About West Nipissing Ouest Pickleball Club

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 Who Are You

I lived and worked in Toronto for 40 years. I started as a programmer and moved up to Director of IT until I decided to start my own company as I.T. Project consultant. 

I moved to Sturgeon Falls after I retired.

Your Connection to Pickleball

I moved to Sturgeon Falls in 2019 joined the West Nipissing Ouest Pickleball Club. This was the perfect way to meet new friends while having fun and stay physically active.

What Motivates you to Be involved

As the Pickleball club continued to grow, it became clear that more venues were required. I wanted to promote the sport and work toward acquiring additional playing facilities so our growing membership could continue to enjoy a healthy and active lifestyles

Who Are You

I am gratefully retrired after spending a career in social work of which the last 15 years were spent in community health promotion and community development. I now volunteer in positive care as well on several boards and committees.

Your Connection to Pickleball

Before retirement, I had coordinated the use of the WNCHC gym for those who were looking for a venue to play and was intrigued by this sport that attracted so many people.

Friends encouraged me to try it. I thoroughly enjoyed it and have been playing ever since, I have made new friends, have renewed acquaintances and always laugh and have fun when playing Pickleball. I love that I can play with my spouse who is my best PB partner.

What This Sport Means to you

I am not a natural athlete but I like to be active. Once you have the basics of the game you can always learn new tips and tricks to enhance your game. I love doing drills, developing new skills and learning from our local expert players. I feel I am in competition with myself and I enjoy challenging myself to get better.

What Motivates you to Be involved

I have always been involved 100% in everything I undertake so it was a natural progression for me to join the executive to help with our local club. I truly believe in being inclusive and so my hope is that there will be a place for everyone who wants to play pickleball in West Nipissing. 

Qui vous êtes

J’ai pris ma retraite en 2018 de Statistique Canada après 30 ans de service. Mes passe-temps sont les suivants; le tai-chi, la lecture et évidement, le Pickleball.

Votre lien avec le pickleball

J’ai découvert le pickleball en 2019 au Centre de Santé communautaire du Nipissing-Ouest. Ancien joueur de tennis dans ma jeunesse, j’ai tout de suite eu un vrai coup de cœur pour ce sport.

Ce que ce sport vous apporte

Être actif physiquement est très important pour moi, et le pickleball est le sport idéal pour ça, ce que j’aime particulièrement, c’est son côté social : on s’amuse, on rit beaucoup et j’ai eu la chance de rencontrer des personnes formidables grâce à ce jeu.

Ce qui vous motive à vous impliquer au sein du club.

J’ai choisi de m’impliquer davantage en devenant membre de l’exécutif du WNOPCLUB afin de contribuer à la promotion de pickleball dans notre communauté. Mon souhait est qu’â long terme, nous puissions disposer d’un local permanent pour pratiquer ce sport dans les meilleures conditions.

Who Are You

After 35 year career in nursing, I enjoy spending time playing (pickleball, golf, bocce, card games) as well as lending a helping hand to family, friends and neighbours as needed, I love visits with the grandkids, gardening and cooking.

Your Connection to Pickleball

I was initiated to pickleball around the 2018-19 time frame, my husband and I took a few clinics and just like fishing I was hooked.

What This Sport Means to you

Pickleball provides a good workout having to commit to many hours you can play for as long as this time you have.

I love the camaraderie and the competitive nature of the sport, along with the laughs and giggles it has almost become an extended family.

What Motivates you to Be involved

Pickleball has provided an outlet to stay physically active while growing old. I want all residents of West Nipissing young and old to have the option of participating in this crazy sport.

The hope is to have a facility that provides access all year round.

Who Are You

I retired 7 years ago after working at the Public Library in Sturgeon Falls. I had a home business for 8 years selling my handmade clothes for women at local markets.

I love reading, cooking, sewing and hanging with friends’

Your Connection to Pickleball

I stated playing Pickleball at the end of 2018 after talking to club members. I decided to try it and got hooked right away.

What This Sport Means to you

I love the game not only for the fitness part of it but also the social aspect. I never thought that at this stage of my life I would be having so much fun. There is something incredibly refreshing about finding a community where the goal is not just to play the game but to share a laugh, talk about our hobbies and grandchildren or grab a coffee or drink after a match. I fell as if I found a second family.

What Motivates you to Be involved

I wanted to get involved to help promote the sport that I love. We all want our club to grow and as it does, we need people to manage it. I thought that I could help with that.

Who Are You

Hi I’m a farmgirl born and raised in Sturgeon Falls who left to pursue a career in Law Enforcement. After 30 yrs of service with the Ontario Provincial Police, it was time to return to my roots and spend time with my family. I enjoy the outdoors, snowmobiling, ice fishing, motorcycling and socializing with friends and family

Your Connection to Pickleball

A few years ago, the West Nipissing Ouest Pickleball Club was offering lessons for members al all ages to learn more about the club and the sport. The instructors were knowledgeable, encouraging and friendly. They provided me with the necessary tools I needed to realize this was the sport I wanted to pursue and thoroughly enjoy.

What This Sport Means to you

Pickleball helps to manage stress while staying active and having fun. The difference levels of play make it accessible to all ages, and since playing my mood, health, and overall well-being have improved.

What Motivates you to Be involved 

What motivates me most is the strong sense of community the game creates. I’ve met wonderful people and built meaningful connections on and off the courts.

Serving on the Executive Committee allows me to help promote the sport and improves the experience for all members.  

Who Are You

Helo, I’m Bob Landry. My wife and I retired in this area from Timmins Ontario in 2018 to spend time with our grandchildren.

I have worked in the food and beverage industry for over 50 years. Nicole has been in the healthcare and clerical field for over thirty years in Timmins and North Bay. We have 3 daughters all living in the area and 4 grandchildren.

Your Connection to Pickleball

When moving to the Sturgeon area in 2021 we were looking to familiarize ourselves with the area and people so one of the things we found was Pickleball and decided to give it a try.

What This Sport Means to you

The sport is a great game to help integrate with other people in your area while developing certain skills and knowledge. It can also be a great social experience as you make acquaintances with all walks of life.

What Motivates you to Be involved

I always like to push myself to obtain knowledge about things that I don’t know much about and this was no exception so I saw this as an opportunity to learn and help and took it.