Pickleball BC (“PBC”) Announces $500 “Matching” Subsidy Program For 2026 BC Sanctioned Tournaments16/3/2026
 New $500 “Matching” Subsidy Program for BC Sanctioned Tournaments to utilize PBC-accredited referees. This photo was from the July 2025 Sanctioned BC Provincial Championships in Vernon, showing Maggie Murch (wearing blue) with Armaan Jiwa Mawji in the Mixed Doubles (5.0 And Above), Age (13 To 49), where they finished with gold medals. March 16th 2026, Vancouver, BC—PBC is pleased to announce a new $500 “Matching” Subsidy Program for 2026 BC Sanctioned Tournaments, complementing the existing subsidy provided by Pickleball Canada (“PCO”). This initiative is to enable tournaments cover referee expenses and support the use of PBC-accredited referees for every match, enhancing the overall tournament experience for players across British Columbia in Sanctioned Tournaments.
The PBC Board of Directors has approved this Subsidy Program in addition to the PCO Subsidy for BC Sanctioned Tournaments. The Program is to encourage these tournaments to have PBC accredited referees for every match played that our PBC members have requested to improve the overall experience of tournament play. This initiative would be conditional on several requirements as outlined in the PCO subsidy program plus our conditions that the PBC $500 goes towards referee expenses in the specific Sanctioned Tournament. This subsidy process would include:
More details to follow so stay tuned! According to PBC President David Snell: “Having an accredited PBC referee to call your match has numerous advantages such as but not limited to: ensures fair and accurate calls; matches run efficiently and players can concentrate on their game, not the rules or scoring; and official rules are enforced. Moreover, let our accredited referees do the heavy lifting with respect to rule enforcement and scoring, while you concentrate on the other important ingredient – your game!” For more information, contact: David Snell, PBC President [email protected] March 9th 2026, Vancouver, BC—On the same day (Thursday, March 5, 2026), two distinguished awards were presented: first, the Sport BC Presidents’ Award was given to PBC President David Snell at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver; and the second, the 24th Annual North Shore Sport Awards was given to Maggie Murch as Finalist Master Athlete in Pickleball at the Centennial Theatre in North Vancouver. About The Sport BC Presidents’ Award According to Sport BC: “The Presidents’ Awards celebrate outstanding volunteers from Sport BC member organizations who go above and beyond in supporting their sport and community. These awards recognize individuals whose dedication, energy, and commitment make a meaningful impact on their organization and the athletes they serve. Each member organization may nominate one volunteer per year, highlighting the incredible contributions of those who embody the spirit of volunteerism in BC sport.” About The 24th Annual North Shore Sport Awards As per the North Shore Sport Awards: “This unique event salutes those who excel in all levels of sport, fosters pride in the North Shore sport community and raises the profile of the best of community sport. The stories that emerge from the Comeback and Fair Play award categories are inspiring and a testimony to the benefits of sport.”  PBCA President David Snell. In the group photo (4th from left wearing blue polo shirt) all of the Sport BC Presidents' Award Winners at the ceremony. Our full story here. David Snell’s PBC Accomplishments Over the years, David has had several assignments with PBCA over the past 4 years (as of June): initial website management and tech support; MARCOM story teller and spokesperson; pickleball governance policy maker and strategic planning; and most recently 2 years leading PBCA as President and Chair of the Board of Directors. Some highlights of his tenure: • Activating Youth Pickleball in BC (“AYPBC”) Phase 1 and 2 (now in 7 Regions across BC). Team accomplishments included: applying for the first viaSport Grant in 2024 which kicked off the BC AYPBC Project with 11,000 introductions to pickleball K-7 youth in Phase 1 (20,000 planned in Phase 2); provided 20+ Elementary schools in the program with equipment for the youth (nets, paddles, balls and bags); and, trained 33 teacher coaches 23 of whom obtained NCCP Level 1 certification • Helped to grow PBCA membership to 21,500+ active pickleball players (only second to membership in Ontario) as of year-end 2025 • With the PBCA Tournament Committee helped in the creation and support of the first BC Provincial Team who won gold in the inaugural Inter-Provincial Team Competition at the 2025 Canadian National Championships. More planned for 2026 and beyond as PBCA looks to support the BC players on our Canadian World Cup Team • Full story here  Maggie was a Senior Team Canada Bronze Medalist at the 2025 Pickleball World Cup last November, Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and recognized in the 24th Annual North Shore Sport Awards as Finalist Master Athlete in Pickleball. Maggie Murch’s Pickleball Accomplishments
Maggie has had numerous pickleball off-court and on-court acknowledgements, from local to international levels, including: • Most recent as finalist of the 24th Annual North Shore Sport Awards as Master Athlete in Pickleball • Finished 1st Place in the IPOP Inter-Club Tournament, where she was on a team that represented Fairgrounds Pickleball last January • Bronze Medalist as Senior member of Team Canada at the Pickleball World Cup in November 2025, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where 68 countries and over 3,500 players participated--story here • Gold Medalist as Senior member of the BC Team in the inaugural Provincial Team Competition at the August 2025 Canadian Nationals in Winnipeg--story here • Gold Medalist in the 5.0 Mixed Doubles Open bracket at the July 2025 BC Provincial Championships in Vernon--story here • The designated Professional Pickleball Player at the Hollyburn Country Club According to Maggie Murch in being the finalist in the North Shore Sport Awards as Master Athlete in Pickleball: “Really quite an honour. Love this game & community!!!!!!” “These honourable acknowledgements not only reflect our drive and commitment to the sport, but imperatively, a testament to our character and how we can understand and relate to people in the pickleball community.”, says PBC President David Snell. He adds: “And by being able to relate to communities, we spread the love of pickleball to those people who we come across, including enriching their lives, including the youth.” David Snell, PBC President [email protected]  March 2, 2026, Vancouver, BC—The 2026 Official Pickleball Rulebook is now posted in both English and French versions on Pickleball Canada Organization’s ("PCO") website. Also, this news post will highlight some 2026 rule changes.
The 2026 Official Rulebook can be accessed here: English and French. Each year, USA Pickleball collects rule change suggestions, and its Rules Committee reviews and approves updates to the official rulebook. Once finalized, PCO reviews those changes, decides whether to adopt them for Canadian play, and publishes its own version. Provincial and Territorial Sport Organizations ("PTSO"), such as PBC, then follows and implements the Canadian rules for sanctioned and refereed events. According to the 2026 Rulebook: “The purpose of the rulebook is to provide pickleball players with the rules necessary for standard play (recreational, social, organized league), and tournament play. Parts I and II of this rulebook are applicable to all play, both standard play and tournament play. Part III modifies the standard play rules in Part II and is designed to be used in the conduct of USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments. Part IV contains standard play and tournament play rules for players with disabilities and modifies the rules in Part II and Part III. A sanctioned tournament allows players to obtain a rating on a national or international basis.” Here are the Top 10 2026 Rule Changes:
Sharon MacDonald Head Referee, Pickleball BC & Regional Training Coordinator for Western Canada [email protected] Pickleball BC Association’s (“PBCA”) President David Snell Receives Sport BC Presidents’ Award11/2/2026
Above: Left picture, Dave ready to work; Right (bottom on mobile) Dave ready to play!  Ceremony update: PBCA President David Snell (4th from left wearing blue polo shirt), Thursday, March 5, 2026, Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. February 11th 2026, Vancouver, BC—David Snell has been selected by Sport BC to receive the highest sport volunteer recognition award in British Columbia—the 2026 Sport BC Presidents’ Award. The Presidents’ Award recipient is recognized for their outstanding dedication and commitment as a sport volunteer. See all The Presidents' Award recipients listed here. About The Presidents’ Award According to Sport BC: “The Presidents’ Awards celebrate outstanding volunteers from Sport BC member organizations who go above and beyond in supporting their sport and community. These awards recognize individuals whose dedication, energy, and commitment make a meaningful impact on their organization and the athletes they serve. Each member organization may nominate one volunteer per year, highlighting the incredible contributions of those who embody the spirit of volunteerism in BC sport.” David Snell’s Pickleball BC Association (“PBCA”) Accomplishments Over the years, David has had several assignments with PBCA over the past 4 years (as of June): initial website management and tech support; MARCOM story teller and spokesperson; pickleball governance policy maker and strategic planning; and most recently 2 years leading PBCA as President and Chair of the Board of Directors. Some highlights of his tenure:
“It’s truly an honour to win this prestigious award and to be mentioned with the other notable recipients is remarkable to me. It goes without saying that receiving this award was made possible only by having great teammates … including but not limited to the PBCA Board and our hard-working Committees; our Members and Clubs throughout BC; Executives and staff at Pickleball Canada; the many pickleball players, pros and coaches who I’ve learned from and play with; and my family who round out my incredible journey and forgive me for my pickleball obsession. I’m looking forward to many more PBCA adventures helping to grow the sport that we all love”, says David Snell.   In this CTV News interview, Pickleball BC President David Snell provides methods on how one can check if their paddle is crushed, and, if so, suggests to purchase a new paddle to avoid unfair play and injury to others. Watch the news feature here or below. January 22nd 2026, Vancouver, BC—A “crushed” pickleball paddle where the honeycomb core collapses resulting in a “trampoline effect” where the ball is returned at a faster rate – reportedly up to 50% faster. Imperatively, this effect will result in a player unfair advantage, or worse, cause injury. From Pickleball BC’s (“PBC”) January 15th 2026 “The Kitchen Sink” newsletter report, David Snell, PBC President, demystifies the term “Crushed Paddles”. This CTV News feature also explores the topic, where David was interviewed. David Snell: “As paddle technology advances, players may hear the terms ‘crushed’ or 'decompensated/delaminated’ paddles. According to the experts, this refers to paddles whose internal core—usually a polymer honeycomb but varies by manufacturer and model—has been permanently compressed or damaged over time." To be clear, PBC is told that this is not a base manufacturing issue nor necessarily malfeasance. This most often happens through normal use, repeated hard shots, edge impacts, or heat exposure (such as leaving a paddle in a hot car). When a paddle decompensates it may produce extra power (often described as a 'trampoline effect'), inconsistent ball response, or a duller sound, and it may no longer meet certification standards for sanctioned play. David goes on to explain PBC’s policy position: “We believe use of these decompensated paddles undermine fairness, safety, and consistency, making education, monitoring, and evolving standards essential as pickleball continues to grow." What have the governing bodies done so far to address these issues? USA Pickleball (USAP) and Pickleball Canada (PCO) require paddles to meet certification standards and have a "USA Pickleball Approved" logo on the face of the paddle. USAP has initiated a Coefficient of Restitution (“COR”) test to measure paddle power and speed for their Sanctioned tournaments resulting in Go/No-Go decisions to take paddles off the approved list. Also the United Pickleball Association (UPA) and Association of Pickleball Players (APP) Tours have initiated a joint effort to combat the use of non-compliant and potentially dangerous equipment and are now using Go/No-Go equipment to identify non-conforming paddles. A paddle that has decompensated may no longer conform, even if it was originally approved. But there are enforcement challenges: • No simple on-court test yet • Rely heavily on sound tests and visual inspection • In BC Sanctioned and other officiated tournaments, our accredited Referees’ judgment will be used in pre-game testing (and if you take your paddle off the court during a match) • Paddle testing programs are emerging but not yet universal  Leanne Schultz, Director Shawnigan Lake Pickleball Club, Vancouver Island talks about the “trampoline effect”. "For safety purposes and for the integrity of the game, you can’t have the ball coming at you faster than human beings can respond" said Leanne Schultz, Director of our Affiliated Club Shawnigan Lake Pickleball Club on Vancouver Island. CTV News Vancouver published an article here with more details and Leanne’s comments. PBC is looking into this reported issue further on behalf of our Clubs and will report on our initiatives including specific BC accredited Referee education and training.
