Community news

The 2026 Regional Tournament season is underway, creating more opportunities for players across Ontario to compete closer to home while building toward provincial and national competition.

The Eastern Regional Tournament has just concluded last month at Kingston Pickleball Club in Kingston, Ontario.

The last two Regional Tournaments are coming up, including the Western Regional from June 4 to 7 at Pickleplex Social Club in Cambridge, and the still open for registration Northern Regional from July 10 to 12 at North Bay Pickleball Club and Bourke Park.

All Regional Tournaments are Pickleball Canada-sanctioned and open to Ontario players with valid memberships.

These events are also part of the pathway to Team Ontario. Performance at Regionals and Provincials will help identify top players to represent Ontario at the 2026 Provincial Team Competition, held August 27 at Pickleplex Social Club as part of the National Championships.

Ontario earned Silver at last year’s inaugural Provincial Team Competition. This year, with the event taking place on home soil, Ontario will be looking to build on that strong result.

Players interested in competing are encouraged to review the tournament details and register before deadlines close.

Links:

Register for the Northern Regional

Learn more about Team Ontario

The following is a note from long time Pickleball Ontario supporter and official court supplier of Pickleball Ontario: TSS Pickleball.

If you’ve picked up a paddle at Grandview in Newmarket, Pickleball Nation, Pickle-X or Court-X in Oakville, Prime Time Pickleball in Windsor, Rally Pickleball in Mississauga, Altea in Ottawa, or Soo Pickleball in Sault Ste. Marie, you’ve already felt the difference a Total Sport Solutions (TSS Pickleball) court makes. Along with many others across the province, these facilities represent our commitment to giving players a surface they can trust.

TSS Pickleball isn’t just a contractor; we’re a team dedicated to building the spaces where our community connects. Whether it’s a local school, a busy community centre, or a backyard court for the family, we build with one goal in mind: creating a surface that players of all ages and abilities love coming back to.

A Shared Investment in Ontario Pickleball. As of this year, we’re proud to be the Official Court Supplier of Pickleball Ontario. For us, this partnership is about more than just a title; it’s a shared investment in the sport’s growth across the province.

The company started with a simple idea from our founder, Ian Lintott: sports surfaces should be built to last and designed specifically for the people who use them. Today, that idea has grown into a team that partners with clubs to handle every detail—from the first design to the final coat of paint.

More Than Just a Surface. What makes the TSS approach different is that we don’t just finish a job and disappear. We stay connected as long-term partners, ensuring every facility has the infrastructure it needs to foster connections and keep members active. Our courts are built for the Canadian climate, ensuring they stay durable and safe for years of play.

When you see the TSS Pickleball logo at a Pickleball Ontario event or on your local court signage, you can play with confidence knowing the surface was built to the standard the sport deserves.

We’re honored to be building the courts that prove Ontario pickleball is in great hands.

Planning a project for your club or community? You can find us at tsspickleball.ca to see how we can help your programs grow.

Pickleball Ontario has been approached by two graduate researchers seeking input from the pickleball community.

Derrik Motz, a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa, is conducting a study on athletic identity in adults aged 25 and older. The confidential online survey takes approximately 12 to 18 minutes to complete.

Mathew Szeremeta, a graduate student at the University of Waterloo, is conducting a study on the growth and governance of pickleball in Canada, including how organizations are managing rapid expansion and evolving expectations. Participation involves a voluntary and confidential 30- to 45-minute interview by phone or video call using Microsoft Teams or Zoom.

Members who are interested in participating are encouraged to review the study details and connect directly with the researchers.

Links:

Take the University of Ottawa Survey

Email Mathew Szeremeta @ mathew.szeremeta@uwaterloo.ca to participate in the University of Waterloo study.

Pickleball Ontario is pleased to introduce the 2026 Board of Directors, including five newly elected Directors joining returning members to help guide the organization through the year ahead.

The Board brings experience across governance, sport development, finance, communications, tournaments, officiating, sponsorship, and community building. Together, the Directors will focus on serving clubs and members while supporting the continued growth of pickleball across Ontario.

The 2026 Executive includes President Jonathon Moody, Vice-President Deanna Christie, Treasurer Tyler Goldsack, and Secretary Kelley Gray.

Directors serving on the Board are Nick Carter, Ken Haggart, Hao Hong, Sandra Keon, Christine Kelly, Peter Milanovic, Joyce Telmo-Kanti, and Frank Yee.

