The loss of the Wain Road pickleball courts cannot compare with the losses suffered by residents of Jasper, yet there are striking similarities.
Just as wildfires blazed through the town of Jasper with very little warning, our mayor’s decision to shut down the pickleball courts at Wain Park came out of the blue, with no discussion or consultation with the Saanich Peninsula Pickleball Association that was instrumental in their creation.
In Jasper, critical infrastructure escaped damage. Likewise, the Wain Park pickleball courts are still here. I drove by the other day and happy memories came flooding back. Memories of strangers who became friends. Memories of Dawn’s hearty laugh, Peter’s big grin, Bob’s wicked serve, Rose’s sunny demeanor. I miss the tailgate parties and the tournaments, the conviviality and the spontaneity of drop-in pickleball.
And just as residents of Jasper had to flee, Wain Park players also had to suddenly disperse and find other places to play. A few of us tape pickleball-size lines on the tennis courts at Iroquois Park. Others travel to neighbouring municipalities where courts have been built or converted. And some of us play indoors – yes, indoors in summer while four perfectly good courts at Wain Park sit unused after North Saanich spent $150,000 of taxpayers' money building them.
There’s one big difference, however, between Jasper and North Saanich. In Jasper, Mayor Richard Ireland understands the value of community and offered residents hope even in the midst of disaster. In North Saanich, Mayor Peter Jones has shown no appreciation for our community of pickleball players.
How big is our pickleball community, you ask. Currently, 854 people pay to belong to the Saanich Peninsula Pickleball Association. Many more people play. Moreover, 1,820 people signed the petition to reopen the Wain Park courts.
I feel for all those residents of Jasper, but they will get their town back. The question is, how long must we wait to have our courts back?
Suzanne Morphet
North Saanich
