A Semiahmoo Peninsula pickleball patriarch was honoured with a prestigious award at a recent dinner.
The White Rock Pickleball Association (WRPA) recently held its annual volunteer appreciation dinner to recognize the many volunteers who generously devote their time to build the sport within the community and make it fun for the ever-growing number of pickleball players, WRPA co-chair John Bogar noted in an email.
In addition to organizing tournaments and social events such as the summer picnic and Christmas party, WRPA volunteers also organize evening play at the Centennial Park courts.
"The evening volunteers are the real heroes who regularly provide leadership at the courts," Bogar said.
The dinner also featured a special presentation to Charles (Chuck) Lefaive, the founding member of both Pickleball Canada and BC Pickleball.
WRPA presented Lefaive with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to pickleball in the Semiahmoo Peninsula community, across British Columbia and Canada, Bogar said.
Lefaive "provided leadership in starting up the White Rock Pickleball Association, along with other pickleball associations, developed training instructions for the sport and was a passionate promoter and coach of pickleball across British Columbia," Bogar noted in his email, adding Lefaive was also recently awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal for his community service.
"The White Rock pickleball community is grateful to Chuck for his devotion to the sport we all love," said Bogar.
Lefaive himself, who just turned 84 in November, said it was nice to be honoured at the dinner.
"I felt good!" he said Monday (Dec. 9). "It's not often you get recognition when you're on the right side of the grass."
He recalled how it wasn't that long ago that there weren't any pickleball courts in White Rock or South 性视界传媒 鈥� or even in B.C., for that matter.
"When we started in 2005, there wasn't much here. ... I learned it down in Texas, but here, no one seemed to know anything about it."
Now, pickleball courts can be found in White Rock, South 性视界传媒, 性视界传媒 and throughout the Lower Mainland, province and across the country.
"It's a fun game that's fun for all," Lefaive said.
All players are welcome to participate, and WRPA provides free balls during the summer months funded from players donations, Bogar added.
WRPA's evening play begins in late spring. Mondays are musical nights, Tuesdays are women, Wednesdays are men, Thursdays are mixed and Fridays are for novices.
Often described as the fastest-growing sport nationally, Bogar and Lefaive noted it's easy and fun to learn, and addictive to play, which is likely why the number of enthusiasts keeps expanding.
