Kitchen Sink Newsletter August 2025 Edition
Pictures courtesy of the David Thompson Secondary School “Slamboree”: viaSport BC to make a decision soon regarding our $30,000 Provincial Sport Development Grant application for PBC’s Activating Youth Pickleball in BC (“AYPBC”) Phase 2 Program
The Kitchen Sink August Edition, Pickleball BC (“PBC”) President’s Introduction
Welcome to the August edition of our Kitchen Sink Newsletter.
In this August 2025 issue we wanted to highlight first and foremost, the upcoming viaSport BC decision on our 2025/2026 $30,000 viaSport BC Grant application for AYPBC Phase 2 – please see more details below. In advance of this decision and in the event of a positive result, we are now requesting formal expressions of interest from BC Clubs wishing to participate in our AYPBC Phase 2 program starting in September – please send details of why you would like apply to be one of our new 4 Regions (Phase 1 was 3 Regions which continue) to President@PickleballBC.ca.
Also in this Edition: 2025 Vernon Provincial Championships wrap-up and 2026 Provincials “Expressions of Interest to Host”; BC Provincial Team updates and National Championship reminders; a “From Our Clubs story from Delta about their Canadian National Pickleball Day celebration; our PBC YouTube channel with a special video clip introducing our BC Provincial Team members here; and, other updates regarding News, Policy reports and our new PBC 2025 initiatives in our Director’s Kitchen Corners section here.
Enjoy all the new news and updates in our August Kitchen Sink Newsletter and see you at the Nationals in Winnipeg and on the courts – with your eyewear protection!
David Snell
President Pickleball BC
President@PickleballBC.ca
|
|
|
News From Our Clubs
Delta Pickleball Association Canadian National Pickleball Day 2025
On August 9, 2025, Canadian National Pickleball Day, the Delta Pickleball Association hosted their inaugural Dream Maker Round Robin fun tournament at our newly renovated Cromie Park Pickleball courts in Delta, BC.
<Click link to read more.>
• Delta Pickleball Association National Pickleball Day 2025
|
|
|
|
President’s Report
Activating Youth Pickleball in BC (“AYPBC”) Phase 2: viaSport Grant Application and Request For Expressions of Interest:
As reported last month , our goal in AYPBC Phase 1 was to provide up to 3,000 “introductions to pickleball” to Elementary school youth in our three Regions of Vancouver Island, Vancouver and Thompson/Okanagan – we achieved an INCREDIBLE 11,000 INTRODUCTIONS!
In addition we provided our 20+ Elementary schools with equipment for the students (nets, paddles, balls and bags) and trained 33 coaches 23 of whom obtained NCCP Level 1 certification. Pickleball Introductions were made through intramural activities, PD days, and part of the program included hosting “Slamborees” (see pics above), which were designed to involve multiple schools, various coaches at the school and district level to provide sustainability and the adoption of pickleball as part of the regular school curriculum.
As we are optimistic about our viaSport Grant approval, we plan to start PBC AYPBC Phase 2 starting this coming school year in September. Our 3 Regions are committed to Phase 2 as they expand their reach to more schools and are investing in the project alongside PBC.
So to the ask: we are looking for Expressions of interest from up to 4 additional Regions for Phase 2 (making a total of 7 Regions) supported by our Affiliated or Associated Clubs in those Regions.
Each Region will have a responsible Club and a Regional Coordinator to oversee the Regional team – typically someone who has been coaching youth, perhaps a (retired) teacher with PE experience and someone with a high level of enthusiasm for getting youth involved in sports at an early age (5 – 13 years old).
With EVES experience prior and AYPBC Phase 1 completed, we have a Teachers Guide (August planned completion date), curriculum particularly for Elementary students and Coaching Unit Guides, FAQ’s, PBC website pages dedicated to supporting documentation and a lot of guidance to share.
Please send your expressions of interest to President@PickleballBC.ca outlining your level of interest in participating in AYPBC Phase 2, potential Regional team members and their background and other information that you feel may be of interest given the description above and the many posts on our PBC website “AYPBC” pages here.
2025 PBC Pickleball Depot Provincials Wrap-Up and 2026 Provincial Championships Host Facility Expressions of Interest
Several pics above of our medal winners including BC Provincial Team players (Armaan Jiwa Mawji, Maggie Murch, Caelan Sampson, Margit Aardmaa, and Robin D’Abreo) and PBC Board Members (Doug McKay, Facilities; Robin D’Abreo, BC Head Coach; and Heather Hood, Co-Chair Youth Committee) can be viewed here in the official tournament photo album.
Congratulations to Richard Chambers and the entire Vernon Pickleball Tournament Committee and the Association, volunteers, referees and sponsors who made this Provincial Tournament amongst the best we have participated in. Richard said: “After 4 days, 5 events, 61 brackets and 1,002 matches, the Pickleball Depot 2025 BC Championships are ‘in the books’. The Vernon Pickleball Association’s 175 volunteers gave it all they had to provide what we hope was a memorable event for every competitor. Quality is characterized by high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution. We think we came close.” We reply that they exceeded our expectations! Please see full story here.
Also congratulations to Rick Folk PBC BC Head Referee and Head Ref of the Provincials on organizing and managing an on-site, “all BC” contingent of referees (for every match played) for the first time ever!
