Canada’s Largest Indoor Pickleball Facility: Blue Zone Courts, Canada’s largest indoor pickleball and padel facility, officially opened its doors to the public on Nov. 6, marking a significant milestone for racquet sports players in Burlington. The new facility, designed to meet the growing demand for pickleball and padel courts, welcomed players eager to take full advantage of the modern spaces.
A Celebration of Community
Joyce Telmo-Kanti, co-founder of Blue Zone Courts, emphasized the deeper meaning of the grand opening.
“Today is not just a celebration of opening a facility. Today is the gathering of a community that shares a love for pickleball and padel, and we would like to extend our heartfelt thank yous to all of you for being here and sharing this moment with us.” – (Joyce Telmo-Kanti)
The facility features 10 state-of-the-art courts dedicated to pickleball and padel. To ensure accessibility, Blue Zone Courts offers flexible options, including walk-in bookings and memberships, accommodating players of all experience levels and schedules.
Burlington’s Growing Sports Hub
As the popularity of pickleball and padel continues to surge worldwide, Burlington residents had long expressed a need for more places to play. Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Ward 5 councillor Paul Sharman passionate about racquet sports, spoke at the opening ceremony.
“Paul and I hear a lot of feedback from residents. The top three things we hear about are development, traffic and pickleball. People are constantly asking us when we could give them more pickleball courts, some folks would turn empty parking lots into pickleball courts or see an unused tennis court and turn it into pickleball and using every minute of time.” – (Marianne Meed Ward)
Local Leaders Take to the Courts
Paul Sharman, who played squash for 30 years, couldn’t resist the opportunity to try padel for the first time.
“To be able to hold a racquet again is fabulous. I’m delighted to be here. It’s an amazingly converted, wonderful facility, and I think about this as being an opportunity for a contribution to Ward 5 as well as to the city.” – (Paul Sharman)
A Focus on Health and Wellbeing
The name “Blue Zone Courts” pays homage to the blue zone phenomenon, a term used to describe regions where people tend to live longer and healthier lives.
Pickleball, in particular, is known for its many health benefits, from weight loss and balance improvement to enhanced cardiovascular health. Mayor Meed Ward, fresh off a trip to Burlington’s sister city, Itabashi, Japan, spoke about the city’s focus on health.
“They’re one of those blue cities. They’re physically active, they have sports and outdoor community centres. When I think about what our quality of life here in Burlington needs to be, we have to focus on more than just potholes and garbage pickups. It’s also about community health and wellbeing.” – (Marianne Meed Ward)
A Night to Remember
The celebrations will continue into the evening with a special visit from Gianni Luminati, the lead singer of Burlington-based band Walk Off The Earth. Luminati is set to face off in a friendly pickleball match against some of Canada’s top professional players, adding an exciting twist to the festivities.
News in Brief: Canada’s Largest Indoor Pickleball Facility
Blue Zone Courts, Canada’s largest indoor pickleball and padel facility, celebrated its grand opening in Burlington on November 6. With 10 modern courts and a focus on accessibility, the facility caters to players of all levels.
Local leaders, including Mayor Marianne Meed Ward and Councillor Paul Sharman, joined the celebration, emphasizing the community’s growing demand for pickleball courts. The facility’s name is inspired by the “blue zone” phenomenon, which highlights areas known for their residents’ longevity and health.
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