Kim Bachrouche SportsEdTV:
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"There is this sport called pickleball that has been around for over 50 years, yet it is just now taking over the sports world. We see it on television, we see Hollywood stars playing, and even news stations covering this phenomenon that has revamped abandoned tennis courts everywhere.
What is it that draws us to this simple sport? 

​The short answer…it is what the sports world needed. In our over-booked, over-stressed, and over-everything lives, we found something we did not even know we were looking for…"

As we all know, pickleball is a combination of many dynamics, the perfect storm of elements that created something magical. It speaks to players of all ages, all demographics, and all athletic abilities. We share the court with individuals that are 30 years older or younger than us, yet we blend as if we were in the same social circle every day. The more we play, the more we want to play…. we are blissfully addicted to this sport!

Read the full article here.

Sport BC celebrated the 55th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards on Thursday, March 9, 2023. The event was hosted by CBC’s Scott Russell recognizing the province’s best in amateur sport including athletes, coaches, teams, and officials for outstanding performances in their sport in either 2021 or 2022 season. Each finalist was nominated by their Provincial or Multi-Sport Organization, High School, College, or University. The Selection Committee, led by long-serving Chair Bernie Pascall, included a diverse group of highly experienced British Columbia sport leaders and media members. 

“This was our first in-person event since 2019 and the 55th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards was a true celebration of sport in our province, the recipients represent an exceptional 2021 and 2022 in BC sport and we are inspired by the sport stories of all of our finalists, the category winners, and the organizations they represent”, shares Sport BC’s President and CEO, Rob Newman. “We are proud to bring the amateur sport community together and thank you guests, sponsors, and friends in sport.” 

Sport BC congratulated all the Athlete of the Year Awards’ Recipients and the President's Awards which included PIckleball BC's President Walter Knecht. Walter stated "I was honoured to receive one of Sport BC's President's Awards March 9, 2023 [recipients outlined in attached PDF] held in conjunction with their 55th Annual Athlete of the Year Awards Ceremony. I was nominated by my peers in recognition of my efforts to promote and organize pickleball here in B.C. and at the National level as well. I was one of 55 recipients this year." The President's Awards Ceremony took place in the hour preceding the Sport BC Athlete of the Year Ceremony.

The Athlete of the Year Ceremony ("AOY") was a gala event. Five hundred guests in a Juno Awards style ceremony affair. The Presidents' Awards recipients were piped in by the Vancouver Police Pipe & Drum Band and then shown to their assigned seats at one of fifty banquet tables." The AOY award presentations, was complete with short video presentations of all finalists (usually 5) in each of about 20 categories, one category at a time. Winners were announced, a presentation was made and thank you words were spoken. Several of the recipients were not able to attend but prearranged thank you videos were shown.

The AOY concept has been designed to showcase the growth of sports in BC, and the results of many British Columbians who are achieving their goals in a multitude of sports, at all ages! It was very impressive and moving to see how far and to what levels of success many amateur sport programs in BC have achieved. 

A supporting set of statistics was offered in support of the B.C. success stories. The Province of B.C. accounts for 14% of our national population. Looking at the last 2 sets of Olympic competitions including the Para Olympics (that is 4 sets of games), B.C. residents and others with strong B.C. connections accounted for more than 50% of the medals nationwide. The Government of B.C. through a variety of agencies and programs is very supportive of both all recreational sport at all levels, and is very supportive in the highly  competitive arena as well! 
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This AOY ceremony and awards made that statement in spades!

PS: Please see all the award winners on our new Virtual Trophy Page here...

Forbes Contributor Todd Boss March 11th 2023 

"As I watch, and participate, in pickleball’s dramatic explosion into sports culture over the past few years, I cannot help but see parallels in pickleball’s growth and acceptance in mainstream culture to another racquet sport, racquetball. Both sports exploded in popularity in a short amount of time, but as we speak racquetball is falling by the wayside in terms of participation nationally. Pickleball on the other hand is seeing its presence balloon in large part because of social media and easier access to courts and equipment. But is that enough to have more “sticking power” than racquetball?"

For many of us more "mature" racquet sports enthusiasts who started their careers with Racquetball/Paddleball, we sometimes wonder if the demise of those sports holds some portend of what might happen to pickleball. Todd concludes "that it does not".

His major reasons for his optimistic view of the future of pickleball can be summarized as follows: participation explosion where some reports say that 10% of the American population played in 2022; massive investments in both public and private facilities and courts as witnessed by our recent story of the new 32 court facility in Richmond BC; Pro tours like the Canadian National Pickleball League (1st Canadian Team purchased by NHL Maple Leaf players) and in the USA, APP and PPA; star power and celebrity tournaments; top ranked younger players and the demographics attracted to this sport including families, seniors and players from many other sports: and finally, the social and technology influences at play with pickleball making it fun for everyone, and it's easy to organize a game by texting your friends and finding a court (near a bar for after-play celebrations)!

