Photo: Peter Power
1.7 million Canadians to have access to year-round tennis as a result of the new projects
Tennis Canada today announced four municipalities that will receive funding to develop fully covered tennis courts in 2023 through its Year-Round Community Tennis Courts Program presented by Rogers. Now in its second year of a multi-year partnership, the municipalities of Toronto, Stratford and Thunder Bay, Ontario, as well as Edmonton, Alberta were confirmed today.
With the aim of building 160 new year-round courts at up to 30 facilities across Canada by 2029, the $5.6 million Year-Round Community Tennis Courts Program, jointly funded by Tennis Canada and Rogers, will make year-round tennis a reality for Canadians across the country, increasing accessibility to the sport and helping to foster increased participation among youth. The program was initiated to address the fact that Canada falls behind other leading tennis nations in providing access to the sport 12 months a year, with only 750 publicly accessible covered courts across the country, representing only one year-round court for every 50,000 people.
Having unveiled the first completed projects in Markham and Hamilton, Ontario and Calgary, Alberta in 2022, the program has already delivered 11 year-round tennis courts, serving approximately 2.5 million Canadians and collectively providing an additional 1,680 hours of court time per week to their constituents during the winter months. All three facilities saw a strong uptake in winter court bookings and membership enrollment for the new indoor seasons. Ground was also broken on a fourth project in Waterloo, Quebec last year, which is scheduled for completion this fall.
The projects at the Courts at San Romanoway operated by Philpott Children’s Tennis (Toronto, Ontario), Stratford Winter Tennis Club (Stratford, Ontario), the Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre (Thunder Bay, Ontario) and Saville Tennis Centre, University of Alberta (Edmonton, Alberta) will see a collective 19 year-round tennis courts added to those communities, accessible to over 1.7 million Canadians and accounting for a total of 1,881 additional court hours per week during the winter months.
“We are delighted to announce the four municipalities that will partner with Tennis Canada and Rogers to deliver year-round tennis to their communities in 2023,” commented Michael Downey, President and Chief Executive Officer, Tennis Canada. “The work of the local operators at each of the four facilities to get to this point cannot be underestimated. We would also like to thank Rogers for the crucial capital seed money they provide for these projects. We are extremely proud of the impact this mission-critical program has had so far, and we are sure the momentum that continues to be built will encourage other communities and facility operators to explore projects in their municipalities.”
“These year-round covered courts are helping to grow the sport of tennis in Canada and providing communities with opportunities to stay active,” said Bianca Andreescu, 2019 US Open champion and Team Rogers Athlete. “As a pro tennis player, I know first-hand that accessibility for kids, and up-and-coming high-performance athletes, is truly helping to empower the next generation of Canadians.”
The projects announced today are scheduled for completion in time for the 2023-24 fall and winter seasons. Soil-turning ceremonies will be held at each of the clubs in the coming weeks, starting with Stratford Winter Tennis Club on March 1, followed by Saville Tennis Centre, University of Alberta on March 7, the Courts at San Romanoway operated by Philpott Children’s Tennis on March 9 and Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre on March 13.
As momentum for the Year-Round Community Tennis Courts Program presented by Rogers continues to grow, with 90% of Canadians agreeing that municipalities should work with Tennis Canada on the initiative, you can learn more about the program and email coveredcourts@tenniscanada.com to find out how you can help kick start a project in your municipality.
MORE ON THE COURTS AT SAN ROMANOWAY OPERATED BY PHILPOTT CHILDREN’S TENNIS
Municipality: Toronto, Ontario
Year-round courts created by project: 2
Canadians served by project: 27,500
Additional court hours per week created by project: 200
“This facility will create jobs, deliver leadership programs, keep kids physically active and bring together a community that has been devastated by the pandemic and inflation. I can’t wait to see it full of kids – it will change their lives. The project will make a huge difference to the area; families will have a safe indoor space to be physically active 12 months a year. It is so special for the community and to have partners like Tennis Canada, Rogers, Trillium, the Robert Kerr Foundation, Greenwin Corp. and Residential Property Management Services (RPMS) get behind it shows the importance of sport and physical activity for Canadian families.”
Richard Crowell, Executive Director, Philpott Children’s Tennis
“We are especially delighted to announce that one of the project locations is a Philpott Children’s Tennis facility, located a stone’s throw away from Sobeys Stadium. Tennis Canada has always had a strong relationship with this extraordinary not-for-profit that provides a place for everyone to play our sport, including those in underserved communities.”
Michael Downey, President & Chief Executive Officer, Tennis Canada
MORE ON STRATFORD WINTER TENNIS CLUB
Municipality: Stratford, Ontario
Year-round courts created by project: 5
Canadians served by project: 34,500
Additional court hours per week created by project: 495
“Tennis Clubs of Canada is extremely excited to bring indoor tennis to the City of Stratford. Building on the spring and summer success of the Stratford Tennis Club, the community will now enjoy the physical, social and mental health benefits of tennis on a year-round basis. Through our commitment to affordable and accessible facilities, we are pleased to offer indoor tennis to the residents of Stratford throughout the cold winter months. We are also grateful to both Tennis Canada and Rogers for their continued support of providing access to year-round tennis across the country. We’re looking forward to a wonderful facility!”
Adam Seigel, CEO, Tennis Clubs of Canada
MORE ON SAVILLE TENNIS CENTRE, UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA
Municipality: Edmonton, Alberta
Year-round courts created by project: 6
Canadians served by project: 1.54 million
Additional court hours per week created by project: 595
“To be named one of the four Tennis Centres is a true testament to the partnership between the University of Alberta, Tennis Canada and Rogers – and to the excellence of the Saville Community Sport Centre and the university’s tennis program. This investment in these new courts is set to serve more than 1.5 million people in our community alone. This is a remarkable outcome from our mutual commitment to education, community enrichment and advancing excellence in sports.”
Andrew Sharman, Vice-President Facilities & Operations, University of Alberta
“I’m delighted to welcome Rogers and Tennis Canada’s support of the University of Alberta and the Saville Community Sports Centre. This new facility will be more than just a place to come and enjoy the sport of tennis. It highlights a partnership providing opportunities to grow the game by reaching new people and communities.”
Bruce Saville, Edmonton-based entrepreneur, philanthropist and sportsman
MORE ON THUNDER BAY COMMUNITY TENNIS CENTRE
Municipality: Thunder Bay, Ontario
Year-round courts created by project: 6
Canadians served by project: 112,500
Additional court hours per week created by project: 595
“This new indoor facility will have a significant positive impact on the quality of life for the Thunder Bay community. The six covered tennis courts will provide greater opportunities to keep youth and community members active and healthy throughout the year, playing the sport we all love. We are grateful for the invaluable support of Tennis Canada and Rogers to achieve our long-held dream to bring year-round tennis to Thunder Bay. The new facility will enable us to accommodate the tremendous growth of tennis locally and the expanding community demand for access to our programs and services.”
Jason Everett, President, Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre
