 The many participants involved in the Slamboree. July 5th 2025, Vancouver, BC—In June 2025 at the Archie Browning Sports Centre in Esquimalt BC, 45 students, grades 4 & 5 from 4 elementary schools participated in a pickleball, round-robin tournament with 4 pools of 8-minute timed games. The outcome of this 1st Annual VRPA AYPBC Slamboree was a success for the community involved, including the students who went away with an appreciation and enthusiasm for pickleball and motivation to play it again.  About AYPBC From past PBCA news, here is a summary of AYPBC’s successes:
 VRPA AYPBC Slamboree Volunteers According to VRPA AYPBC Co-Project Leader Connie McCann (former VRPA President): “There were a total of 24 volunteers who dedicated their time and energy to make this event a success. They included … court marshals used to assist in scoring; volunteers to chase balls, “shaggers”; volunteers who assisted each school to get the correct team on the correct court at the correct time; volunteers who gave out snack packs, fruits, and Slamboree t-shirts at the registration table; and volunteers who set out the door prizes and ensured the students received them. All behind-the-scene heroes who gave it their all .”  Kudos To These Attendees
 David Snell, President, PBCA states: “This was a fantastic VRPA AYPBC Slamboree and congratulations to everyone involved! Great work, and again a big thank you to everyone’s dedication to our project and especially our youth—who are I believe the future of pickleball.” VRPA AYPBC Regional Leader and Co-Chair of the PBCA Youth Committee (with Sharon MacDonald), 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: Connie McCaan AYPBC Vancouver Island Regional Lead [email protected] Adele Cloete’s pickleball story is waiting to be told for its uniqueness and emotional appeal that touches on various aspects of human-interest elements: her personal journey from South Africa to BC; success on the sport’s international stage; seeing the game from her accomplished insights; and positively impacting the lives of her students for over a decade. Adele’s Journey Adele, her husband, and children immigrated to BC from South Africa in February 1987. She explains: “In Durban, prior to our immigration to Canada, I ran my own health and beauty clinic as a certified Beauty Therapist specializing in aromatherapy skin-care treatments.” In Canada, Adele continued that profession. Coming from a tennis background in her youth, one day Adele was taken aback by a rather unusual small paddle. Intrigued, she approached the woman playing the sport and struck up a conversation to get more insights. This quickly evolved into Adele stepping onto the pickleball courts at the Maple Ridge Leisure Center. Not even a year later, in 2015, Adele got an interview with the City of Coquitlam, where she talked about the health benefits of the sport and offered to teach seniors in order for them to stay active and healthy. So, they hired her as a pickleball instructor. Adele adds: “Then, to entice people to attend pickleball classes at the Centennial School gymnasium, we provided light snacks and refreshments. Myself, and another instructor, would talk to the students after the lessons. As they munched away on the treats, we would ask them for their feedback and get them to invite their friends to attend our classes.” She quickly became an ambassador of the sport, volunteering and recruiting people, from not only Maple Ridge, but Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows as well. This led Adele to organize and lead a group of volunteers for the 2016 BC Games.  Adele, holding her Canadian flag, was a bronze medal winner at the Indian Wells US Nationals in November 2018 for the women’s full-court singles, 3.50 bracket, age 70+ … she was proud to be on pickleball’s big stage. International Stage Then in 2017-18, Adele’s pickleball involvement peaked her desire to train and compete on an international level. Aside from competing in local tournaments, she got wind of tournaments in the US, such as the Nationals in Indian Wells, California and the USA Open in Naples, Florida. So, Adele upped her level of training to include more elements of the soft game, transition zone tactics, as well as strengthening core fundamentals such as baseline and blocking. Her strategy and training paid off as Adele was victorious with a bronze medal at Indian Wells in the 3.50 bracket, full-court woman’s singles, 70+ age group.  Adele as a Golden Ears Pickleball Club volunteer host welcoming players at the Garibaldi outdoor courts in Maple Ridge, BC, Summer 2022, post pandemic. Pickleball Perspectives Over the years, Adele’s exposure to pickleball allowed her to see added techniques that has altered the sport’s landscape. Adele explains: “ATP (Around The Post) and Ernie shots were rare before the pandemic. But today it's common to see them in social and tournament play.
