Author: Jackie Ferrier

  • FINAL CALL: Deadline TODAY for the Harvest Hit Doubles Tournament!

    Don’t Miss the Season’s Best Social Event!

    Stop scrolling. This is your urgent, final notice: The registration deadline for the highly anticipated Harvest Hit Doubles Tournament is TODAY, October 8th, 2025!

    The draws are looking strong and exciting, and you need to get your team registered now to be part of the fun.

    Current Draws & The Atmosphere

    We are thrilled to already have a great turnout, confirming this is the must-play social event that kicks off the season:

    • 11 Mixed Teams
    • 11 Men’s B Teams
    • 8 Men’s C Teams
    • 5 Women’s C Teams

    This tournament is famed for its high-energy, concentrated social atmosphere. What truly sets our Pickering Squash Club doubles events apart for players is the renowned atmosphere created by our unique side-by-side courts and stadium seating. This layout keeps all the action and all the people in one electric space, ensuring you can catch every shot while easily mingling with the crowd. It’s an instant social mixer! With family, friends, and fellow players cheering from above, the energy is unified and intense. It’s truly one of our favourite tournaments of the year, and we especially encourage all our House League and OSDL doubles players to come feel the high-octane camaraderie.

    It’s More Than Just Squash

    This tournament is defined by its high energy—the combination of the strong competition, the lively crowds that show up especially on Friday and Saturday, and the unparalleled social atmosphere.

    To enhance the fun, we run a licensed bar and snacks service (serving beer, wine, and soft drinks) right at the top of the stadium seating. This setup means you can grab your drink and socialize with squash friends you haven’t seen since last season without ever missing the action! The entire court area becomes the perfect social hub for hanging out and catching up. As an extra perk, drinks are super cheap this year at just $5—it’s all about the community, not the profit!

    Tournament Details & Inclusions

    The tournament runs October 17th – 19th, 2025.

    • Divisions: Mixed B Doubles, Men’s B Doubles, Men’s C Doubles, and Women’s B & C Doubles.
    • Entry Fee is just: $80 + HST (Players may play both men’s/women’s and mixed events for this single fee if court time allows; contact Squash Ontario to enter the second event).
    • Your Entry Covers: Friday Night Samosas, Saturday Lunch, Licensed Refreshments Access, a Tournament Souvenir, and Prizes.

    🚨 Final Warning: Sign Up Now!

    The clock is ticking! You MUST sign up before midnight tonight, October 8th, 2025. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the season’s first great event.

    Click Here to Sign Up Before the Deadline!

    Can’t Play? Don’t Miss Out Entirely!

    If you were unable to sign up this year, the doors are wide open for spectators all weekend. Drop in to catch a few matches, soak up the electric atmosphere, and see exactly why you’ll want to be on the court for our next tournament!

  • Pickering Squash Kicks Off Season with Women’s Masters, House League, and Harvest Hit Doubles


    Season Opener at Women’s Masters Teams Tournament

    This past weekend, eight of our members represented the Pickering Squash Club at the Women’s Masters Teams Tournament, hosted at Mayfair Parkway.

    A teams tournament brings players together to compete not just as individuals, but as part of a larger squad. Each team is typically made up of 10 singles players, with every player’s match contributing points toward the team’s overall result. This year marked an exciting milestone: for the first time ever, the annual event also included doubles teams. Doubles players were paired together to round out the full roster, giving the competition a fresh and dynamic twist.

    Pickering was well represented across both formats. Alison, Megan, and Maria battled it out on the singles courts, while Hazel, Caryn, Kitt, Jackie, and Sara Jane took on the doubles challenge. The event was more than just great squash—it was also an opportunity for women to connect, build relationships, and support one another through the sport.

    House League Action Gets Underway

    Closer to home, our own season is kicking off in style. House League starts tonight, beginning with Singles and Doubles: Boxes 1–3, followed by Boxes 4–6 on Tuesday, and Box 7 on Wednesday.

    Women’s TDWSA D Team

    We are excited to announce we have a TDWSA women’s D team with some of our old players and some new players representing the Pickering Squash Club. The team plays at home and at other clubs on Thursdays beginning October 16th in Pickering.

    OSDL Teams Ramp Up for the Year Ahead

    Meanwhile, our OSDL men’s and women’s teams are getting ready for another big year. We are entering three men’s teams and one women’s team this year! Team are beginning to practice, and match schedules should be released shortly.

    Get Ready for the Harvest Hit Doubles Tournament

    Looking ahead, excitement is already building for the Harvest Hit Doubles Tournament, running October 17–19. This fun and competitive event will feature mixed, women’s, and men’s divisions, with teams already starting to form. Don’t have a partner yet? Now’s the time to find one!

    With two doubles courts side by side and stadium seating, Pickering offers one of the best venues for doubles squash. The atmosphere is lively, social, and full of energy—making the Harvest Hit one of the most enjoyable tournaments of the season.

    It’s shaping up to be an action-packed season—on and off the courts!

