2026 Pickleball Alberta Club Symposium

September 19th, 2026606 - 18 Avenue , Nisku (Leduc Business Centre), Alberta

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Prices & Deadlines

Regular deadline:

September 8th, 2026 11:59pm (Mountain Time)Registration Opened

Registration Fees

Price

$75.00 per registrant

All prices in CAD $
Tax 0.05%
Refund Policy: All fees are NON-REFUNDABLE.

Payment Methods

Online

* Small processing fee applies

Itinerary

Location: Leduc County Business & Entrepreneur Centre: 606 18 ave, Nisku, Alberta

Leadership, Membership & Volunteer Sustainability

8:00 – 8:30 AM | Registration & Networking

Continental Breakfast provided

8:30 – 9:00 AM | Welcome & Symposium Overview

9:00 – 10:15 AM | Keynote – Ian Hill

From Burnout to Breakthrough: Building Thriving Clubs

Explore how clubs can move beyond burnout and build a strong foundation for long-term success. This keynote will examine the root causes of volunteer burnout, strategies to prevent it, and practical approaches to fostering a positive, resilient club culture. Attendees will also gain leadership insights to support sustainability, strengthen engagement, and help their organizations thrive.

10:15 – 10:30 AM | Break

10:30 AM – 11:30 PM | Interactive Workshop – Ian Hill

Membership Growth & Retention

This interactive workshop will explore practical strategies to attract new members and keep them engaged over the long term. Participants will examine what drives member value, identify common retention challenges, and share ideas to strengthen the overall member experience. Through discussion and applied exercises, clubs will leave with actionable approaches to support sustainable membership growth and build stronger, more connected communities.

11:30 – 12:15 PM | Lunch & Networking

12:15 – 1:30 PM | - Presentation

The Future of Pickleball in Alberta & Canada

Facilitators: Barry Petrachenko, CEO Pickleball Canada & Lisa Hardy, ED of Pickleball Alberta

A forward-looking conversation on the growth and direction of pickleball across Alberta and Canada. This session will provide an overview of the roles, services, and support offered by Pickleball Alberta and Pickleball Canada, and how alignment between the provincial and national organizations strengthens the sport as a whole. Participants will gain a clearer understanding of the pickleball ecosystem—where clubs, members, and organizations fit—and what the future holds for the sport. The session is designed to build confidence, reinforce credibility, and highlight the value of working together to support sustainable growth and shared success. Q&A available at the end of the session.

1:45 - 3:00 PM | Tournament Survey Discussion

Panel: Ken Dentzien, Barry Petrachenko, Charity Christianson, Lisa Hardy

Creating Consistency Across Alberta

With nearly 600 survey responses, the discussion will examine why participation in club-hosted tournaments appears to be declining and identify the barriers that may be preventing players from registering as they have in the past. The goal of this session is to better understand club and player perspectives, identify key concerns and gaps, and explore practical solutions that could support both recreational and competitive play across Alberta. The discussion will also consider what changes, resources, or adaptations may be needed to improve tournament participation and determine whether a province-wide rating system could effectively meet the needs of Alberta’s pickleball community.

3:15 - 4:45 PM | Table Discussions

These interactive table discussions provide an opportunity for delegates to connect, share experiences, and explore practical solutions to common club challenges. Each table is facilitated by a subject matter lead and focused on a key topic, allowing for open dialogue, peer learning, and the exchange of ideas that clubs can take back and apply in their own communities.

Table Topics:

1. Sponsorship Basics

2. Finding the balance between recreational & competitive play & youth programming

3. Governance Best Practices

4:45 - 5:00 PM: Closing Remarks: Charity Christianson

5:30-8:00 PM | Dinner & Social

Venue

Leduc County Business & Entrepreneur Centre

606-18 avenue

Nisku

T9E 2X3

business.yourchamber.ca/list/Details/leduc-county-business-entrepreneur-centre-2563759

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Contact Us

Della Curry

della.curry@pickleballalberta.org

780-241-0640

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Ian Hill - Keynote Speaker

Ian Hill | Humanitarian, Community Builder, Award-Winning Innovator Across Canada

Ian Hill is known as a builder of people and communities. For decades, Ian has worked in more than 700 Canadian communities—urban and rural, northern and prairie—supporting entrepreneurs, strengthening local leadership, and rallying volunteers to make lasting change.

As the founder and volunteer CEO of Let Them Be Kids, he launched a grassroots movement that empowered over 200 towns to build playgrounds, skate parks, and gathering spaces. The program was recognized by the World Leisure Congress as one of the most innovative social initiatives in the world.

A Guinness World Record breaker for the longest public speech, Ian spoke for 51 hours straight to raise money for youth in crisis. At 57, he attempted to become the oldest man to play college football—an effort designed to spotlight the alarming suicide rate among middle-aged men in rural farming communities.

His contributions have been recognized nationally and internationally: Humanitarian of the Year by the Martin Luther King Jr. Commission, NAACP Youth Advocate of the Year, Alder Business Leader of the Year, and a nomination by the Prime Minister of Canada for Social Innovator of the Year.
Lisa Hardy - Executive Director Pickleball Alberta

Lisa Hardy is a highly regarded leader in Alberta’s non-profit and sport landscape, bringing over two decades of experience in organizational leadership, governance, and community development. She currently serves as Executive Director of Pickleball Alberta, where she is driving strategic growth, strengthening provincial alignment, and advancing initiatives that support participation, infrastructure, and long-term sustainability of the sport.

Prior to her current role, Lisa served as Executive Director of Skate Canada: Alberta–NWT–Nunavut and as Chief Administrative Officer of the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies. Her work has included leading organizations through significant transformation, including governance restructuring, rebranding, and pandemic recovery, as well as contributing to provincial policy and legislative development.

Lisa has held a ministerial appointment with the Alberta Non-Profit Voluntary Sector Initiative and recently served on the Board of the Alberta Sport Leadership Association. She is widely recognized as a knowledge broker and community connector, with deep expertise in governance, strategic planning, stakeholder relations, and funding development.

She is passionate about building strong, sustainable organizations and creating inclusive, accessible opportunities that strengthen communities through sport and recreation.
Barry Petrachenko - Executive Director of Pickleball Canada

Barry Petrachenko Executive Director of Pickleball Canada has a considerable background in local, provincial and national sport sector administration management. Before joining Pickleball Canada, Barry was the Chief Executive Officer for BC Hockey where he oversaw the implementation of multiple programs and the hosting of several world championship events, and prior to that supported the creation of Alliance Hockey (Ontario) as their first Executive Director. Prior to Pickleball Canada Barry served as the Executive Director of Softball BC, and has held positions on the Board of Directors of British Columbia Golf and the BC Hockey Hall of Fame.

After earning a baseball scholarship to LaSalle University in Philadelphia, PA where he completed a degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting, Barry played for Baseball Canada’s Senior National team for three years. Barry was also a member of the 1991 Canadian baseball team at the Pan Am Games in Cuba. During this time, he was working as an assistant coach with the Academy of Baseball Canada in Montreal.

An avid mountain biker and recreational hockey and pickleball player, Barry looks forward to working toward the bright future of pickleball in Canada. Barry resides in Victoria BC with his wife Lisa and their son Garrett.