PickleballCANADA
CANADIAN PICKLEBALL SUMMER IN FULL SWING
With many Canadians moving their social and fitness activities indoors during the winter months , sometimes we have to wait for the spring thaw to see and feel the continuous growth of our adopted sport when the masses return to playing outdoors where pickleball spaces are more easily accessible .
A national survey conducted in January reveals there are approximately 1.37 million Canadians playing pickleball at least once a month . In June , membership in Pickleball Canada reached a new milestone , surpassing 51,400 members ( compared to 46,000 at the end of 2022 ).
On the ground , we continue to see organizations finding ways to bring new pickleball courts to communities to satisfy the demand , including the creation of new sports bubbles , the addition of pickleball offerings within existing sports facilities , and new courts in empty retail spaces — curling clubs , hockey rinks , and in unused parking lots , among other creative ideas . Despite the increasing availability of pickleball spaces , Canadian demand continues to outpace supply . “ At capacity ,” “ Join waiting list ,” and “ Not accepting new members at this time ” are common notices from coast to coast .
We have every reason to believe the upward trajectory of pickleball demand will continue in Canada , including the exposure of citizens to pickleball through other sports they already love . A growing number of multisport events north of the border are now featuring pickleball , including the Canada Senior Games , the World Police and Fire Games ( coming to Winnipeg , Manitoba , in 2023 ), and the Good Games in Guelph , Ontario , to name a few . We know these opportunities are creating even more intrigue and interest in our peculiar sport .
On a holiday weekend in May , the Toronto Blue Jays baseball team chose pickleball as its theme for the day , with a Blue Jays pickleball paddle as a giveaway for the first 15,000 fans , temporary pickleball courts set up in the stadium concourse , and professional player and Pickleball Canada Ambassador Steve Deakin throwing out the honorary first pitch of the game . Hundreds of Canadians tried pickleball for the first time that day , with steady lines of fans at the courts throughout the baseball game . Despite my best efforts , I could not find a single dormant paddle “ left behind ” by a fan at the stadium . This event and other similar smaller-scale events continue to expose “ unsuspecting ” Canadians to pickleball for the very first time , and further fuelling the grassroots growth we have been seeing in recent years .
With the maturing and continued growth within the Canadian pickleball scene , it ’ s not surprising that an increasing number of sponsors are recognizing the
By Dave Harris
business value of partnering with Pickleball Canada to support pickleball . For example , Franklin Sports and Pickleball Canada recently announced a long-term partnership that , among other things , makes Franklin the official ball and paddle for Pickleball Canada and will help accelerate the pickleball growth trends north of the border . Exzell Pharma Inc . has also recently become an official partner , with Myoflex being named the official topical pain relief for Pickleball Canada . Skechers , The Comfort Technology Company , is the official footwear sponsor of the 2023 Pickleball Canada National Championship , being held in Regina , Saskatchewan .
On the competitive side of the sport , we continue to see a record number of pickleball tournaments being organized , with more offering prize money ( with the support of sponsors ), and the recent trend of offering “ team-based ” tournament formats ( similar to Major League Pickleball ) to create new and exciting experiences for Canadian players . The inaugural Canadian National Pickleball League is launching this summer featuring some of Canada ’ s top talent , and — with the growing maturity and capacity of local tournament hosts — our National Pickleball Championship will be taking place in Atlantic Canada ( in beautiful Nova Scotia ) for the first time in 2024 .
Like our American friends and pickleball peers around the globe , Canadian pickleball players aren ’ t wondering where pickleball is going . The only question is how big , and how fast ! •
72 TO SUBSCRIBE , CALL 412.914.8294 OR GO TO PICKLEBALLMAGAZINE . COM