A petition to review the closure of Wain Park pickleball courts in North Saanich has been withdrawn.
The ad hoc group of pickleball players who filed for the judicial review in the B.C. Supreme Court dropped the case ahead of the Feb. 10 hearing schedule.
On the recommendation of their legal team, the ad hoc committee decided it was prudent to withdraw the request for judicial review at this time, according to Frank Gee.
On Jan. 13, during a meeting where council was discussing a cost report for a new pickleball facility, Gee vented his frustration with a verbal outburst, forcing council to take a five-minute break.
Mayor Peter Jones stated that this had nothing to do with the judicial review and that it was a case of interpreting legislation and regulations.
“I've been in as an expert witness in courts and tribunals and in front of boards for many years, and I find almost exclusively the judges will concentrate on the legal aspects, not external things such as what happened at that particular council meeting," he explained.
Both the district and ad hoc group have agreed to drop the matter.
“The pickleball community is supportive of the decision and is aware other avenues are being pursued,” Gee added. “As for the community at large, it appears North Saanich residents cannot see the deceitful, irresponsible, and counterproductive actions of the district's governing body.”
The Saanich Peninsula Pickleball Association (SPPA) says that while they are disappointed that the petition did not go through a hearing, they will continue to advocate for all pickleball players and would welcome any opportunity to meet with the district to find ways to support the community, including the proposed Blue Heron Park pickleball courts.
SPPA is currently in talks with Panorama Recreation Commission about establishing an alternative pickleball facility.
The petition for judicial review was filed by the ad hoc committee on July 26, 2024 after several unsuccessful attempts to overturn the district's decision to close the outdoor pickleball courts in Wain Park in May.
They claimed that when council voted to close the courts on April 29, 2024, it violated its own bylaws because the item was not on the council agenda that day.