According to Adele: “On the subject of safety … with today’s advanced paddle technology that speeds up the velocity of the ball like a trampoline effect, players’ reaction time is less. Also the introduction of the speed-up technique where the offensive player attacks from the NVZ (kitchen) in a dinking situation puts the defensive player at a disadvantage from 14 feet away (the depth of two kitchens). These are reasons why hard body shots targeting from the shoulders and up should be banned. Every player should be wearing protective eyewear—this is becoming mandatory at some tournaments now and Pickleball BC (“PBCA”) is leading the charge in this respect.” Other pickleball techniques she likes to teach include, for example, the kitchen soft game that involves dinking, learning to be patience with their shot selection, placement shots instead of power shots, and the base-line game in order to advance to the kitchen line as safely as possible. The are numerous complex elements that draw people to pickleball, where Adele provides her perspectives:
Her Pickleball Future Today Adele is taking pickleball one day at a time, where she’s happily caring for her family, including grandchildren, and coaching her students in the Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, and Pitt Meadows municipalities. Currently she’s an Executive Director on the board of the Golden Ears Pickleball Club responsible for Player Development & Training and Sponsorship. According to David Snell, PBCA President: “Adele’s pickleball story, in essence, is integral to the reputation of PBCA. For over a decade, she’s brought the sport inclusively into the lives of many many people. Also Adele pioneered pickleball coaching across her assigned municipalities. Plus her community volunteering aligns with PBCA’s “give-back” initiatives. Kudos to her passionate work.” Lastly, Adele adds: “As long as my legs keep moving, I will still be competing in singles—which is my absolute favourite, win or lose until I’m 110 years old … my visual wishful thinking!” Respectfully Submitted (with some Editor’s Edits) By Adele Cloete Executive Director, Golden Ears Pickleball Club  Click on image to visit: pickleballcharitychallenge.com May 20th 2025, Vancouver, BC—On Saturday, June 7th, 2025, Pro Pickleball players, the Vancouver Canucks Alumni, Whitecaps Alumni, BC Lions Alumni players and 6 fortunate members of the public will take to the courts with a charity pickleball tournament at the Richmond Country Club—which PBC is proud to support as a Bronze Sponsor. PBC is looking forward to attending this first year of The Pickleball Charity Challenge – Celebrity Edition as a Sponsor celebrating sport, community and charitable spirit.  The Professional Pickleball Players that are confirmed include Armaan Jiwa Mawji, Brett Forsythe, Casey Rodgers, Kelsey German, Nathan Choi, Robin D'Abreo, and Steve Deakin. This Celebrity Charity event is to the benefit of the following beneficiaries:
 Confirmed Vancouver White Caps Alumni includes Bobby Lenarduzzi, Carl Valentine, Paul Dolan, Martin Nash, Tosaint Ricketts, and Sinead King. Some sponsorships for this celebrity pickleball tournament are still available and can be financial, in-kind product value, or a combination of both. Sponsors will have the opportunity to meet several local sports alumni, professional pickleball players and celebrities, join the luncheon, and watch the entertaining celebrity pickleball games.  BC Lions Alumni includes Mike Crumb, Geroy Simon, Sean Graham, Sean Millington, Tanya Henderson, and Tommy Europe. David Snell, President, Pickleball BC, states: “If you have ever cheered on these alumni legends in their respective professional teams back in the day, now you can relive those days—but this time in the unique ambiance of a pickleball court with professional pickleball players. What’s more, the sponsorship dollars are benefiting charitable organizations in line with our PBC ‘give-back’ initiatives.”  Several of the Canucks Alumni confirmed are Dean Moore, Ed Hatoum, Nathan LaFayette, John Craighead, BJ MacDonald, and others. "As a former professional football player and avid pickleball player, I couldn’t be more excited about the 1st Annual Pickleball Charity Challenge – Celebrity Edition. It’s the perfect way to spend a full day of sports, starting with a great brunch, then watching legends from the Lions, Whitecaps, and Canucks—like Geroy Simon, Sean Millington, Bob Lenarduzzi, Carl Valentine, Nathan LaFayette, and BJ MacDonald—compete alongside Canada’s top pickleball pros for a great cause. With the BC Lions game and Snoop Dogg concert to follow, it’s going to be an unforgettable day that brings the community together.”, stated Sean Graham, President, BC Lions Alumni Association ([email protected]).
