What do they call it?” Graham Long asks himself, searching for the correct words. “Speed dating.”
He pauses again.
“Not really, but I’m trying it myself for the first time. Basically I’m organizing a Pickleball Social for November 9th. To have people sign up online, and to play a variety of games with different players for a couple hours, and then go out and have a drink or eat afterward at a bar that’s nearby.”
I’m chatting with Long, an avid pickleballer from Welland, who plays at various courts in Pelham and around the Region, and enjoys putting together events. We’re setting up a meeting with Jim Fraser of Fenwick, who has very recently concluded a deal with Concordia Ontario Academy (CIS) to turn the gymnasium of their Centre Street facility, previously Fenwick’s Pelham Centre School, into the year- round, indoor, seven-days-a-week, Centre Street Pickleball Club.
When the three of us meet, Long provides me with a printed promotional piece he’s circulating with the details of his Pickleball Social. He confirms such themed events are becoming big in the United States, but to his knowledge there is only one other place in Ontario offering similar scrambles.
My benign, and obviously out-of-date image of our pickleballer demographic, and all the various reasons they might play, evaporates as I read the additional details in the piece: Pickleball scramble for singles. Unattached 50ish singles and older sign up individually to play several games with different partners. Afterwards drinks & food at...
Long confirms there is no proof of singleness required.
Fraser is a longtime pickleball advocate and volunteer who has tried for five years to establish a dedicated year-round indoor facility in the Niagara Region where everyone is welcome. He spoke with the Town of Thorold to develop pickleball courts at the old Thorold Arena, and also with various civic officials and Brock University to use some of the Canada Games facilities without success.
Fraser’s interest in promoting indoor courts is driven by their safety advantages, improving the quality of play, and providing more availability of court time. In mid- and high-latitude countries like Canada, the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching the earth’s surface has increased markedly in recent decades. For many people, outdoor activities in our summer sun are becoming dangerous. The inability to play outdoors in Niagara during winter is obvious, but even in-season wind can dramatically affect game quality, and rain makes scheduling difficult.
“It’s overwhelming how people respond to this,” says Fraser. “I had six new people out last night, and they all took their skills and drills and had smiles on their faces when they left.”
Fraser, who is not a professional teacher, and the other volunteers who offer limited instruction just want to assist rookies in learning the basics.
Fraser and Long stress that as well as attracting newcomers, the club fills a void for local players that want higher-level competition. Players have the ability to select their own partners of similar skills to play with, which isn’t possible at all Niagara venues.
The brightness of the lighting and white walls makes the courts very inviting, and the stage area is a great spot for socializing between games. Although at present the gym floor does have lines from other sports, the recently-installed bright yellow pickleball court demarcation is easy to see and avoids confusion.
The Centre Street Pickleball Club is a registered non-profit, with inexpensive fees designed to cover operating costs. Membership fees are $80 per year, and there is a $5 fee for each two hour session. Those joining the club must have a membership in Pickleball Canada ($10). For the balance of October, the session fee is being waived.
Long organized his first Niagara pickleball tournament at Fonthill’s Meridian Community Centre last year, and got hooked. He has put together tournaments in Port Colborne and Niagara Falls, among other venues, and was recently asked by the St. John Ambulance Niagara Branch to help facilitate their first-ever fundraising Pickleball Charity Scramble in support of their volunteers.
Players of any level from fun to advanced are welcome to attend the event on November 23 at St. Catharine’s Haig Bowl Arena. All games will be doubles, and partners will rotate. The $40 fee includes light refreshments and prizes will be awarded. Even better for those considering checking out pickleball for the first time, paddles (racquets) and instruction will be included. Information is on the St. John Ambulance Niagara Branch Facebook page.
As our interview concludes, Fraser says, “One of the big things is that you’re servicing seniors and retirees, and you’re also servicing the working adults who can’t come during the day.”
The Meridian Community Centre offers pickleball Monday through Friday only at specific times. Members have the ability to play at the Centre Street Pickleball Club in the evening and on weekends, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. seven days a week.
Things are bouncing in Pelham and around Niagara with pickleball venues and events. Sounds like fun.
