Saturday marked the fifth annual year of the Edmonton Tennis Community’s free festival aiming to create an open space for learners. The TennisFest TryTennis event at the Edmonton Expo Centre welcomed around 650 people, kids and adults, who were curious about the sport. Coaches and activities were planned for the day to support everyone as they either picked up a racquet for the first time or returned to tennis after a period of time. Professional Canadian tennis player Stacey Fung was there to offer her guidance as well. “As a kid it’s one of those things you always dream about … The age range today is six to 60, so it’s very special and I’m “It’s getting them into sport, but it’s also keeping them in sport. Emma Rutherford, a coach and former varsity tennis player, says the event is looking to inspire a new generation of tennis players with a focus on girls and young women. “Tennis started growing quite quickly during the pandemic, because it was a sport that you could play in a safe way outdoors on any sort of public court … (Saturday) is an opportunity for kids and adults to try tennis in a fun, safe and inclusive environment.” TennisFest is also dedicated to Jared Maclean, an Edmonton Tennis Community coach and Bears Varsity Tennis captain who died by suicide. “A big part of TennisFest is supporting mental health resources in Edmonton, and particularly for our coaches and volunteers,” she added. Alberta minister of sports Andrew Boitchenko echoed that access to sports always benefits those involved. “The more kids we can get onto the tennis court, the better, healthier the community. It’s not just about physical health, it’s mostly about mental health,” he said. He also mentioned that some of the beginning kids “kicked his butt.” The Edmonton Tennis Community Association works with community organizations to make the sport affordable and accessible for kids. It first came into being in 2010 as a pilot project of Tennis Canada’s youth ventures and has since grown into a joint group. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Galen McDougall