For more information visit The Pickleball Charity Challenge – Celebrity Edition here. PADS Companion-in-training left (top on mobile device) and David Snell Chair Hollyburn Pickleball Committee and President Pickleball BC at the 2025 event check in desk right photo (bottom on mobile device). (Click on photos to enlarge.) Monday, May 19, 2025, Vancouver, BC—On Saturday, April 26, 2025, Hollyburn Country Club (a Pickleball BC [“PBC”] Associated Club), hosted their 2nd Annual PADDLES FOR PADS Pacific Assistance Dog Society (“PADS”) Pickleball event to benefit a wonderful charity that supports people with disabilities and community care providers by partnering them with certified assistance dogs.  Meredith right with her companion and left, HCC Volunteers About PADS PADS dogs are raised and trained on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded lands of the Skwxw.7mesh (Squamish), Səlílwəta (Tsleil-Waututh), and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. Meredith Areskoug attended the HCC event with several companions and says: “We breed, raise and train fully certified assistance dogs. Our service (mobility & PTSD) and hearing dogs provide life-changing independence to those with disabilities. Our accredited facility dogs work with community professionals, such as teachers, RCMP and psychologists to help support healthy communities.” PADS is a fully accredited member of Assistance Dogs International.  The PADDLES FOR PADS pickleball event day included a Pro Demo with Canadian National Senior Pro Singles Champion Davi Singh from Whistler; US Nationals Silver Medalist Jeffery Ho; Canadian National Champion and PBC Director and BC Head Coach Robin D'Abreo; and PPA Masters player and MLP head coach Steve Deakin. Watch the YouTube video here for just a taste of the high-level play. Above, PADS Companion Dogs were present at the event. (Click on photos to enlarge.) Teams of 8 players were arranged of equal skill level in a Scramble Format, where they played doubles with everyone on the team for the “highest points” honour and a free drink. Also each team had its own dog name:
PBC President David Snell states: “In absence of our province-wide PBC 2024 PADDLES FOR PADS initiative, such as HCC in 2025, I encourage other PBC provincial clubs to have a similar event this year. The PADS cause is a worthwhile one which embodies many of our PBC and Affiliated and Associated club 2025 missions and objectives: in line with our provincial focus and mandates, PADS supports people with disabilities and community care providers which they partner with by providing them with certified assistance dogs. Similarly to our pickleball community, PADS is also inclusive and is committed to equality across race, gender, age, religion, identity, ability and experience. To summarize, the tournament was well attended and a success for both PADS and HCC generating a 2025 donation of $2,000 to this worthwhile cause bringing our HCC Pickleball Committee pickleball 'Giveback Event' charity donations total over the last 2 years to $24,000.” For more information, contact: David Snell President, Pickleball BC [email protected] Indoor Pickleball Facility Opens At The City of Lougheed: The Inclusive Place of Pickleball (“IPOP”)13/5/2025
 The area’s pickleball community came out in force to support IPOP’s grand opening. May 13, 2025, Vancouver, BC--With today’s sport of pickleball continuing to grow at double digit percentage rates and demand for required playing space is limited, the Inclusive Place of Pickleball’s (IPOP) grand opening—attended by municipal dignitaries, executives, staff, media and community picklers—dismissed such concerns with one swift swing of a paddle.  The two men in the center from left to right are IPOP CEO Chris White, and Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, where both are flanked by Councilors during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley (left, or top on mobile device) and CEO & Chief Paddle Officer Chris White (right, or bottom on mobile device) addressing the attendees prior to the ribbon cutting (Click photos to enlarge.) On Saturday, April 26, 2025, 10:15 AM at The City of Lougheed, Burnaby Major Mike Hurley, with his Councilors, cut the ceremonial ribbon that formally ushered in pickleball in a previously built Safeway outlet transformed into a 9 regulation-size courts with 30,000 SF of health and social pickleball haven. IPOP’s 30,000 SF facility includes numerous amenities for picklers. (Click photos to enlarge.) This impressive facility includes a lounge, snack area, various practice spaces, and more. Now Burnaby has its own go-to indoor pickleball facility that is the envy of other municipalities.  IPOP CEO Chris White speaking with Global TV. About IPOP According to IPOP’s news release: “The Inclusive Place of Pickleball (IPOP) is a proudly Canadian company focused on building inclusive, community-centered pickleball facilities across Canada. Designed for all skill levels—from newcomers to seasoned players—IPOP offers dedicated indoor courts, structured programming, and a welcoming environment that emphasizes health, fun, and connection. IPOP is actively expanding across Canada and into international regions. We seek partnerships with Pickleball Canada associations, First Nations, municipalities, developers, investors,and pickleball players with an interest in the business of sustainable pickleball with shared values.” Player-, Community-, and Organization-Centric "We're excited to provide an inclusive space for everyone, from beginners to pros, to