"Conclusion: Pickleball is rising fast, will continue to rise, and is here to stay." Read the full article here.

Racquetball faces a number of challenges in its future
​(Photo of a diving Rodrigo Montoya facing ... [+]GETTY IMAGES

As announced previously - The Dink Blog February 6th 2023: "Just in case you needed another acronym to memorize in the pro pickleball space: the Canadian National Pickleball League ("CNPL") officially launched as the country’s first professional pickleball league. The 2023 season kicks off with regional draft qualifying events for spots on eight teams, each with owners, similar to what we’ve seen from MLP." 

According to the official CNPL website found here, events will be held in communities across Canada, streamed online. These live events will provide fun-filled and competitive tournaments for athletes, sponsors, and spectators to participate in. CNPL with its unique team play and prize money format, will be home to hosting Canada’s top ranked players while simultaneously developing and growing the next generation of amateur athletes aiming to compete at a professional level as the sport continues to evolve globally.

“Canada is bursting with talent that deserves to flourish; the CNPL will provide the opportunity for players to focus on their professional and skill development while simultaneously fostering the growth of the sport in Canada,” says Cameron Taylor, Co-Founder of CNPL and Founder and Head Teaching Professional of Taylored Pickleball Academy. 
Team owners have yet to be announced (application forms for potential players, owners and sponsors are found on the website link above), but CNPL has announced the first four committed players: Jorge Quintero, Kim Layton, Brad Chapman, and Kim Brent. 

Player application forms for qualifying events will be accepted beginning March 1st. 

Also in a related story, The Dink Blog recently posted this graphic from Sportico which proves why PDS is so prevalent!

Breaking news - a new expansive pickleball facility is about to open here in the Lower Mainland of B.C. See the attached [PDF] introductory poster here and their website can be found here. 

We all knew Pickleball was the fastest growing sport in the world, but good to see a reputable sports organization confirm it!! Unfortunately the report itself is expensive if you are not a SFIA member, but we thank Charles Neufeldt for the summary as follows:

“Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport for the THIRD year in a row. The 2023 Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA)’s Topline Participation Report was released, reporting that the pickleball craze is alive, well and growing!
According to the report, pickleball participation almost doubled in 2022, increasing by 85.7 percent year-over-year and by an “astonishing” 158.6 percent over three years.

More information on the SFIA and their Report here.

1. New PBC Logo and Banner: We launched a contest late in 2022 requesting suggestions for a new logo. We had used the BC "flag" logo (as pictured here which we did love but thought that it was dated) since our founding in 2017. We had something in the order of 2,000 submissions but could not decide as there were many good ideas, and nothing "gelled". Step in Pickleball Depot and their graphic artist and within a week we had prototypes that we all loved. So below are the final choices we made!

Our design criteria: we kept all the colours that are in the BC flag, included water and sunshine representing our Province's most promenant endowments, BC yellow pickleball in both, and around the edges of the medallion we included the Pacific Dogwood flower adopted as BC's floral emblem in 1956. With the pickleball being embraced by the "C" in "BC" it's almost as if PBC is embracing and protecting our members? :)

You can see that below we've used the new Banner or Title header on all pages of our website, and the medallion within the pages. This new logo and banner is also useful for tournament pop ups, letter/email templates, medals and all PBC communications. Hope that you like them!

2. New Virtual Trophy Wall: 

​New for 2023, we are introducing a Virtual Trophy Wall for all those BC pickleball players who have achieved medal placement in major Tournaments. 

We will post, with permission only, any pictures and names that we have or are given of medal winners in BC. Please send all suggested pics or YouTube video links and info (Tournament name, Club, dates and names) to info@PickleballBC.ca for moderation. Once we have verified all the info, we will post on our virtual Trophy Wall! Alternately, as in the upcoming first annual BC Provincials in Vernon that we are sponsoring, we will post our own pics (with permission and attribution).

​Go to the Wall here.

Harrison O'Nyons OKOTOKS Online February 21st 2023: Maybe this story will motivate some BC Ranchers to do the same thing as we need more courts everywhere?

"Lynwood Ranch in Aldersyde, known as an event space and caterer for decades, is now a dedicated pickleball facility. Those familiar with the space may see the change as an odd choice, but co-owner Gus LeDuc says it came about in a pretty organic way. 'When COVID hit, we were shut down cold, as many businesses were. We didn’t know how to restart. I played pickleball, Wendy, my wife, played pickleball, our kids did, and we started playing inside the facility because it was dormant. Then it evolved into our brothers and sisters and their kids coming over, and the neighbour's.'

​Seeing some potential, having seen more and more private facilities opening in the States, and knowing the sport’s popularity in the Foothills, LeDuc and his family decided to go through with the renovations to convert the building into a pickleball facility back in November.

Though many sports facilities support a wide array of netball sports including pickleball, according to LeDuc, Lynnwood is the second dedicated pickleball facility, the other being in Edmonton."

Full story here.