Feature photo: A group of grade 10 Canmore Collegiate High School (CCHS) students gather for a photo at the Canmore Tennis Club (CTC).
Canmore, Alberta. The gateway to the Rockies. A powerhouse in Nordic skiing. A hub for mountain culture. And a leader in school tennis programs (who’d have guessed?).
Over the past three years, a partnership between CCHS and CTC has introduced more than 1,500 Bow Valley students to tennis. This has been possible thanks to CTC members who coach every year during the school’s spring and fall semesters. A dedicated team of 15 volunteers assist in coaching and running court drills, including regulars like Harris Bretzloff, Stuart Quinn, Carolyne Kauser-Abbott, Ann Shannon, and Claire Lakusta.
The Canmore Tennis Club donates 100+ hours of court time per year to run these programs.
The programs, which began in 2023, have continued to grow year over year. Backed by Tennis Alberta as part of its strategic plan to expand rural programming, the club secured funding through Tennis Canada’s Rogers First Set Tennis in Schools Grant this year. That support meant new racquets, balls, nets, and training resources for the students.
“The strength of our community is evident when groups such as these come together for mutual benefit. The positive impact on our students has extended far beyond sport. Learning from and engaging with members of our local community has been invaluable.” — Daniela Pacheco, CTC Communications Director
As Tennis Alberta—and the rest of the Provincial & Territorial Tennis Associations across Canada—look to increase tennis-in-schools participation, Canmore has set the gold standard to follow. It’s a great reminder of what happens when local passion, community leadership, and grassroots dedication come together.
Hats off to everyone at the Canmore Tennis Club and Canmore Collegiate High School for leading the way. Special shout out to the CCHS Physical Education teaching team, including Sabrina Grecu, Darren Anderson, Krystal MacKinnon, Brent Bittner, and Shaun McQueen.