enjoy pickleball without having to wait for a court," said Chris White, CEO and Chief Paddle Officer (CPO) of IPOP. "This facility is a game-changer, allowing people to experience pickleball's physical, mental, and social benefits in an environment that welcomes all.” IPOP is committed to numerous endeavours such as structured leagues, ladder play, level-rated drop-ins, dedicated gamified practice areas, all-levels coaching, youth programming, social mixers, and tournaments. Also, IPOP is the official partner of the Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) in the Lower Mainland, and it has a clear pathway for players to reach the Canadian National Pickleball League (CNPL). The first Western CNPL spectator event will take place this Summer with Canada's best players in action at the facility. Moreover, IPOP has partnered with BC Lung Foundation in support of its health initiative. "It is such a fun and unique opportunity to partner with a great community-oriented organization focused on promoting physical activity and who are passionate about respiratory health. Staying active is a great way to keep your lungs healthy and BC Lung is excited to utilize IPOP's new facility to support our patient groups" says Christopher Lam, President & CEO at BC Lung.  Dignitaries, executives, and staff attended the grand opening, including Praveen Varshney, Haneef Esmall, Muni Sehgal and Kiran Dhatt above. The Future "This isn't just about opening more courts," says White. "It's about building community—creating spaces where people can grow their skills, build friendships, and discover the joy of the game. That's what IPOP is all about.” IPOP has plans to expand in Victoria, Nanaimo, Surrey, Montreal, and North Vancouver. The City of Penticton location is set to open later this year. In addition, international markets are under consideration. Above left (top on mobile device) David Snell, President Pickleball BC and Jim Burke, Board Secretary front middle) join Chris and others for opening celebration play. Above right (bottom on mobile device) is David trying to retrieve a well-placed drop. (Click photos to enlarge.) Pickleball BC President David Snell states: “The IPOP indoor facility is well outfitted and a very welcome addition to the community’s pickleball facilities. Kudos to Chris and his team for executing a facility model where the underlying objective was to cater to players of all skill levels.
Just as significant as the favourable health benefits the sport provides (according to research studies conducted)—the IPOP facility will positively promote the growth, development, and enjoyment of pickleball. It’s a win, win all around for everyone.” For more information visit: www.ipop.fun Inclusive Place of Pickleball (IPOP) Unit 2, 9855 Austin Rd, The City of Lougheed Shopping Centre, Burnaby, BC April 16, 2025, Vancouver, B.C.—After research results informed PCO that many Canadians were lacking information as a key barrier to participating in our engaging sport of Pickleball, PCO created a program that aims to enhance communication efforts and better connect with its community. Further, the program targets individuals who are pickleball leaders and passionate about advancing the sport. Thus, the 2025 Pickleball Canada Ambassadors Program was launched on April 10th 2025. The Research In detail, January 2025 PCO 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. PCO 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, PCO launched the Ambassador Program. Ambassadors Search and BC Assignments PCO sent out a communication call for applications on February 3, 2025 with a set deadline of February 21, 2025. Next, PCO 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. Pickleball BC Association (“PBC”) is excited to announce the following individuals as the 2025 Pickleball Canada Ambassadors in BC:  In addition, Lindsay’s journey into pickleball began unexpectedly, fueled by her lifelong love for badminton. During her time working as a server in Paris, one of her regular customers encouraged her to try pickleball. Despite initial hesitation, Lindsay decided to give it a shot—and was immediately hooked. She fell in love with the game’s energetic pace, inclusive nature, and the welcoming social atmosphere it fosters. Pickleball quickly became more than just a hobby; it became her passion and an avenue for forging new connections within her community. Today, Lindsay regularly plays at Greenaway Park in Surrey, which buzzes with players of all ages and skill levels, creating a sense of camaraderie that she cherishes deeply. As a dedicated educator, Lindsay has gone above and beyond to share her love for pickleball with her students. Since moving to Surrey, she has introduced several students to the sport and is actively working to bring pickleball to her school. Her vision is to empower young athletes to discover the joy and value of the game, just as she did. Recognizing the growth of pickleball across the province, Lindsay is also inspired by the increasing number of facilities incorporating courts in areas such as Langley and Burnaby, a testament to the sport’s skyrocketing popularity.  Moreover, Asaan first picked up a paddle in late 2021 after being introduced to the sport by his parents—and like many others, he was instantly hooked. Since then, pickleball has become a major part of his life, both on and off the court. Based in Sooke, BC, he’s proud to be part of a vibrant and welcoming pickleball community where players of all ages and skill levels come together to compete, connect, and have fun.
