Ambleside Park, West Vancouver, Pickleball Courts Opening on Indigenous Lands
President’s The Kitchen Sink Newsletter Report, October Edition
The Kitchen Sink October Edition, Pickleball BC (“PBC”) President’s Introduction
Welcome to the October edition of our Kitchen Sink Newsletter. As we recently celebrated the month of October’s Thanksgiving Day and Truth and Reconciliation Day, we wanted to update everyone on recent news that we feel will be of interest to our PBC Members and Clubs.
In particular in this edition, we wanted to focus in on an example of a PBC Affiliated Club who worked with their Municipality to solve what has become one of our major issues in BC (and elsewhere)—with demand for pickleball growing and club memberships at maximum levels, we have a dearth of courts to play on.
So our “From Our Clubs” title story about new pickleball courts in “Swaywi” (Ambleside Park in West Vancouver) built on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, is particularly relevant now. Swaywi was used by the Squamish people as a place to gather seafood. It was also the site of the first Squamish Shaker Church. In the early 1920’s, much of West Vancouver’s business and social life centered around the Ambleside area. Now the Park with its ocean beaches has been introduced to pickleball.
Please see our “From our Clubs” story below which details some of this exciting news and also provides further updates on our Board of Directors activities and reports.
Enjoy all the new news and updates in our October Kitchen Sink Newsletter!
David Snell
President Pickleball BC
President@PickleballBC.ca
<Click to read more.>
• October Report |
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News From Our Clubs
In 2021 West Vancouver BC earned the title of “B.C.’s Most Active Community”. Now, West Vancouver Council, Parks Staff and local players are to be congratulated on the opening of the first four purpose-built, regulation-sized pickleball courts with separating fences on the North Shore and possibly north of the Fraser!
<Click link to read more.>
• Ambleside Pickleball Courts Opening
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President’s Report
In this Kitchen Sink Edition we wanted to highlight:
New nomenclature—Pickleball BC Association (“PBCA”) doing business as Pickleball BC (“PBC”). The Board of Directors has decided to simplify references to our full legal name (first above) vs the abbreviated name (second above) that we have been using on all our communications in the past. So from now on (with updates on past references modified as necessary), we will be adopting the former nomenclature including “Association” only for legal documents, and the later above in all our general communications.
PBC’s 2025 Tournament Committee. We are continuing to discuss with interested parties our request for expressions of interest to host the 2025 Provincials next summer. We encourage other clubs or organizations to propose to host this very important event as we put more emphasis on the Provincials as a lead-in to the Nationals in BC next summer.
The announcement of the 2024 Board Directors Nominations Committee set up and requests for 2025 nominees. The Board has set up a Board Nominations Committee for 2025 as we have several positions open for new Board Members given the end of term retirements of the current Board. Please send your expressions of interest with a short description of your specific interest in joining us and your relevant background to BoardNominations@PickleballBC.ca. We have many new initiatives to be undertaken following our recent Board 2025 – 2027 Strategic Planning Session (Plan to be published January 2025) so we are looking forward to your help either on the Board or serving on our Committees—see our current initiatives here.
Kitchen Corners Reports: Blair Morton, Membership Report, and Rick Folk, Head Referee Report. Inform our PBC members in our Kitchen Corners section highlighting our PBC Board Members regarding recent news and events. Also, Pickleball Canada Officiating Advisory Council announced the Canadian Credentialed Referee Maintenance Program.
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 will enjoy. All comments and contributions are very welcome!
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David Snell, President
PICKLEBALL BC ASSOCIATION
President@PickleballBC.ca
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News From Our Clubs:
New Ambleside Park West Vancouver Pickleball Courts Opening—A collaboration between the North Shore Pickleball Club (“NSPC”) and the Parks Staff of West Vancouver
Full story here on the PBC Website “News” Page
Left: The founders of pickleball on the North Shore attend Ambleside Opening With Jamie Dean (left) of Hollyburn Country Club and Walter Knecht (right) Director PBC
Right: Ceremonial Reception at the Opening
In 2021 West Vancouver BC earned the title of “B.C.’s Most Active Community”. Now, West Vancouver Council, Parks Staff and local players are to be congratulated on the opening of the first four purpose-built, regulation-sized pickleball courts with separating fences on the North Shore and possibly north of the Fraser!
West Vancouver led the North Shore in dedicated, permanent outdoor courts when three were opened at 29th St in October 2018 thanks to the long-time advocacy of Ed and Lilly Orlovsky pictured above. After years of active use, much was learned about the impact of the pickleball courts on neighbourhoods, and in 2021 the difficult decision was made to close the courts.
A year ago, West Vancouver Council struck a Pickleball Round table Advisory Committee to expedite construction of new courts within our community. The committee consisted of players, community members interested in sport, and parks and community center staff. This proved to be a very good formula as Ambleside was quickly identified as the ideal location and staff cleared the hurdles to have the site assigned to pickleball. Council approved four courts and development started this spring.
The four new courts, located with a view of the beach in West Vancouver’s Ambleside Park, are exactly what was needed—centrally located, fully serviced, accessible by public transit and separated from residences.
