How we got started

from the Handbook foreword by Anne Sifton

The inception of our club traces back to the vision of one remarkable individual — Case Bassie. In April 2016, an advertisement on the billboard at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Community Centre invited locals to try this intriguing new sport called “pickleball”. From that simple beginning, four individuals, including Case, gathered to play, planting the seeds for what would become our vibrant community.

Word of mouth played a crucial role in spreading the love for pickleball. The call to "come out and try this great game” resonated with many, drawn by both curiosity and enthusiasm.

Case envisioned transforming our club into an incorporated entity to access government funding and ensure its sustainability. In 2017, a dedicated steering committee of 16 people was formed with the mission of creating a friendly and inclusive club. Through their relentless efforts, we achieved incorporation, held our first AGM, and officially became Niagara-on-the-Lake Pickleball Club Inc.

In response to ever-increasing demand for play, Case was also instrumental in moving the Town to convert the former tennis courts at Virgil Centennial Sports Park into six dedicated pickleball courts. Read about the 2019 grand opening.

Today, our club stands as a testament to the vision and hard work of the original steering committee. It has evolved into a well-established, thriving, and welcoming community that continues to embody the spirit of inclusiveness and friendship that pickleball is known for.