Pickleball in Canada

The 6^th Pickleball Canada National Tournament has come and gone. The tournament was a huge success with 440 players from throughout Canada and 16 U.S. states battling for gold. Ages of players ranged from 14 to 80 years old, and cash prizes awarded to the champions in all Open events. According to tournament director Bryan Jackson, the venue at Parkinson Recreation Center in Kelowna is the largest outdoor pickleball facility in Canada. Kelowna sits on the eastern shore of Lake Okanagan and has lots of history, not to mention amazing berries and cherries! And even better, the tournament arranged a never-ending bowl of cherries for all players. YUM

I always enjoy being part of pickleball “firsts” and six years ago Canada started their Nationals in Abbottsford before moving to Kelowna a few years ago. Here I am six years later still playing and exploring Canada’s treasures. Why not travel to new, unique and beautiful places to play pickleball?

This year was another first for me – an RV adventure to Canada. My husband and I saddled up our small RV and off we went! Before the Canadian Nationals we explored many breathtaking sights including Banff during Canada’s Day which this year was the 150^th birthday celebration, Lake Louise, Lake Moraine and the Iceland Parkway toward Jasper before heading west through Golden and Revelstoke on our way to Kelowna.

Disappointing to find that the tennis courts at the famous Fairmont Banff Springs hotel did not have pickleball. Too bad for them – their guests are missing some serious fun.

I do love how local media covers pickleball events and Kelowna Capital News shared “With as many as eight million people projected to be playing next year in the U.S. and Canada, pickleball is easily the fastest growing sport in North America” and The Daily Courier newspaper shares Invasion of the pickleballers.

Pickleball in Canada…. so beautiful and FUN!