Welcome to the March 4th edition of the VIPB Newsletter! Lots happened in pickleball this past week on Vancouver Island: A new Nanoose indoor facility was announced, new faces in the South Island’s Victoria Regional Pickleball Association, and VIPB acquired some new assets. Read more through our Latest Updates below.

Join our growing Facebook Group and Facebook Page to stay updated on pickleball news. Have a great week and reach out to [email protected] with event submissions, partnership inquiries, Court Guide submissions, or photo submissions to feature on our social channels.

New indoor pickleball facility announced for Vancouver Island’s Nanoose Bay

A new, mid-island, indoor pickleball facility is set to open its doors to the Vancouver Island community this Summer. Announced through social media this week, the five court facility, operated by Halifax-based business CrossCourt, will be located at Arbutus Meadows Farm in Nanoose Bay.

Nanoose’s facility will be CrossCourt’s third location, with the other two serving Nova Scotia’s Dartmouth and Bedford pickleball communities. The new facility will feature five fenced courts, with Acrytech Sports Coating used for the court surface.

“[The building has a] wide open space, great big high ceilings,” said CrossCourt co-owner, Steve Skinner. “You don’t you don’t get that everywhere. So when you find it, you have to try to do something with it.”

CrossCourt plans to bring their league, drop in, rental and lesson setup used in the Nova Scotia locations to their latest venture in Nanoose, which includes multiple options for skills levels, and group sizes.

Development for the new facility began in 2023.

READ MORE

Victoria Regional Pickleball Association welcomes new Board and President

February 26, 2025 (Victoria, BC) Victoria Regional Pickleball Association saw significant changes last week, as Roger Graves has stepped forward as the VRPA’s president, replacing Connie McCann who was integral to the growth of pickleball across the region. Graves is currently a Level 2 NCCP instructor in the region and professor emeritus at the University of Alberta.

“I’m excited to take on this new challenge. I look forward to building on the outstanding work of Connie and all the members of the previous boards,” said Graves. “We live in exciting times, with many new venues for play opening up across the region and with many new players of all ages picking up the sport.

“My interest is in the continued growth of pickleball across all ages and levels. We will need to ensure we continue to see new spaces for both indoor and outdoor play across the municipalities to accommodate these new players”. 

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Vancouver Island Pickleball acquires assets to Vancouver Island Pickleball Association

Vancouver Island Pickleball, powered by Courtside Sports, has received the transfer of assets of Vancouver Island Pickleball Association (VIPA) from founder and longtime operator, Ken Holman. VIPA was founded in 2013, encouraging the growth of pickleball on Vancouver Island prior to the sport’s massive explosion in popularity.

Included in the transfer is the Association’s Pickleball Canada website and membership, which allows players to register with the National Pickleball Organization and Pickleball BC without committing to a specific club. This aspect of VIPA will continue to remain active for those electing to compete in sanctioned tournaments independently.

VIPA founder Holman played a pivotal role in pickleball’s Island growth, and ran—along with the help from many others—the Vancouver Island Pickleball Championships, for a number of years.

READ MORE

• Daescu, Johns to team up for first time at Veolia Cape Coral Open (pickleball.com)

• 2025 MLP Premier Level Free Agency Draft Results (majorleaguepickleball.net)

• Swing time: Could an elite racket-sports venue bring millions in revenue to Augusta? (augustachronicle.com)

About Vancouver Island Pickleball

Vancouver Island Pickleball is the destination for all things pickleball on the Island. Founded in 2024, VIPB is dedicated to empowering the sport’s dynamic community with resources, tips, and the latest news to help the sport flourish and reach new heights. Built for seasoned players and beginners alike, VIPB is here to elevate the Island pickleball experience.

Looking to get involved? If you’re a player, club, business, or organization with a passion for pickleball, reach out at [email protected].