We also extend our sincere thanks to the departing Board of Directors for their service and leadership during a period of transition. Their work helped ensure continuity and provided a strong foundation for the year ahead.

The Board has also begun organizing committee work in key areas, including tournaments, policies and governance, marketing and communications, finance and risk management, club engagement, Pickleball Canada National System (PCNS) and affiliation, sponsorship, officiating, and long-term player development.

This committee structure will help Pickleball Ontario move work forward with clearer ownership and better support for clubs, members, officials, players, and partners across the province. We will share more in the coming weeks on specific initiatives to better serve you. Stay tuned!

We welcome your input. If you have questions, feedback, or ideas, please reach out to us at info@pickleballontario.org. We look forward to hearing from you.

Pickleball Ontario held its Annual General Meeting on April 7, marking an important step forward as the organization begins a new season of service to clubs and members across the province.

Members approved the 2025 financial statements, providing transparency and a sound financial foundation for the year ahead. The AGM also included the election of five new Board Directors, strengthening the leadership and governance capacity of Pickleball Ontario as the sport continues to grow.

These outcomes bring greater clarity, stability, and accountability for 2026. With a renewed Board in place and key financial matters approved, Pickleball Ontario is better positioned to support clubs, members, tournaments, officials, and development pathways across Ontario.

Thank you to all members who participated in the AGM and continue to support the growth of pickleball in our province.

April 2026 AGM Minutes

Spring is here, and with it comes a busy season for Pickleball Ontario. For those I haven’t had the chance to meet yet, my name is Jonathon Moody and I’m honoured to be serving as your President. In this update I want to touch on our clubs and tournament season, share a few notes from our recent AGM, and give you a peek at some of the bigger changes we’re watching and working on as a sport.

For clubs across Ontario, spring means courts filling up and members coming back for their busiest time of year. On the tournament side, it’s been a competitive year with more events on the calendar than ever. And for those following the performance side of the sport, Nationals are coming to Ontario this year.

The Eastern Regional wrapped up in Kingston in May. Still ahead: the Western Regional in Cambridge (June 4-7), the Northern Regional in North Bay (July 10-12), and the Provincial Championships at Downsview in Toronto (July 30-August 2). We’ve updated the Team Ontario selection process this season, lowering the event requirement to one PO tournament. Full details are available at selection.pickleballontario.org.

At our AGM, we made several changes to the board. I stepped into the role of President, with Deanna Christie moving to Vice President. We also welcome Tyler Goldsack as our new Treasurer. I want to thank the Directors who have moved on, welcome those joining the board, and thank everyone continuing to serve. It’s worth saying plainly: Pickleball Ontario has no paid staff. Everything you see and read comes from volunteers, mostly board members.

Pickleball is changing fast. The sport is getting younger, more competitive, and more commercial, with private facilities and clubs growing across Ontario. We’re working on how we approach sanctioning and support for private facilities and clubs, and that work is a key part of Pickleball Ontario’s strategic plan, which is now underway. Clubs and members will be hearing from us as it takes shape.

Thank you for being part of this.

Jonathon Moody

President, Pickleball Ontario

The Provincial Team Competition returns at the 2026 IG Wealth Management National Championships presented by HearingLife, scheduled for August 27 at Pickleplex Social Club in the Greater Toronto Area. Ontario finished Silver at the inaugural PTC in Winnipeg last year. This year the competition comes to us, and we want our strongest players on the team.

About the Competition

Teams of 16 players compete across two divisions: Open (all ages) and Masters (50+). There are five categories: Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Men’s Singles, and Women’s Singles. Competition runs round-robin to determine rankings, followed by playoffs. Results count toward each player’s DUPR ratings.

Eligibility

To be considered for Team Ontario, you must meet all of the following:

• Meet Pickleball Canada’s eligibility requirements to compete at Nationals
• Be a member in good standing of Pickleball Ontario
• Permanently reside in Ontario (if you do not permanently reside in Canada, you must hold an Ontario birth certificate)
• Hold a minimum DUPR of 4.0
• Have participated in at least two of Pickleball Ontario’s five qualifying events: the Western, Eastern, Central, or Northern Regionals, or the Pickleball Ontario Provincials

Notes:

• Players who were on the 2025 Team Ontario need only one qualifying event.
• Players whose primary income comes from professional play (MLP, PPA) may apply for an exemption to the event participation requirement.

To apply: selection.pickleballontario.org