Can't help saying: “Please wear protective eyewear and a reminder that at our upcoming BC Provincial Tournament protective eyewear is mandatory as is becoming more prevalent in our Clubs such as Vernon Pickleball Association." For more information, contact: David Snell, PBC President [email protected] January 13th 2026, Vancouver, BC—Updates on upcoming notable Summer 2026 pickleball tournaments, including the recent announcement of the Canadian Nationals. These interrelated events include: the BC Provincial Championships, July 22nd – 26th at the The Nest/Steve Deakin Pickleball (“SDP”), adjacent to Tsawwassen Mills Shopping Centre, Tsawwassen, BC; the 2026 Pickleball Canada National Championship, August 25th – 30th at Pickleplex’s Downsview and Vaughan locations within the Greater Toronto Area; and the 2nd Annual Provincial Team Competition (“PTC”) at the Nationals, where, in its 2025 inaugural year, the BC Provincial Team were the provincial Gold medalists.  From The Nest website: “Looking ahead, Steve Deakin and Steve Deakin Pickleball ("SDP") are set to make a new home in The Nest. Here, he will continue to elevate his coaching career, mentoring athletes and helping them reach their full potential in a dynamic, state-of-the-art environment. The Nest Sports represents a new chapter for Steve and SDP, where his impact on the sport will only continue to grow, both on the court and in coaching.” April 8, 2026 UPDATE: BC PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS Pre-Registration Now Open For Last Year's Gold Medalists. Full Registration Opens April 15th 10 AM PDT 2026 BC Pickleball Championships As announced previously, Pickleball BC has awarded the 2026 BC Pickleball Championships to SDP at The Nest in collaboration with BC’s winning professional MLP Las Vegas Night Owls coach and PPA Tour competitor Steve Deakin Pickleball. The Nest will open Spring 2026 with its 98,000-square-foot space and will be the largest indoor pickleball center and sports facility in British Columbia. Current planning details for the 2026 Championships include:
Stay tuned for more information to follow.  2026 Pickleball Canada National Championships’ Announcement Pickleball Canada states: “These two state-of-the-art facilities (Pickleplex’s Downsview and Vaughan locations) will provide an exceptional championship environment, showcasing pickleball at its highest national level within purpose-built, dedicated pickleball venues. The championship will feature competition across 21 indoor pickleball courts over five days, offering athletes, officials, and spectators a premier event experience in one of Canada’s largest and most diverse metropolitan regions. … Stay connected and informed by following Pickleball Canada on social media for important updates and news leading up to the National Championships.” “The National Championship brings together individuals from all across our thriving pickleball community in Canada, and we can’t wait to work with the Pickleplex Social Club in growing the event and providing a first class player experience for our athletes,” said Pickleball Canada’s Executive Director, Barry Petrachenko.  2025 PTC: Photographs above from the Taylor Tennis Center, Winnipeg Manitoba: Top left, Provincial Team Briefing with Ted Fardoe, President Manitoba Pickleball Association; BC Provincial Team getting ready for competition; And final result with Gold!! 2nd Annual 2026 Provincial Team Competition (“PTC”)
“In 2026, the PTC will play an enhanced role within Pickleball Canada’s athlete pathway, serving as one of the evaluation criteria for selection into Pickleball Canada’s National Development Program. This initiative supports the identification and development of athletes as Canada continues to strengthen its presence on the international pickleball stage.”, said Pickleball Canada. On August 21st 2025 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, six Provincial Teams participated in the PTC—BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, and they all went head-to-head. The BC Team won the point-based round robin leading to the medal matches with Ontario close behind. The medal matches concluded with BC winning Gold, Ontario Silver and Manitoba, the host province, winning Bronze. The final 16 players and 8 alternates on the BC Team were selected and chosen by Pickleball BC Association’s (“PBCA”) Tournament Committee with the “Open” and “Masters” Divisions’ Captains of Kaila Chekosky and Robin D’Abreo, respectively, and Singles, Mixed and Gender-based Teams in each Division. The BC Team roster can be seen in a