Expanding access to tennis across local communities

Creating long-term pathways to play for kids and adults.

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Bringing communities together through tennis

We work with First Nations and school communities to expand access to tennis and provide opportunities for program growth, capacity building, and lasting community impact.

  • Sustainable access

    We deliver fully subsidized, year-round programs that remove financial and structural barriers to participation and the benefits of tennis.

  • Player development

    Our programs create inclusive and culturally safe spaces where kids and adults can learn, connect, and build confidence through sport.

  • Leadership pathways

    We support long-term growth by developing on-court leaders and creating pathways toward coaching and community leadership.

We’re on a mission to improve 
accessibility to tennis

  • 1
    2
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    Indigenous children participating in recurring programs

  • 5
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    Indigenous adults enrolled in 
continuous programs

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    5
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    Students reached through
 school-based delivery

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Help us grow communities of play

Your support helps fund equipment donations, coaching costs, and the delivery of tennis programming to schools and First Nation communities.

This gives children and adults meaningful access to the sport of tennis and its unique lifelong benefits.

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Indigenous community partners

We extend our sincere thanks to the Musqueam Indian Band (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), and Tsleil-Waututh Nation (səlilwətaɬ), who invited this work into their communities and continue to guide it through ongoing partnership.

We also thank Indigenous Sport & Recreation BC for funding support and strategic guidance that helped make accessible programming possible.

Partners and sponsors

We are grateful to the community partners and sponsors who help us pave the pathway to tennis.

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What people are saying

“I’ve never picked up a racket before, so it was really great for me to experience all of these ‘aha!’ moments where the fundamentals really came together.”

Celina Dorame, Member, Tsleil-Watuth Nation, Coach, Summer Smash Tennis

“The instructors were very knowledgeable, kind, and cooperative. It is amazing to watch the kids develop this skill, get the exercise and make a lot more friends.”

The Moody Family, Parents of Lucas (Student), Squamish Nation

“Tennis is the tool, but the real impact is community strength.”

Marco D’Angelo, Sr. Sport & Recreation Coordinator, Squamish Nation

“Indigenizing Tennis project is very near and dear to my heart, because I see the potential for growing a stronger community.”

Jeannie Rohr, Director of Community and Coaching Development, Tennis BC

Where we play

Rooted in community. Growing together.

First Nations

  • xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band)
  • Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation)
  • səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation)

Locations

  • Squamish Nation Totem Hall
  • Chief Joe Mathias Centre
  • Tsleil-Waututh Cultural and Recreation Centre
  • Musqueam Community Centre
  • Kerrisdale Community Centre
  • Kitsalano Community Center
  • Mount Pleasant Community Centre
  • Norgate Xwemélch’stn Community Elementary
  • West Point Grey Academy

This work takes place on the unceded traditional territories of the Musqueam Nation (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), Squamish Nation (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), and Tsleil-Waututh Nation (səlilwətaɬ), whose stewardship of these lands continues today. We are grateful to work here through relationships built on trust and reciprocal learning, and we remain committed to honouring the responsibilities that come with being welcomed onto these lands.

See what we’re up to

  • Building a Legacy: Community Strength Through Tennis

    Season after season, something remarkable has taken hold. Participation has grown, skills have sharpened, and a new generation of Indigenous youth are stepping into leadership roles, with Coach Celina leading the way. This chapter looks ahead: dedicated tennis infrastructure, pathways to high performance, and more Indigenous coaches trained to lead from within. Tennis is the…

  • Tennis BC Partners with Summer Smash

    Tennis BC is proud to announce a new partnership with Summer Smash Tennis in support of their impactful Indigenizing Tennis Initiative. This collaboration marks an important step toward increasing access to tennis in Indigenous communities across British Columbia while supporting Indigenous leadership and cultural inclusion in the sport. In 2024, the Indigenizing Tennis Initiative expanded to serve…

  • From Beginner to Coach: Celina Dorame Is Writing a New Chapter

    What began at Squamish Nation has now expanded to Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam, and the roots are going deeper. Meet Celina Dorame, a Tsleil-Waututh Nation member who picked up a racquet for the first time in Winter 2024 and is now training to become a certified Tennis Canada Instructor. Her journey is more than a personal…

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