Now that the 2025 Provincials are successfully completed, our PBC Tournament Committee with Rick Folk as the Chair, is reaching out for Expressions of Interest from our Clubs who may be considering hosting the 2026 Provincials. We have a “Bid Book” for those who are interested so this is merely a request for those Clubs or affiliated organizations who may wish to consider hosting our 2026 provincial event. Please contact TournamentCommittee@PickleballBC.ca and let’s start a conversation.
2025 Nationals Reminders and BC Provincial Team Competition at Nationals
The 2025 Myoflex National Championship in Winnipeg will take place next week August 19th – 24th where our newly formed BC Provincial Team will be competing against other provincial teams on Thursday August 21st 2025. Please refer to attached BC Team Roster chosen by our PBC Tournament Committee, with the “Open” and “Masters” Divisions’ Captains, and Singles, Mixed and Gender based Teams in each Division. Please also refer to our YouTube video introducing our BC Team posted here on our new PBC YouTube channel.
There will be six provinces competing: BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec. Congratulations to our BC Provincial Team players and best of luck in the inter-provincial matches!
Kitchen Corners Reports.
Updates on Memberships, Refereeing and Grants as noted above.
Finally, please send your Club stories and pics for consideration in our monthly “From our Clubs” segment, or if you can share some of your Club event pics for possible inclusion on our PBC website or Instagram, we would really appreciate it – for consideration please send them to Marcom@PickleballBC.ca.
This Newsletter contains plenty of new news which I hope you can enjoy. All comments and contributions are very welcome!
|
|
David Snell, President
PICKLEBALL BC ASSOCIATION
President@PickleballBC.ca
|
|
News From Our Clubs:
Delta Pickleball Association Canadian National Pickleball Day 2025
Submitted by Landon Kitagawa, President Delta Pickleball Association
On August 9, 2025, Canadian National Pickleball Day, the Delta Pickleball Association hosted their inaugural Dream Maker Round Robin fun tournament at our newly renovated Cromie Park Pickleball courts in Delta, BC. Almost 140 players signed up to play in an “Major League Pickleball” style tournament. We believe that it may be the largest National Pickleball Day event in Canada!
The tournament committee came up with a format of six players on each team with two (2) players each representing a different skill level. Teams were selected and placed into pools where players represented their teams against similar skilled players on another team. This was especially important for new 2.0-3.0 players and others who may have never played in a tournament. A round robin format was used within each pool with more than 8 games played per team.
Afterwards, all players and volunteers enjoyed a lunch and a “folding chair” social. Proceeds of the tournament fees ($1,260) were donated to the Delta Community Animal Shelter towards the support of more than 800 animals each year.
The Delta Pickleball Association is one of Canada’s largest associations with more than 900 active members. We have three major goals: First, to provide a fun and social environment for people to play pickleball; second, to support the growth of pickleball in our community by providing lessons and player development to our newer members; and third, to manage our relationships with all levels of government to advocate for our sport.
For more information on the Delta Pickleball Association and its programs, please email landondpa@gmail.com with your contact information and question.
|
|
Kitchen Corners: By The Numbers
August 2025 Membership Report
As of August 12, 2025, there are 19,889 active members in BC, up slightly from last month. There were 632 memberships processed in May 2025. This is down slightly (84) from last month. 148 renewals and 484 new memberships were processed. So far over the summer months, the growth is slow but steady. I predict the membership will reach 21,000 before the end of the Summer season.
See you on the courts.
Blair Morton
PBC Registrar
Registrar@PickleballBC.ca
Thinking of joining—follow the link!
|
|
Kitchen Corners: Head Referee Corners
BC Provincial Pickleball Championships & BC Team To Compete At The Nationals
The 2025 BC Provincial Pickleball Championships were held July 24 – 27 in Vernon. Almost 600 competitors from all over BC played 1,002 matches over the four days of competition. At the Marshall Field site, 12 dedicated indoor courts and 12 portable (converted tennis) courts were used all four days, and six additional courts at the Creekside location were used on Saturday to accommodate the large Mixed Doubles entry.
The Vernon Host Committee and their dedicated volunteers did a tremendous job in not only organizing the event, but running it smoothly and expertly. This was the third major Pickleball championship that Vernon has hosted in three years … the 2023 BC Championships, and the 2024 Western Canadian Regionals were also very successful events. Thank you Vernon!!
From the Officiating aspect at this major pickleball tournament, a first for any Canadian Provincial championship was achieved. Every match, all 1,002, was refereed by a BC Accredited official! In total, 37 referees officiated the matches from 8AM every morning until the early evening. These referees were level one, level two, and certified in their accreditation. Many competitors, volunteers, and spectators made very positive comments on the professionalism of the officiating contingent. Thank You Referees!!
Rick Folk
Head Referee
HeadReferee@PickleballBC.ca
|
|
|
Sponsorships
We urge you to support and thank all our sponsors at every opportunity—they are listed throughout our website and in this newsletter. Sponsorships can help to defray the cost of hosting our website, sending this newsletter and also of supporting the running and promoting of tournaments and clinics.
Opportunities exist for businesses and individuals, starting at $25.00 to sponsor and support pickleball in British Columbia—details on our Sponsor Program page or contact Marcom@PickleballBC.ca.
|
|
|
Website or Newsletter
As always we are delighted to receive suggestions and/or contributions of content for the website and future newsletters. Send to Marcom@PickleballBC.ca.
David Snell
President, Pickleball BC (Association)
President@PickleballBC.ca
|
|
|
Leave A Comment