document here and on this PBCA-produced YouTube video. According to David Snell, President Pickleball BC: “The BC Pickleball Championships, the 2026 Pickleball Canada National Championship, including the Provincial Team Competition are all interrelated entities that support each other for growth. The Provincial Team Competition's BC players are chosen partly on their performance at the BC Provincial Championships. In turn, the Nationals not only highlight players competing on the Provincial Team Competition, also the players can be chosen for the international stage. In fact, 68 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bermuda, India, Mexico, and Peru amongst others) and over 3,500 players participated at the Pickleball World Cup on October 27th – November 2nd 2025 at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Team Canada’s Senior Division players accepted the Bronze Medal on the podium (view YouTube video here)." For more information, contact: David Snell, PBC President [email protected]  November 15, 2025, Vancouver, BC--PBC has awarded the 2026 BC Pickleball Championships to The Nest/Steve Deakin Pickleball (“SDP”) where the event will run from Wednesday July 22nd to Sunday July 26th 2026 in the new facility adjacent to Tsawwassen Mills Shopping Centre, Tsawwassen, BC. The Nest in collaboration with BC’s winning professional MLP Las Vegas Night Owls coach and PPA Tour competitor Steve Deakin Pickleball (SDP) will open Spring 2026 with its 98,000-square-foot space and will be the largest indoor pickleball center and sports facility in British Columbia.
According to Steve Deakin: “We look forward to working closely with Pickleball BC to deliver an event that prioritizes and elevates the athlete experience. We are incredibly excited to welcome players of all ages and skill levels to The Nest and to showcase the amenities that make our facility such a special place to play.” Founding partner Lorne Loiselle adds: “We are extremely excited to announce that we have been awarded the 2026 BC Provincial Pickleball Tournament. Our purpose-built facility is an ideal fit for this event, and we are confident that The Nest and Steve Deakin Pickleball will continue to build upon the exceptional work of previous Provincial Hosts and Pickleball BC. We look forward to delivering an outstanding tournament experience for players, spectators, and the entire pickleball community.” The 2025 Provincial Championships Last July 24th to 27th 2025 host PBC Affiliate Club Vernon Pickleball Association welcomed over 600 athletes and delivered an outstanding event. Richard Chambers, Chair Tournament Committee said: ”After 4 days, 5 events, 61 brackets and 1,002 matches, the Pickleball Depot 2025 BC Championships are 'in the books’. … 175 volunteers gave it all they had to provide what we hope was a memorable event for every competitor. … After hosting two BC Championships and one Western Regional the past three years, it is the time to pass the torch to another community for 2026.” The Nest will be that next torch bearer. The Nest: The Facility and the Championships “We’re honoured to collaborate with Tsawwassen First Nation and Tsawwassen Mills in building a space where the athletic community can thrive,” said Lorne Loiselle. “With its state-of-the-art facilities and extensive programming, The Nest will redefine the pickleball and volleyball experience in Canada.” • Class 1 professional lighting and 30-foot ceiling heights for optimal visibility and gameplay • 14 climate-controlled (air and heat with air exchangers) indoor pickleball courts with spacious 8 – 10-foot perimeters for safe movement • Class 1 professional lighting and 30-foot ceiling heights for optimal visibility and gameplay • Competition-grade nets and court dividers to ensure uninterrupted matches • Access to 14 additional pickleball courts via flexible volleyball space, enabling a total of 22 courts for major tournaments like the BC Provincials • Outdoor surface courts in dual colours for enhanced ball tracking; and • 5,500 square feet amenities space in 98,000 sq. ft. total. Current planning details for the 2026 Championships include:
For more information stay tuned and see The Nest/SDP Press Release, website, and Instagram. Newly released The Nest/SDP video. About Steve Deakin Pickleball (SDP) From The Nest website: “Steve Deakin’s journey in the world of sports is one of resilience, versatility, and mastery. Starting his athletic career in tennis, he achieved remarkable success, claiming 11 Canadian National Tennis Titles and earning an ATP ranking. After a shoulder injury in 2017 led him to explore pickleball, Steve transitioned seamlessly into the sport, quickly becoming one of the most accomplished players in its history. His competitive success includes multiple Canadian National Pickleball Championships and a standout undefeated 2024 season on the PPA Senior Pro Tour. Today, Steve has transitioned from playing to coaching, bringing his wealth of experience and strategic mindset to the next generation of athletes. He currently serves as a coach for the Las Vegas Night Owls, where he focuses on developing players, refining techniques, and instilling a tactical approach to the game. Known for his patient and cerebral style, Steve’s coaching is a natural extension of his playing philosophy—emphasizing precision, strategic shot-making, and adaptability. Looking ahead, Steve Deakin and Steve Deakin Pickleball (SDP) are set to make a new home in The Nest. Here, he will continue to elevate his coaching career, mentoring athletes and helping them reach their full potential in a dynamic, state-of-the-art environment. The Nest Sports represents a new chapter for Steve and SDP, where his impact on the sport will only continue to grow, both on the court and in coaching.” According to David Snell, PBC President: “The Nest/SDP facility and services which are needed to meet the tremendous demand for our growing sport will set a new standard for indoor courts in BC and Canada. Also this marquee event will be a great opportunity for the Lower Mainland to experience our exciting, significant annual BC Championship event attended by hundreds of athletes, their fans, referees, and other important support personnel—and The Nest will be the perennial indoor pickleball court facility to host and welcome all. Moreover, aside from the various BC Championship events that will be played, BC Provincial Team players will hone their skills well-displayed at the inaugural August 2025 Inter-Provincial Team Competition in Winnipeg (news and video here)! As the defending Gold Medal Champions going into the 2026 Nationals Interprovincial competition we are confident that they will do their best to bring the Cup back home. Also, let’s not forget BC players who will be selected again for the Team Canada 2026 Pickleball World Cup, where our 2025 Senior Team Division captured the Bronze Medal (news and video here)." For more information, contact: David Snell, PBC President [email protected]  Flag bearer and Senior Team Member Robin D’Abreo—member of Team BC who captured Gold at the 2025 Canadian Nationals’ inaugural Inter-Provincial Competition, and Pickleball BC Executive—leads the Canadian contingent at the opening ceremonies . November 10th 2025, Vancouver, BC—Sixty-eight countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bermuda, India, Mexico, and Peru amongst others) and over 3,500 players participated at the Pickleball World Cup on October 27th – November 2nd 2025 at Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Team Canada’s Senior Division players accepted the Bronze Medal on the podium.  Team Canada Senior players proudly sporting their Bronze medal. The Canadian World Cup Team overall had a very successful World Cup appearance. In the semifinals, the Canadian Senior Team pushed Team USA (overall Gold winners) to a Dreambreaker and later won Bronze. Also the Canadian Open Team made it to the Round of 8, and the Junior Team secured a strong 4th place finish. The other Silver podium winner was Hong Kong. See more Team Canada photographs and watch videos on our YouTube channel here, or watch below: Participating BC Players The BC players, sponsored by Pickleball BC (“PBC”) in their World Cup appearance, included: Open Team Players Caelan Sampson (Langley), Casey Rodgers (Kamloops), and Michael McCaffery (Surrey); Senior Team players Maggie Murch (North Vancouver), Margit Aardmaa (Coquitlam), and Robin D’Abreo (Port Coquitlam); Olivia Hui (Richmond) on the Junior Team; and, coach Tim MacVinnie (Coquitlam).  Pictured above: Full Team Canada players and staff. Open Team Captain Michael McCaffery (also a member of Team BC who captured Gold at the 2025 Canadian National Championships’ Inter-Provincial Competition) stated: “Incredible experience meeting and competing with athletes from all over the world. There was a great amount of pride and respect shown across the board. Our team was right in there with the top countries … we had a very close Dreambreaker loss to the country that finished 3rd overall, Portugal. A huge thank you to all the sponsors, donors and fans that helped support us in this journey!”
