Winkler Pickleball Association Seeks Matching Funds: In recent years, pickleball has emerged as a surprisingly popular sport in the Pembina Valley, capturing the enthusiasm of a diverse range of players. Despite its relatively young age, the sport’s universal appeal across age groups has fostered significant growth. “It’s growing. I think it’s here to stay,” remarks Vern Reimer of the Winkler Pickleball Association. “Currently we’ve got about 250 [members], maybe approaching more like 300 come this winter season.” Reimer, who joined the pickleball movement about four years ago, observes an increasing interest among younger players as well. “I think it’s starting to grow in schools now, so even younger folks are participating,” he notes.
For those unfamiliar with pickleball, imagine a scaled-down version of tennis. “You can play four pickleball games on one tennis court, so that gives you an idea of the size reduction,” Reimer explains. “[There’s] less running, lots of action, and [it’s] great for all ages.”
Addressing the Winter Challenge
While the community enjoys access to high-quality outdoor courts, such as those recently resurfaced at Lions Park in Winkler, there is a notable absence of winter facilities. This gap has spurred a collaboration between the Winkler Pickleball Association and the City of Winkler. “We’re currently … working with the city on building a facility. We’ve been using the Royal Hall, which as everybody knows is now under renovation for the new Centennial Arena project, so that means that we don’t have a space for the winter,” Reimer explains. “We’re looking at an indoor facility. The city was gracious. Council announced several months ago that they would be putting in 1.5 million for pickleball and basketball conditional upon two basketball courts [and] eight pickleball courts.”
The local pickleball community is thrilled about this partnership. Nonetheless, Reimer acknowledges that the association has more work ahead. “We’ve got several possibilities for where the building can be located, so we’re looking into that right now,” he says. “We’ve got a building committee, which I’m on, and … the idea is to … match the 1.5 million. We’re going to be looking at probably at least 3 million dollars, probably [more], but right now we’re in cost feasibility and looking at where to locate that building. To house two basketball courts and eight pickleball courts, it looks like we’re going to need at least 20,000 square feet.”
Community Efforts and Fundraising
To achieve this ambitious goal, the Winkler Pickleball Association and the local minor basketball league are joining forces to secure additional funding. This weekend, they will host a fundraising event aimed at advancing their cause. “We’ve got Walter Giesbrecht, who’s been heading up minor basketball and so on, excited about this possibility [of a new facility] as well,” Reimer reveals. “This weekend, we’re going to be looking at a fundraising tournament, sort of an end of summer tournament, so we’re excited. We’ve got lots of outside community people attending, so it looks like it’s going to be a great weekend.”
Event details
The tournament, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday (August 24th and 25th) at Lions Park in Winkler, will feature a variety of events. Saturday’s matches will include women’s and men’s doubles, while Sunday will focus on mixed doubles and top-level 4.0 players. The action will take place from 9 a.m. to about 3:30 p.m. each day, with categories based on skill level. “We’ve got many people coming from out of town,” Reimer adds. “[There will be] about 40 locals and maybe up to about 80 people from outside the community, including from Northern Ontario, so [we’re] excited about that.”
Invitation to the Community
Reimer extends an open invitation to the community, encouraging those interested in pickleball to attend the event. “Anyone who is interested in pickleball and would like to learn more is warmly welcomed to the event this weekend,” he says. For updates on the association’s fundraising efforts, follow their Facebook page (Winkler Pickleball Association).
News in Brief: Winkler Pickleball Association Seeks Matching Funds
The Winkler Pickleball Association is gearing up to secure matching funds for a new indoor facility, following a $1.5 million commitment from the City of Winkler. The proposed facility will feature two basketball courts and eight pickleball courts. Currently, the association is seeking additional funds, aiming to raise around $3 million in total. This weekend, they will host a fundraising tournament at Lions Park, with events on August 24th and 25th. The tournament will include doubles matches and cater to various skill levels, attracting participants from near and far.
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