Tennis courts were a hub of fun

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/10/2020 (963 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The north Winnipeg tennis hub at 711 Jefferson Ave. is somewhat of a secret, where avid area tennis players enjoyed great tennis weather into early October.

This year’s tennis season was wrapped up with an annual community tournament with over 38 players participating. Due to COVID-19 distancing regulations, the tournament games were played over the course of three weekends. On game days, physically distanced karaoke singing and potluck dinners were on the menu.

Some of the tournament champions include: Richard Handel – A1 singles; Edmond Filoteo – A2 singles; Lito Magduso and Mauro Ignacio – A1 doubles; Richard Ong and Henry Francisco – A2 doubles; Enrecia Venura and Gem Matic – A3 doubles and Carson Gloria and Aarav Sharma were youth finalists.

Nestled behind Garden City Collegiate, the popular tennis venue features a cluster of seven tennis courts. Built in the 1970s, the facility is jointly owned by the City of Winnipeg and the Seven Oaks School Division.

Nine years ago, four of the tennis courts (on the south side) were extensively renovated.

Currently, Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan) and the school division are looking into the possibility of renovating the three tennis courts on the north side. The plan is to have pickleball game lines on two of the north courts to accommodate the growing number of pickleball players in the community.

“I have been playing community tennis all my life. It’s a fun, healthy activity. The tennis and the pickleball courts are great for our community,” said Richard Handel, volunteer coach and tennis player.

Derek Dabee is a member of the board of trustees of Seven Oaks School Division and a community correspondent for The Maples. You can contact him at ddabee@mymts.net