“On the heels of a successful Team BC Gold medal performance at the 2025 Canadian Nationals’ Inter-Provincial Competition this Summer in Winnipeg, we couldn’t be more proud of our BC players who excelled in this global competition”, according to PBC President David Snell. “Moreover, as we proceed with our PBC Activating Youth Pickleball in BC (“AYPBC”) Phase 2 initiative to introduce the sport to elementary K-7 students in seven BC regions (adding 4 to the pre-existing three Regions from Phase 1: Vancouver Island, Vancouver, and Thompson Okanagan), this effort can only help to grow Canada’s future global participation while helping to improve our favourite sport’s participation and the health of our youth. Stay tuned for more upcoming BC players participation in significant tournaments.” Activating Youth Pickleball In BC (“AYPBC”) Phase 2 Initiative Begins With viaSport BC Grant13/10/2025
 Pictured above left our AYPBC logo and right, Connie McCann, past President of the Victoria Regional Pickleball Association (not pictured), delivered equipment to one of our 20+ Elementary Schools—Ecole Macaulay Elementary’s PE Teacher Darren Comer and his excited students above. October 13th 2025, Vancouver, BC—Pickleball BC Association (“PBCA”) has received a grant of $20,000 to kick off our AYPBC Phase 2 project thanks to viaSport BC. This is a further investment from a viaSport Grant for Phase 1 last year, and we expect other donations from interested parties including a further commitment from PBCA. Therefore, we are gearing up for Phase 2 with up to 4 additional Regions planned (Phase 1 was 3 Regions) and candidates from every geographical area across BC.
Phase 2 David Snell, President PBCA states: “We were excited to kickoff Phase 2 with a meeting that included Phase 1 participants, and our Affiliated and Associated Clubs and interested parties in Phase 2. Several of our goals this school year is to introduce pickleball to more than 20,000 Elementary school youths and to train/certify teacher coaches and leaders in the specialty elements of introducing pickleball to grades K-7. Phase 1 was a success due to the motivation and commitment of our respective Regional pickleball leaders, teachers, Club volunteers, and community coaches in all three Regions to build pickleball into schools and their curriculums to the District and Trustee levels. I am confident that we will maintain that same energy and momentum going into Phase 2.” AYPBC BACKGROUND From past PBCA news, here is a summary of AYPBC’s successes from Phase 1: • In June 2024 viaSport British Columbia announced a grant proposal of up to $30,000 per BC Provincial Sport Organization under a BC Sport Participation Program called the “Provincial Sport Development Fund”. The BCSPP supports programs that attract children, youth, Indigenous and marginalized populations to lead active and healthy lifestyles through involvement in sport, while also helping to support communities delivering physical activity programming throughout the province. • PBCA was successful in their application and received a viaSport British Columbia $30,000 grant in September 2024. • PBCA selected three BC Regions with respective PBCA Club delegates: Vancouver Island (Victoria Regional Pickleball Association as lead), Vancouver (Vancouver Pickleball Association), and Thompson/Okanagan (Vernon Pickleball Association). • Provided a youth programs K – 7 resource package, including financial assistance and equipment, a Leaders Guide, curriculums with Unit Plans and a tool set for all participants to utilize. • Provide youth with an active and healthy lifestyle through sport participation and to help support communities delivering sport-related activity programming. VRPA AYPBC Regional Leader and Co-Chair of the PBCA Youth Committee Heather Hood added: “It’s been said many times before … ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’, and that is what the youth pickleball adventures continues to be.” For more information contact: David Snell, PBCA President [email protected] Seven BC Players Join Team Canada At The 2025 Pickleball World Cup – Sponsored by Pickleball BC1/10/2025