As the Tournament Director for the upcoming Sooke Paddle Battle on May 3rd and 4th, Asaan is thrilled to help launch the community’s first-ever pickleball tournament. The event is a celebration of Sooke’s growing passion for the sport and a chance to bring players together in a fun, friendly, and competitive environment. Pickleball is rapidly growing on Vancouver Island, with more players joining the sport every day. As the demand for the game increases, communities are responding by adding new courts, making it easier for players of all ages and skill levels to get involved. This surge in interest reflects the sport’s accessibility and social appeal, as well as its ability to bring people together across generations. Barry Petrachenko, Pickleball Canada Executive Director “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. David Snell, President, Pickleball BC Association, adds: “There’s an Ancient Proverb that states … ‘If you are planning for one year, grow rice. If you are planning for twenty years, grow trees. If you are planning for centuries, grow people.’ That adage aligns with the Ambassador Program’s initiative to reach individuals, communities and to inform, educate them to participate in our inclusive, appealing sport. This will also engage our provincial members to cast a wider net in their respective region to educate others for growth. Let us welcome and support our BC Ambassadors Lindsay and Asaan as they plant the seeds for future generations.” Additional 2025 PCO Ambassador Program information is here and also here. For more information, contact: David Snell, President Pickleball BC Association [email protected] BC Mainland: Lindsay Brown Pickleball Canada Ambassador - B.C. [email protected] The Island: Asaan Maherali Pickleball Canada Ambassador - B.C. [email protected]  March 30th, 2025, Vancouver, BC—PBCA is establishing a BC Provincial Team that will compete against other provincial teams at the Canadian National Championships in Winnipeg, Manitoba, August 19th – 24th, 2025. We are inviting BC players with a Canadian Tournament Pickleball Rating (CTPR) of 4.0+ as currently posted on Pickleball Canada National System (PCNS), to express interest in applying for our proposed BC Provincial Team roster and provincial competitions at the Nationals as described below. Provincial Team Competition Proposal Introduction Pickleball BC Association's ("PBCA") Board of Directors has recently agreed to review a Pickleball Canada (“PCO”) proposal that would have Canadian Provincial Teams compete in a one-day event at the Canadian Nationals. As a result of meetings held with the provinces, it is expected that 6 – 8 Provinces have interest in fielding respective Provincial teams to compete at the Nationals—BC has announced our intention to field a Provincial team. Proposal Details at this Point
As outlined above, the Nationals are being held in Winnipeg from August 19th – 24th, 2025 and will showcase the best players from all across Canada in multiple events and age categories. Registration for the Myoflex® Pickleball Canada National Championship opens Tuesday, April 15th at 4:00 p.m. CST and will close July 20th at 11:59 p.m. CST for the event. Pre-registration will take place on Tuesday, April 8 for the event for gold medal winners at Pickleball Canada’s 2024 Regional events. More information surrounding registration will be provided shortly from PCO. Request for BC Provincial Team Expressions of Interest Many details remain to be worked out, but at this point we would like to ask for expressions of interest or club recommendations for players 4.0+ CTPR who may be interested in applying for the BC Provincial Team. Please send your details with the Division and event that you would be interested in (one event per player), current ratings and any other comments, suggestions or questions to: [email protected]. David Snell, President PBCA stated: “Our objective with the formation of our first BC Provincial Team is to highlight our best BC pickleball athletes, and what a great way to do this--a provincial team competition at the National Championships. Also in our quest to have pickleball included in the Olympics, BC and Canada need to continue to develop high-level organized provincial and national team competitions like CNPL and this provincial team proposal from Pickleball Canada. The sport of Pickleball is all inclusive, from our youth, novice, intermediate, and to all pickleball enthusiasts—which also means acknowledging our champions. Thanks for your interest, and we think this will be a lot of fun.” Team West is Best!! For more information, contact: PBCA Tournament Committee [email protected]  Vernon, Canada’s 2023 Best Pickleball Club as chosen by Pickleball Today, is blessed with dedicated volunteers and businesses and have built an excellent indoor (all-weather) facility– the 2025 Provincials will have three venues as below … Pickleball BC (“PBC”) BC Provincial and Pickleball Canada’s (“PCO”) Canadian National Championships Registration and Tournament Date Reminders
