Submitted

The “LOVE” for tennis is growing in the Columbia Valley. In fact, a new club is in the works.

Tennis enthusiast Bill Adair and his sporting colleagues are in the process of establishing the Columbia Valley Tennis Club

“There already exists an active group of mostly retired people that play three times a week in the mornings. We hope to provide a wider range of tennis opportunities, particularly to children and young working adults and families,” Adair told the Pioneer.

He noted that Tennis Canada and Tennis BC have been helpful in providing resources to get their club going.

June is (the first ever) Tennis Month in Canada, and to celebrate that the new club is offering a ‘Try Tennis’ event in Invermere. It will be held at the Mount Nelson tennis court on June 22  from 1 to 3 p.m. Rackets and balls will be provided. Adair added there will also be small prizes for participants. 

 According to the results of a YouGov Canada study commissioned by Tennis Canada, the sport of tennis in Canada is set to soar after experiencing a spike in interest and participation in 2023. 

Nearly five million Canadians picked up a racquet in the past year, and youth participation (ages 6-17) has grow significantly (plus 11 per cent over 2022).