!

To find out more regarding the 2025 Pickleball Canada Ambassadors please click here.

Attention All Members!

Pickleball Canada is seeking volunteers interested in serving on its Nominations Committee.

Operating at arms length from the Board of Directors, the Nominations Committee serves to assess the current Board member terms, upcoming vacancies or gaps that may exist and to develop strategies to recruit candidates who can provide the organization with appropriate skills and knowledge.

If you have a background in Human Resources, personnel recruitment or Board Management and would like to contribute to our dynamic sport organization, then please submit a letter of interest, including a CV or summary of your pertinent experience, to: hr@pickleballcanada.org.

Deadline for submission is April 15th at 11:59 pm ET.

Ottawa, ON – Pickleball Canada held it’s Special General Meeting held by video conference on Monday, March 24, 2025. During this meeting 157 Pickleball Canada members exercised their voting rights to modernize and enhance Pickleball Canada.

Pickleball Canada proposed four bylaw amendments to the membership which will assist in their goal to gain the Funded National Sport Organization status from the Government of Canada. This classification is necessary for Pickleball Canada to access financial resources to properly grow our organization or represent Canada on the international stage.

Each amendment did pass with neutrality from the Pickleball Canada membership. These amendments will benefit the membership in many ways and allow for the following to take place:

• reduce the number of Directors on the Pickleball Canada Board of Directors from 18 to 12 to align Pickleball Canada governance with the direction and best practices of sport governing bodies and sporting organizations (such as Sport Canada). It will also enhance our ability to deliver faster, more efficient services to members and improve program delivery.
• specify that Directors of provincial/territorial or other national pickleball organizations are ineligible for the Pickleball Canada Board of Directors selection. This will ensure the Pickleball Canada decision-making is focused on the best interest of Pickleball Canada and its members across the country.
• establish geographic diversity criteria for nominating directors to ensure needs and perspectives from across the country are represented during the conduct of Board Business; and
• establish a cycle for the number of directors to be elected annually to provide for knowledge retention and institutional memory on the Board.

These amendments to the bylaws will guide the Pickleball Canada nomination process in lead up to the 2025 Annual General Meeting on Thursday, June 26, 2025. More information regarding the nomination process and details of Pickleball Canada’s Annual General Meeting will be circulated later this week.

Results from a recent survey conducted by a Canadian research firm estimates that 1.54 million people are currently playing the sport of pickleball across the country.

The survey, conducted in January 2025 and reaching over 2,000 Canadian households, asked each household questions regarding: 

• How often they play pickleball 
• Why do they play pickleball
• What barriers do they face in playing pickleball

When the survey was first conducted in 2022, it revealed that 1 million people were playing pickleball. The recent results indicate a 57% increase in participation over the past three years, with a modest year-over-year growth of 15% since 2024.

The largest increase in participation over the past year has been in the 35-54 age group, with households with higher income levels reflecting higher participation rates.

Participation levels in pickleball across Canadian provinces generally align with population figures. As a result, Ontario has the highest number of players, with an estimated 598,900 participants. Quebec follows as the second-largest, with approximately 315,000 players.

Enjoyment / fun was the top reason participants indicated for playing pickleball, with 88% of respondents citing it as their main motivation. Health and fitness followed as the primary factor for 54% of respondents. Playing for the social aspect came in third as the most common reason for taking part in the sport.

The number of Canadians with a Pickleball Canada membership also grew by 25% from the end of 2023 (68,102 members) to the end of 2024 (85,223 members). This increase can be attributed to the vibrant pickleball community, and the many benefits Pickleball Canada members enjoy, including access to sanctioned tournaments nationwide, a cutting-edge officiating program, coaching opportunities, and exciting local and provincial/territorial club initiatives.

The survey highlighted some of the barriers Canadians may face when trying to participate in pickleball. The two main obstacles indicated in the results were a lack of information about the sport (21%) and a shortage of facilities (15%). To address these challenges, the organization is enhancing its communication strategies over the spring and summer of 2025 with the implementation of an Ambassador program, and has introduced a Facility Task Team, which launched in the fall of 2024 and is building informational resources to assist Pickleball Canada members in advocating for the construction of pickleball facilities within their communities.

Overall, the trends seen in this most recent survey tells us pickleball is still on the incline in Canadian society. 

For more information, please contact: 

info@pickleballcanada.org

Are you enthusiastic, outgoing, and passionate about expanding pickleball? We’re looking for dynamic and outgoing individuals who are eager to contribute their time and energy to Pickleball Canada. Whether you’re interested in event planning, community outreach, or assisting with our communication efforts, we would love to have you on board!

Key Responsibilities:

• Represent Pickleball Canada organization in their community.
• Assist with social media engagement and content creation.
• Help facilitate communication between different teams and stakeholders.
• Engage with our audience via email, phone, or in person to share updates and promote initiatives.
• Be willing to take active leadership role in their pickleball community.
• Collaborate with other volunteers and staff to ensure smooth and efficient operations.

Ideal Candidate:

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Outgoing, personable, and comfortable engaging with diverse groups of people.
• Strong organizational skills with an ability to multitask and manage time effectively.
• Creative mindset with the ability to think on your feet and solve problems.
• A passion for our cause and a desire to help us reach our goals.
• Previous volunteer or work experience in similar roles is a plus, but not required.

Why Volunteer with Us?

• Build new connections with professionals and like-minded individuals.
• Make a tangible impact on our organization and community.
• Receive training, support, and recognition for your contributions.

The Pickleball Canada Ambassador Program is a new initiative that Pickleball Canada is launching to better reach their membership. Pickleball Canada is looking for individuals across Canada to represent their organization in their own pickleball community. This position will be for one full year with a maximum of three years extension.

How to Apply: Please fill out this application form here: https://form.jotform.com/243395069794270

Please note all application are due on Friday, February 21, 2025.  

Any questions can be directed to info@pickleballcanada.org

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