Pickleball Magazine 5-5 WD | Page 53

pickleball . Determined to spread the sport , he showed up three years ago with a pickleball net and a couple of paddles and drew a receptive audience .
There ’ s not much other than homes on Protection Island , but there is one ancient tennis court that hadn ’ t been used much in the past decade . There are cracks in the concrete , weeds growing through the chain-link fence and it ’ s subject to a steady rain of leaves and branches and , well , rain . As it turned out , Fred ’ s pickleball passion was contagious . He would host regular clinics , and soon
volunteers descended on the court with masking tape and blue paint for marking lines . That ’ s another thing about Protection Island — every project is a volunteer project .
These days , that old court has thrown off the effects of age and deterioration ( a metaphor aging island residents can certainly appreciate ) and become a noisy and competitive forum . The court is simply buzzing ! The oldest players are in their 80s ; the youngest , their early 20s . The hardcore players are seniors who believe that 70 is the new 50 . Pickleball is proving them right .
Sadly , COVID-19 has separated us from our American friends and neighbors like Fred . No one is happy about that . Every time we take to the courts , however , we slap paddles in gratitude for our American neighbor who has made such a difference to Protection Island , even when he can ’ t be here . •
Jim MacQuarrie is a retired television producer who saw much of Canada during his years with CBC , Canada ’ s public broadcaster . When he found Protection Island , he knew he was home . Community pickleball is the icing on the cake .
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OCTOBER / NOVEMBER 2020 | MAGAZINE 51