As described in our Newsletter that can be found here, our 2025 Provincial Championships will be held this July 24th – 27th in Vernon and Coldstream as follows:
Myoflex® Pickleball Canada National Championship Registration and BC Provincial Team Event The Nationals are being held in Winnipeg from August 19th – 24th 2025 and will showcase the best players from all across Canada in multiple events and age categories. Registration for the Myoflex® Pickleball Canada National Championship opens Tuesday, April 15th at 4:00 p.m. CST and will close July 20 at 11:59 p.m. CST for the event. Pre-registration will take place on Tuesday, April 8 for the event for gold medal winners at Pickleball Canada’s 2024 Regional events. More information surrounding registration will be provided shortly from PCO. Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the event, including registration details, tournament schedules, and exciting community engagement opportunities leading up to the championship! Regarding our planned BC Provincial Team, upon registration 4.0+ CTPR players will be asked if they are interested in being considered for the BC Provincial Team (16 players with 4-8 alternates) who will be competing against other provinces at the Nationals. For more information please refer to our recent mailing to all 4.0+ CTPR players listed on PCO’s PCNS system. We apologize to 4.0+ CTPR players who have not received this mailing as we know that our list is not fully accurate. If you did not get the mailing and you have a 4.0+ CTPR rating please email me as below and we will send that info to you. ### PBC looks forward to seeing you at these Canadian Championship events which will not only showcase our best provincial and national players but will also with our new Provincial Team concept, highlight the best players from each province who will compete against other provincial teams (we expect 6-8 teams) at an event at this year’s Nationals—first time this has been done and we are very excited to introduce our Team and cheer them on! David Snell President Pickleball BC Association [email protected] On behalf of the PBC Tournament Committee [email protected] March 20th 2025, Vancouver, B.C.—With the assistance of a $30,000 grant from the viaSport British Columbia Provincial Sport Development Fund awarded to PBCA in September of 2024, PBCA and Pickleball Canada (“PCO”) procured and delivered Franklin Sports equipment for the AYPBC initiative, introducing K – 7 students to the sport of pickleball across BC. Working around the clock to out-race the impending, ever-changing Canada-USA 25% tax tariffs, David Snell PBCA President and Barry Petrachenko, PCO Executive Director, ensured that the pickleball equipment the students would use was shipped prior to the midnight deadline last month. David Snell, PBCA President’s Comments As David explains: “Although the final AYPBC lesson curriculum and tool sets for all of our BC clubs will not be ready until this Summer, our initiative of introducing pickleball to 16 Elementary schools and approximately 500 K – 7 students at our 3 BC Regions (Victoria, Vancouver, and Vernon) has had a tremendous start. Acquiring the equipment, including providing some Vancouver school teachers NCCP pickleball certification to coach students, were all positive steps towards our initiative. Below is a heartfelt message that PBCA received from Denise Sparrow and Alex Lyner, Pickleball Teacher Sponsors, McKenzie Elementary School, Victoria, B.C. Also huge kudos to Connie McCann, past President at Victoria Regional Pickleball Association, and her team for organizing the Vancouver Island Region out of Victoria.” McKenzie Elementary School Equipment “Unveiling” March 10, 2025  McKenzie Elementary School, Victoria, BC with Grade 2 Teacher Alex Lyne Dear David Snell, Pickleball BC,