Parks Staff are to be commended for referring the court design once again to a players’ committee. Long-time West Vancouver residents, pickleball advocates and NSPC members Bruce Foskett and Maureen Jarman were part of that design team.
Pickleball demand continues to grow, and players are getting younger. Almost 4,000 local students and their teachers have been visited by NSPC volunteers who provide free introductions to pickleball. The Advisory Committee is now focusing on further pickleball expansion opportunities in the District of West Vancouver with its community partners, the North Shore Pickleball Club (“NSPC”) and West Van Players.
Left to Right:
Estha Parg Murenbeeld, President North Shore Pickleball Club
West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager and Council Members at Ribbon Cutting
Long-time West Vancouver pickleball advocates and NSPC members Bruce Foskett and Maureen Jarman
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Kitchen Corners: By The Numbers
October Membership Report
As of the end of September there are 19,556 active members in Pickleball BC. This number is 4,034 more than at this point last year and continues to grow steadily. Eighty-six of these are new registrations in September. Just a reminder that as of September 1st, every membership application automatically receives Pickleball Canada and PBC membership until the end of 2025. This has likely led to the 274 membership renewals in September, which has outpaced new registrations. If you join your club and PCO/PBC prior to January 1st, 2025 you will save some money on your registration as PBC dues go up in January to $7.50 per year.
Many clubs have again attained record numbers of membership applications this year. However, with that there are several clubs that have had to introduce caps and waiting lists (which continue to grow). These clubs would readily accept additional people if they could provide adequate court space and time for them to play. It’s time to let your municipalities know that pickleball needs access to more courts. Pickleball continues to grow with more and more people of all ages enjoying the sport we love to play.
On December 1st Pickleball Canada will be emailing you a renewal link for your 2025 membership. Your club may not be ready for registration at that time, and in some cases may have opened up 2025 registration prior to that date. Keep an eye out for information from your club regarding their registration dates. If you do receive the PCO email please keep it handy and renew with your club directly from the invite as it contains a direct link to your own recorded personal registration information or failing that, log in and renew from your profile in PCO here.
If you are having difficulties registering or finding correct information regarding your personal profile, Pickleball Canada has created a Knowledge Base that you can access here, where you can research the tasks and processes involved in managing your profile with PCO.
See you on the courts.
Blair Morton
PBC Registrar
Registrar@PickleballBC.ca
Thinking of joining—follow the link!
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Kitchen Corners: Head Referee Corners
Canadian Credentialed Referee Maintenance Program
On September 16, the Pickleball Canada Officiating Advisory Council announced the Canadian Credentialed Referee Maintenance Program. I was pleased to be the lead referee in making the announcement. There are three main reasons for introducing this comprehensive program at this time.
First: We wanted to move ahead of USA Pickleball with regard to referee maintenance. Our referee program here in Canada has patterned itself after the US program, and thus we always seemed to be a few years behind them in many aspects of officiating. We are making great strides forward, and this credentialed maintenance program is the first of its kind in pickleball.
Second: To provide our clients, Canadian pickleball tournament players, with qualified referees for their tournament matches. Players pay an entry fee into tournaments and part of that fee goes to providing referees. We want to make sure that when a referee wearing Canadian Officiating credentials steps onto a court, the match will be officiated in a consistent, knowledgeable manner.
Third: We want to keep our officials current with officiating requirements. Every year, there are rule changes in pickleball. As well, the Canadian and US Pickleball Associations, through their Officiating Councils, constantly update Refereeing Best Practices. We want to make sure that all of our credentialed referees are keeping up to date with the changes.
There are six components of the Program:
1. Annually record the number of matches refereed: Suggested minimum requirements are level one: 30, level two 50, and CR 75.
2. Annually review all on-line documentation, especially the Rules and Best Practices.
3. Annually complete all four on-line tests: Minimum requirements: level one 80%, level two: 90%, CR: 95%.
4. Each official should be observed by another accredited official at least once per year. The purpose is to provide feedback.
5. All levels of credentials will expire after three years from the date of issue. Each official will be required to undergo a short test of knowledge and best practices:
a) The test will take place within the three months preceding the expiry of credentials (one month grace period may be granted)
b) A bank of questions will be developed based on the Rulebook, Handbook, and Casebook. They will not be multiple choice or true/false.
c) Sepending on the candidate’s score, credentials will be re-awarded, or complete another series of questions, or undergo a reassessment or re-evaluation.
d) A current Visual Acuity Form must be produced prior to receiving new credentials.
e) Level one and two testing will be carried out by the Provincial/Territorial head Referee, the Regional Referee Training Coordinator, or their designate.
f) Certified Referees receiving USA Pickleball re-certification will be exempt from this process. CRs who do not receive a passing grade on the above testing, will also be subject to a Provincial Head Referee and Regional CRC review. If that review leads to a recommendation for an on-court review, the NLO and the Head PC Evaluator will be notified prior to any action being taken. A discussion will take place between the three parties and an appropriate course of action will be determined.
6. Further observation of certified referees and level two referees that are approaching the 3-year period MAY take place to ensure they are keeping pace with officiating standards—this additional testing will be initiated by members of the Officiating Advisory Council.
Rick Folk
Head Referee
HeadReferee@PickleballBC.ca
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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, putting out 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.
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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
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