Pickleball’s rapid rise in Canada is mirrored in Langford, where the Victoria Pickleball Centre has quickly grown into one of the busiest hubs for the sport since opening in April 2024.
The six-court facility now counts more than 1,700 active members and is running packed leagues, drop-in sessions, lessons, and tournaments nearly every day.
According to a January 2025 survey by Pickleball Canada, the sport has reached 1.54 million players nationwide, a 57 per cent increase since 2022. That growth is reflected locally, with the Langford centre attracting newcomers and experienced athletes alike.
Brenda Dean, the centre’s director of pickleball, said the aim is not only to provide playing opportunities for all levels but to lay a foundation for the next generation of athletes.
After decades in tennis, Dean shifted to pickleball this summer and has been developing school partnerships alongside a new youth initiative called Pickle Pals.
“My biggest goal here is to help bring growth to the sport of pickleball and help the younger generations find focus and connection with physical literacy,” Dean said. “It starts from the fundamentals of movement, to finding confidence in getting the ball into gameplay.”
Pickle Pals is split into “Try It” and “Play It” streams.
Younger players can learn agility, balance, coordination, and speed while getting a taste of serving, rallying, and scoring, while those with experience move into structured practices and game days.
The program is designed to mirror other youth sports, with age-specific instruction and a focus on both skill and sportsmanship.
“We want our centre to be a place that everyone in the area can associate our sport with,” Dean said. “I think it’s very important to introduce a variety of physical movements at a young age to ensure that kids are getting chances to try everything and anything.”
While youth programs are taking off, the centre has also produced a professional player.
Isabelle Tang, 31, trains and competes out of Langford and is now part of the Canadian National Pickleball League with the Northern Lights Ontario.
Over the past two-and-a-half years, she has collected 23 medals, including multiple podium finishes at the 2025 B.C. Provincial Championships.
“A big part of my development and success has come from training and competing at the Victoria Pickleball Centre,” Tang said. “The community at VPC is truly one of a kind, and I am deeply grateful for their ongoing support in my journey as an athlete. Their belief in me has been instrumental in helping me reach new levels in the sport.”
