Submitted by Bret Shepley
Pickleball was introduced into the community of Tobermory in the fall of 2019 by Rob Davis. Over the next 6 months Larry Stevens would organize Pickleball night at St. Edmunds Public School where he would get between 8 – 10 participants each week.
In the spring of 2020 they moved to the tennis courts where they started with a half dozen people and continued to grow to just under 20 people as they started the 2021 season.
During the 2021 season a group of the Pickleball enthusiasts held discussions to grow the game in the community. They agreed on a 3 phase plan that would offer something to everybody in the community.
• Phase 1 (Summer of 2021) – increase the skill level of the existing players. In August of 2021 they invited Cameron Taylor (Provincial Champion, National Champion and Level 2 Certified Teaching Professional) for a 2 day skills development clinic. The clinic sold out in less than a week and the participants were so impressed they invited Cam back in September of 2021. During the August session Cam held an introduction to Pickleball for youth that attracted 6 youth from the Northern Bruce Peninsula.
• Phase 2 (Winter of 2022) – introduce a Northern Bruce Peninsula Youth Pickleball Development Program. In February of 2022, as Covid restrictions allowed, the program was launched to an overwhelming demand. 23 youth have participated in the program. The program is hosted by 6 volunteers from the Tobermory Pickleball Group and run every Monday & Wednesday from 6:00pm – 7:30pm. All equipment (nets, paddles & balls) have been provided from sponsorship by RBC and Friends of the Bruce District Parks Association.
If you’re interested in registering a youth for the program please email bret.shepley@gmail.com.
• Phase 3 (Spring of 2022) – reach out to the working adults in the Northern Bruce Peninsula and provide the same opportunities for them. The Tobermory Pickleball Group will be hosting open sessions in April to let interested people come out and try their hand at the fastest growing sport in North America.
The group has also secured Cameron Taylor to return to Tobermory on the weekend of May 28 & 29 with the focus on offering both learn to play sessions for people new to Pickleball and skill development for existing players. You can register for a clinic by logging into www.tayloredpickleball.com
A youth clinic has also been secured for that weekend.
Facilitating Growth in Pickleball
Currently, between the winter and summer sessions, the Tobermory Pickleball Group has over 70 seniors involved. With the 25 youth presently taking lessons, and adding 50 working adults to the sport, the group in anticipating close to 150 people enjoying the sport locally.
To facilitate the growth in Pickleball, the Municipality has approved 2 very important requests.
1) the present facility will be expanded from 2 to 4 courts,
2) the pickleball group will be expanding from 3 mornings that included 6 hours of court time a week to 5 days a week that will consist of over 20 hours per week and include expanded weekend play as well as evening play.
