A 68-year-old Fort Langley man says pickleball has changed his life. Despite past injuries and surgeries, Matthew Annan plays every day at the Douglas Park courts in Langley City. He also coaches new players and helps grow one of Canada’s fastest-rising sports.
Pickleball helps players stay active
Matthew Annan has spent much of his life playing sports like basketball, tennis, and golf. But as he got older, the physical impact took its toll. He’s had two hip surgeries and a serious shoulder injury. Still, he found one sport that keeps him moving.
“So I’m hurting,” Annan said.
But pickleball, I can still play. I can play it every day, and I do.”
Now a top-ranked player and coach, Annan spends most mornings at the Douglas Park pickleball courts. He says the game is so fun and easy to access that it’s become a daily habit for him.
“Even when it’s wet, people play, they just don’t move very quick,” Annan said.
“As long as it’s not below zero, you can play in any kind of weather possible.”
From player to coach, helping others learn
Annan holds a 4.79 rating—just under the top 5.0 ranking—and has been coaching since 2023. He teaches Learn to Play Pickleball classes at the Walnut Grove Community Centre and says it’s easy to get hooked.
“We’re pickleball addicts,” he laughed.
“This is our drug of choice. We’re hooked.”
He adds that the sport is cheap, welcoming, and fun for people of all ages, especially seniors.
“It checks all the boxes,” Annan said.
“It’s so damn fun. It’s really the funnest thing I’ve ever played and I’ve played a lot of sports. As you get older, you’ve got to find something [to stay active]. A paddle’s 50 to 100 bucks. A good pair of tennis shoes is $50. That’s it. The courts [in Langley City] are free. So, seniors love it because a lot of us are frugal.”
Pickleball’s growth in Langley and Canada
Pickleball is booming across the country. As of January 2025, about 1.54 million Canadians play the sport. Langley is no exception. Kristina Crosgrey, a member of the Douglas Park Pickleball Club, said interest keeps growing.
“We’re consistently seeing new fresh faces here,” Crosgrey observed.
“It’s just a booming sport because it’s so addictive and enjoyable. It’s something that people, when once they play, they stick with it.”
The Douglas Park Pickleball Club will hold its fifth annual charity tournament from July 3 to 6, 2025. It raises funds for Douglas Park Community School.
Last year, the event brought in more than $25,000—a new record.
“We’re gearing up, looking for sponsors,” said Crosgrey. Anyone interested can reach the club through the Douglas Park Pickleball page at the Pickleball Canada website.
The tournament is one of the largest of its kind in the Lower Mainland, attracting hundreds of players, families, and spectators.
Pickleball’s unusual beginnings
Pickleball was invented in 1965 by three friends on Bainbridge Island, Washington. They didn’t have a shuttlecock for badminton, so they made up a new game using table tennis paddles and a ball, lowering the net to play.
The origin of the name is still debated. One theory is that it came from a player who liked putting his opponents “in a pickle.”
What it means for the community
Pickleball continues to offer a safe and social outlet for seniors like Annan, even after injuries. It’s affordable and brings people together. With more Canadians joining in, clubs like the one in Langley are helping shape the future of the sport.
News in Brief: How Pickleball Transformed a Senior’s Life
Matthew Annan, 68, from Fort Langley, plays and coaches pickleball daily despite past injuries. The sport’s low cost and social nature attract many seniors. With 1.54 million Canadian pickleball players and a major July tournament in Langley, pickleball is one of the country’s fastest-growing sports.
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