The Niagara Indoor Pickleball Association (NIPA) marked National Pickleball Day on Saturday, August 9, with a free BBQ and all-day pickleball at its Concordia Academy location in Fenwick. The event invited members and guests to play and socialize while promoting the sport locally.
Community Celebration and Free Play
National Pickleball Day, held every second Saturday in August, encourages clubs across Canada to celebrate the sport and engage their communities. James Fraser, NIPA president and founder, nicknamed the Godfather, said, “NIPA is a pickleball and social club, so we take every opportunity to bring our members together to mingle and meet other members. National Pickleball Day provided another reason for our members to come together and introduce family and friends to this great sport. It was our privilege to offer free court time and a parking lot BBQ to our members and their guests.”
Beginner Clinics to Grow Local Participation
To further promote pickleball, NIPA will host beginner clinics in the fall starting in September. Each clinic consists of two, two-hour sessions on Monday evenings from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The fee is refunded against the NIPA membership if participants join the club.
NIPA’s Role in the Community
NIPA is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers and is an official affiliate of Pickleball Ontario. Its first branch, opened in October 2024 at 1165 Centre Street, Fenwick, now has 189 members. Events like National Pickleball Day strengthen the club’s community role while introducing new players to the sport in a fun and inclusive setting.
News in Brief: Niagara Indoor Pickleball Association
The Niagara Indoor Pickleball Association celebrated National Pickleball Day on August 9 with a free BBQ and all-day pickleball for members and guests. NIPA also runs beginner clinics in the fall, helping grow local participation and strengthen community connections around the sport.
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