 October 1st 2025, Vancouver, BC—72 countries will compete at The Pickleball World Cup on October 27th – November 2nd 2025 at Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s 43 professional-court facility The Fort. Team Canada’s contingent includes seven BC players five of whom are members of your BC Provincial Team. The BC players who are being sponsored by Pickleball BC (“PBC”) for their World Cup appearance include: Caelan Sampson (Langley), Casey Rodgers (Kamloops), and Michael McCaffery (Surrey); Senior Team players Maggie Murch (North Vancouver), Margit Aardmaa (Coquitlam), and Robin D’Abreo (Port Coquitlam); Olivia Hui on the Junior Team; and, coach Tim MacVinnie. About Pickleball World Cup (“PBWC”) and The Cabieses Foundation Backed by The Global Pickleball Federation, The PBWC was the brain child of Hercilio and Miranda Cabieses siblings who in 2021, carried their Peruvian flag at the US Open ceremony. However, their dream was beyond that as they wanted to bring the joys of pickleball to their home country, including sharing it on a global stage. Thus, with some financial support, they formed The Cabieses Foundation. This organization had allowed them to donate equipment, organize youth programs, and empower para-athletes in pickleball.  Pickleball World Cup founders Hercilio and Miranda Cabieses. Visit their World Cup YouTube channel. "We've spread the sport of Pickleball in the most vulnerable places and contribute to improving the quality of life for more than 30,000 children," Hercilio says of the foundation's accomplishments. Their crowning achievement was last year’s Pickleball World Cup, which took place on October 22nd – 28th 2024 in Lima, Peru. This event had over 30 countries competing on over 16 courts, with more than 500 athletes competing for the title of World Pickleball Champion—and the victors were Puerto Rico. Team Canada participated.  More Canadian Pickleball On The Global Stage Also as reported by Vancouver Island Pickleball and coincident with Team Canada’s upcoming World Cup appearance, “The Association of Pickleball Players (“APP”), Canadian National Pickleball League, European Pickleball Federation, India’s Global Sports, Australia’s National Pickleball League, Pickleball England, and Vietnam’s Pickleball D-Joy are uniting to announce the formation of a new global alliance that will supercharge the growth of professional pickleball worldwide.” This collaborative APP global tour will result in “a unified, non-conflicting tournament calendar, a streamlined global-ranking system, a tiered prize money structure, additional commercial arrangements and financial scholarship support, all to benefit career and earning opportunities for the world’s current and aspiring professional players.” Pickleball’s Future Global Success and Our Youth “The work of the Cabieses siblings is commendable and relatable as we at Pickleball BC (“PBC”), through our Activating Youth Pickleball in BC (“AYPBC”), provincial championships and Team BC development efforts, also share the same principals. Moreover, through the APP’s global objective, one day we hope to help achieve status for Canada at the Olympic Games.”, says PBC President David Snell. “What’s more, introducing pickleball to the youth is paramount to not only the sport’s future successes, but also to their personal health and well-being. In fact, through Phase 1 of our AYPBC initiative in 2024/2025—made possible by a dedicated AYPBC team and a viaSport BC grant—we were able to successfully introduce pickleball to 11,000+ K – 7 students in our three Regions including Victoria, Vancouver, and Vernon. Now we are accepting expressions of interest from four new Phase 2 BC Regions. Please send your expressions of interest and questions to [email protected].”, adds David. Team Canada Needs Your Financial Support “As Pickleball is still developing in Canada on a national team level, we are lacking the support needed to fund our team costs including flights, accommodations, food, transportation, and essential team expenses. This cost will be approximately $70,000. We are calling all Canadian pickleball players, clubs, companies, and enthusiasts to lend a hand in helping support our athletes in representing Team Canada and thank PBC for providing funds to offset some of BC players expenses”, Ricky Liorti, Organizer, Toronto, Ontario. To help Team Canada offset some of the expenses at this Pickleball World Cup, a GoFundMe page has been setup here. |
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