Paddle in Canada
The sport of Paddle in Canada had its beginnings in Calgary,Alberta. The sport was introduced to Canada by Bill Stamile, who first saw the game played while on vacation in Argentina in 1992. He founded the Paddle Association of Canada in February 1992, as a federally incorporated Canadian Registered Amateur Athletic Association. The main objective of the PAC is to encourage and develop the widest participation and highest proficiency in Paddle in Canada.
The first Paddle court was built in mid-1992 by Bill and his brother, Angelo inside a Calgary warehouse, which operated for nearly one year. The court was used to attract some of Calgary's top tennis and squash players, many of whom still play the game today. In May 1993,the first Paddle team representing Canada internationally played the Corcuera Cup in Acapulco, Mexico
The PAC was invited to join the World Paddle Federation at this time and has continued as a member in good standing. The PAC has participated in over a dozen other tournaments including six world championships, most recently in Murcia, Spain in October of 2006.
The PAC has been actively involved in promoting the sport of Paddle to Canadians through a series of clinics, orientations, tournaments and special events. The current PAC headquarters located at a public school facility in Calgary has provided a base for a substantial increase in outdoor Paddle participation with demand growing for a year round indoor Paddle facility.
About the Paddle Association of Canada
The Paddle Association of Canada (PAC) is a non-profit Canadian Registered Amateur Athletic Association and is the national governing body for the sport of Paddle in Canada. The mission of the PAC is to grow and promote the sport of Paddle in Canada.
The PAC has been actively involved in promoting the sport of Paddle to Canadians through a series of clinics, orientations, tournaments and special events since 1992. Most recently the PAC has completed building its third outdoor Paddle court within a Calgary school facility which is presently being used as the PAC headquarters. This public use Paddle court facility has seen a substantial increase in participation from school children and the general public alike. The PAC is now seeking to build an indoor racket facility to house PAC's "National Headquarters and Training Centre" which will help to keep the sport pf paddle alive year round with many programs, clinics, special events and both local and international tournaments for people of all ages.