Category: News and Events

Update: The Motion Passed!

Thank you to Everyone who showed their Support! Thank you Councilor Catherine Pope.

Councilor Catherine Pope has registered the following motion for consideration Monday April 22, 7-pm. Join us at the DNV Council Chambers, 355 W Queens to show your support.

SUBJECT: Pickleball Courts Expansion  

RECOMMENDATION: 

THAT Council direct staff to identify sites where new, outdoor pickleball courts could be located  and where current courts could be expanded in the District of North Vancouver.

For the compete text visit: https://app.dnv.org/OpenDocument/Default.aspx?docNum=6272000

Here’s the video of the meeting.

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3z15x5cW4nk

Walter Knecht’s remarks on behalf of the Advocacy Ctte: 27:55

Estha’s presentation: 29:00

Shelley Weal: 46:16

Phil Grassi: 51:55

Councilor Cath Pope’s introduction: 1:59:30

Mayor Mike Little’s remarks and vote: 2:27:00

WALTER KNECHT, FOUNDER

When pickleball took hold of Walter in the summer of 2013, he insisted on taking us all along for the ride!  Beginning on the North Shore, Walter organized indoor and outdoor play (2014), chaired the BC 55+ pickleball games (2015 in North Vancouver and 2016 in Coquitlam), started up and ran the North Shore Picklemania tournament (2016-2018) and established the very successful North Shore Pickleball Club (2017). 

He then set his sights on organizing the whole province.  In 2017 Walter created Pickleball BC in parallel to BC Pickleball, soon supplanting the older organization. Then the real work of creating a large and provincially-accredited sports organization began. 

There were a myriad of procedures and policies to write and adopt. In 2018 the first-in-Canada Memorandums of Understanding were signed with B.C.-based clubs and Pickleball Canada.  Walter also initiated discussions in 2019 with Pickleball Canada for a higher-level member management system which we now know as the very powerful and useful PCNS.  By July 2021, in just four years, Pickleball BC had achieved Provincial Sport Status.

A provincial sports organization needs a provincial tournament which Walter has helped organize. He has been and continues to be involved in organizing other regional tournaments, fundraisers, the BC 55+ Games, and other initiatives that grow the game.  He was also national leader of officiating from 2020 to 2022.

Walter’s early collaborators noted that he liked to have his way but then “he was usually right.”  All agree to his ability to manage the complexity of “a growing and complicated organization in a calm, decisive manner” and his commitment to the work required.

In ten years, Walter has built a significant and lasting structure upon the foundations laid by earlier B.C. founders.   B.C. pickleball players, today and in the future, are thankful for Walter Knecht’s abilities, passion and gift of time in the pursuit of pickleball excellence.

Submitted on Behalf of the North Shore Pickleball Club,

Estha Parg Murenbeeld, President

February 2024

Register beginning at 7-pm on Monday February 26. Visit the Members’ Area page.

Note the change to the Men’s Double event.

Lots of space left. Join the fun and support a good cause. $20 from the $50 registration fee goes to PADS. Additional donation is optional.

No partner needed and a whole event just for beginners/2.5’s!! Register at Pickleball Brackets https://pickleballbrackets.com/pts.aspx

This is a BIG step in quiet paddles as McEnroe will be playing with it. Celebrate the Owl Paddle’s North Shore connections and catch the action tomorrow! Read more about the paddle here: https://www.owlpaddle.com/news PS The Owl is making balls now too, the official ball of the APP!