On behalf of the staff and students at McKenzie Elementary, we would like to extend our sincere gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the Activating Youth Pickleball BC program. Our students and staff have thoroughly enjoyed the introductory sessions and have gained valuable skills and knowledge from the lead instructor and the many dedicated volunteers who made these sessions so engaging. We would also like to express our appreciation to ViaSport, Pickleball Canada, and Franklin Sports for their generous support in providing our school with pickleball equipment. Thanks to this contribution, many students have developed a keen interest in the sport and are eager to continue playing at home on the weekends. Additionally, our teachers are excited to incorporate pickleball into regular gym classes, ensuring that students continue to benefit from this fun and active sport. Thank you once again for bringing this wonderful opportunity to our school. Your support and dedication to youth sports have made a meaningful impact, and we look forward to fostering a lasting love for pickleball within our school community. Sincerely, Denise Sparrow and Alex Lyner Pickleball Teacher Sponsors McKenzie Elementary School For more information, contact: David Snell, President, Pickleball BC Association [email protected] Sharon Hoy, AYPBC Project Coordinator [email protected]  PBC’s Wellness Show with full-size pickleball court. March 10, 2025, Vancouver, BC—On February 1st & 2nd, 2025 at the Vancouver, Convention Centre, Pickleball BC Association (“PBCA”) organized and participated in The Wellness Show with a booth plus a full-size pickleball demonstration court. About The Wellness Show According to the Show organizers:
Pickleball’s Health and Wellness Benefits Pickleball definitely aligns with the Show’s health and wellness objectives. In fact (based on Psychology Today findings), several studies have shown that playing pickleball, or racquet/paddle sports in general, had been known to extend life expectancy. This is due to the required full-body workout on the court, including brain challenges such as hand-eye coordination plus anticipating your opponent’s shot and positioning yourself accordingly to defend that shot. And besides, most players average 800 to 1,000+ calorie “burn” per 90 minutes of matches! Sam Goode North Vancouver Pickleball Association PBCA reported: “With the significant support of Sam Goode, North Vancouver, and 35 other volunteers from around the Lower Mainland—PBCA set up a full-size pickleball court the Wellness Show floor space for the third year in a row. Over the course of the two Show days, about 170 people (both adults and juveniles) were introduced to the game of pickleball live on the court. Our expectation was more than 250 but due to the heavy snowfall early Sunday the overall Show attendance was down by about 1/3 as well. Paddles were generously provided by Acorn Pickleball, including 2 as prizes. My personal thanks to all the volunteers that did attend and help and the 40 other individuals that offered to come help!” Past Attendance: PBCA and The Vancouver Wellness Show 2024 Excerpts from PoCoMo Pickleball Club’s President Julie McRitchie’s column from News From Our Clubs in the Kitchen Sink, April 2024 issue: “Back in February 2024, an interesting elderly man approached our exhibitor’s booth at the 31st Annual Wellness Show. It was the second year in a row that PBCA had been an exhibitor at The 2024 Wellness Show held at Canada Place. … Back to the interesting man who stood at the sidelines and watched maybe for 30 minutes. ‘Build a court’, I said, where, for you? This man has a 44-acre ranch, which is a camp for kids who have serious medical challenges. The camp is called Zajac Ranch and throughout the year, various camps are held for kids and adults with various chronic illnesses and disabilities, or camps held for leadership training in various medical fields. Mr. Zajac has a full-size gym on the property and wants to put lines in and maybe build two courts outside. We made arrangements to go out and see the property and help with his ideas. For now, we started by lining his gym for pickleball, help him get the equipment needed while he talked to his team about redesigning some of the back property and the levelling of the parking lot.  Who knew that by having a booth at the Wellness Show would end up making a huge impact for kids at the Zajak Ranch for many years to come. Thank you volunteers. Everyone has a story about pickleball and what it means to us as an individual. Somehow it just keeps growing, getting better and whether it's for our own health reasons or in this case, to put a smile on someone’s face at camp so that they can hold a paddle, hit the ball over the net and feel like a champion pro for that minute—it’s the greatest game around.”
For any comments or suggestions, please contact: David Snell President PBCA [email protected] |
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