Beginning of Pickleball on PEI
Early History of Pickleball on P.E.I.
Garth and I (Rosemary Matthews) learned to play pickleball in Florida. We were
snowbirds and we loved the game of pickleball. We would play it all winter and
wanted to play it in the summer also.
In the summer of 2011, we made a homemade net with netting from a
fisherman, secured by Ann MacDonald. In the barn of Kenny Peters in Souris West,
the net came together. At that time, we lived next door to the Fortune Community
Center. We called them and asked if we could use their outdoor ice rink to introduce a
new sport to the community. They were very supportive and happy to see us do this.
We taped the lines that summer and taught some people to play. The next year we
continued to play and teach more people.
In 2013 we met Carl Hansen and Pat Bear. They were summer residents in
Eastern Kings and avid pickleball players. They were very excited to hear we were
playing and wanted to help us grow the sport. The Eastern Kings Community Center
on Munn’s Road was having a day to showcase all that the eastern end of P.E.I. had to
offer. They put pickleball in the program and invited recreational directors from other
areas to come see the sport. A bunch of us gave a clinic on pickleball. Pat and Carl
were a big part of that clinic.
We applied for money from the Eastern Kings Sports Council and the Town of
Souris for money for proper nets, balls, and other equipment. We received some
money and bought some nets, paint, balls, etc. We moved to the Souris tennis courts.
With Carl and Pat’s help, we painted the lines on the courts and started offering
lessons there. The game was growing and we thought we should have Compass
come out and introduce the sport to the rest of P.E.I. We also had the Eastern Graphic
come out to do a story.
Josh Corkum, the recreational director from Cornwall, had come to the Eastern
Kings clinic and had expressed an interest in starting pickleball in Cornwall. He came
out for the interview with Compass and he offered a “Learn to Play Pickleball” clinic in
Cornwall. Josh set up the clinic for November, 2013, at the Eliot River School. Pat,
Carl, Garth, and I went to introduce the game. About 11 people who saw the game on
Compass showed up. In January, 2014, regular pickleball began at the APM Center in
Cornwall. In the spring, they set up a couple of outdoor courts on the old tennis courts
at Westwood School for the summer. That fall they played at the Eliot River School
under the auspices of the Town of Cornwall.
Early in 2015 the Cornwall club started operating under its own management
with Tom and Bonnie Stewart at the helm. They offered “Learn to Play” programs
open to the general public. They have delivered many of these programs since then.
Tom and Bonnie still run the program today. (2023)
In the fall of 2013, pickleball moved into the Eastern Kings Sportsplex in Souris
for a short time. From there, it went to Souris Consolidated School and then Fortune
Consolidated School. In 2015, it moved to Souris Regional School, where it continues
to be played today.
Since 2013, Garth and I no longer went south due to health issues. We also
had to move out of our home, so we decided to move to Stratford to be closer to
hospitals. At this time, Kenny Peters (Souris West) took on the leadership roll for
pickleball in Souris and continues to run the program there today. (2023)
After moving to Stratford in the fall of 2013, we approached the Stratford Town
Hall to introduce the program there. They were very supportive and excited to offer
the program there. The program grew very quickly in Stratford. People were coming
and bringing their friends. Everyone loved it. Cornwall was also growing quickly.
Soon people were wanting to take it to their community and start a program there.
Ann Richard loved the game and started it in Summerside.
In January, 2014, pickleball was added to the Eastern Kings 55+ Games and a
tournament was hosted in Souris. In March, 2014, it was added to the P.E.I. 55+
Games which were hosted in Stratford. In the summer of 2014, pickleball was being
played at the Souris tennis courts, the Bunbury outdoor rink, and the outdoor tennis
courts at Westwood School in Cornwall.
That is basically how pickleball grew on P.E.I. It has become a very popular
sport and most players are members of Pickleball Canada. We now have a P.E.I.
Pickleball I.P.E. organization and most players are part of that group also. The first
Annual General Meeting for P.E.I. Pickleball I.P.E was held on May 28, 2023, where a
board of directors was chosen. We will see lots of new things happening on P.E.I. in
the near future. I am sure we are going to see many groups that play pickleball form
their own clubs and we will have a bigger voice for negotiations. Pickleball is
becoming a very organized sport and can be very competitive. Many changes have
taken place over the years and I am sure that will continue.
For me, pickleball is great exercise and a great way to meet new people. Keep
it affordable for all and remember to keep the fun in it for those who are just looking to
do something in their retirement years.
Rosemary Matthews (December, 2023)
Rosemary and friends have since written a song about Pickleball.