  • Pickering Squash Member Survey

    🗣️ Have Your Say!

    Pickering Squash Club Member Survey:

    Scan the QR code with your phone camera, it will direct you to a page to fill out the survey now!

    We know you love playing squash, but want to know how we can make our club even more fun, social, and exciting. To find out, we launched a short survey to get your feedback. (⚠️ Didn’t see the email? Please check your Spam/Junk folder — it may have landed there.)

    This is your chance to shape the future of our club—events, programs, and new ideas are all on the table.

    👉  The survey only takes 10–15 minutes.

    👉  Deadline: September 22nd.

    👉  Results shared at the AGM on September 29th.

    It covers topics like your experience with our recent events, what you’d like to see improved, and what you’re hoping for in the future.

    Rumour has it a few ideas are already circulating — perhaps it was you who suggested a Pickering Squash club fantasy league where you could draft teams from our doubles ladder. Or maybe you want to bring top players in for a Saturday night exhibition match. Maybe you’re hoping for exclusive member discounts at local businesses. Or perhaps you just really want a secret handshake only members would know.

    We don’t know what is possible yet, but we do know that we want to hear what you want — and only you can tell us.

    Please complete the survey by September 22nd!

    Your voice matters. Don’t miss your chance to help guide what comes next!

  • Pool / Whirlpool / Sauna / Steam Room Closure

    Please be advised of the following scheduled closures at the CHDRC:

    CHDRC Pool/Whirlpool/Sauna/Steam Room Closure:

    August 31 to September 12 inclusive

    The Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex pool will be closed on Sunday, August 31 at 4pm for annual maintenance shutdown. The pool will re-open on Saturday, September 13. 

    Universal Change Room Closure:

    September 2 to 12 inclusive

    The universal change room will be closed to allow for repairs, maintenance work, mechanical inspections and deep cleaning between September 2 to 12.

  • Monday Night Singles Drop-in Round Robin

    Hi Everyone,

    Just a friendly reminder that there is a singles drop-in round robin on Monday nights.  Advanced levels are from 5:00-6:00 and beginner/intermediate levels are from 6:00-7:00.  We’ve had a great turnout so far!  If you have not yet come out, please feel free to join us Monday nights!

    See you on the courts!

  • Doubles Houseleague play offs for Div 1 & 2

    Div 1

    Please note that the semi-finals will be played on Monday, Apr 28 as the Rec Centre is closed on Monday, Apr 21.

    Mark and Alfredo play Raj and Sameer on Court 1 at 6 pm.   Kevin and Eric play Mike and Eric on Court 2 at 6 pm.   

    The courts are open at 7 pm for others to arrange a match.   

    Div 2

    Two matches are scheduled for Tuesday Apr 22 at 6 pm.   


    Shan and Dayan vs Sid and JP on court 1. Jim and John vs H and David on court 2 at 6pm.

    The courts are open at 7 p.m., so those who are not playing in the semis can book a court.   

  • Open Easter Sunday & Closed Easter Monday

    The recreation center is open on Sunday but closed on Monday, April 21

    (Note: Some areas of the facility will be open during the above-noted closure for Advance Polls from 9 am – 9 pm, April 18 to April 21 (inclusive).)

  • Club Championship Finals Deliver Excitement & Anniversary Memories!

    Club Championship Finals Deliver Excitement & Anniversary Memories!

    What a fantastic conclusion to our Club Championships! We witnessed some truly exciting matches across all divisions, showcasing the incredible talent and passion within our club. While we know everyone has their own experience on the court, the energy and sportsmanship displayed throughout the tournament were outstanding. It’s moments like these that remind us how much we grow, both individually in our game and together as a vibrant squash community. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this year’s championships so memorable!

    Let’s give a huge round of applause to our finalists and champions:

    • Women’s B Singles: Winner – Joanie Harper, Runner-up – Maria Beltran
    • Women’s A Singles: Winner – Vanessa Steinwall, Runner-up – Lisa Pratt
    • Men’s D Singles: Winner – Sudhish Nair, Runner-up – Daniel Warren
    • Men’s C Singles: Winner – Andres F Orozco, Runner-up – Shane Morgenstern
    • Men’s B Singles: Winner – Trevor Charbonneau, Runner-up – Jesse Riley
    • Men’s A Singles: Winner – Sameer Vadera, Runner-up – Scott Gormley
    • Mixed Doubles B: Winners – John Kerr & Jim DeLouchry, Runners-up – Ganesh Shan & Garie Youngs
    • Doubles A: Winners – Sameer Vadera & Raj Vadera, Runners-up – Alfredo Portillo & Mark Rowland

    Following the thrilling matches, we celebrated our 40th Anniversary with a banquet. John Kerr was awarded the Chris Doona award. Chris Doona was one of the four founding members of the Pickering Squash Club. Chris was taken from us far too soon and as a memorial to his service to the club we created the Chris Doona Memorial Award in 1993.

    The Chris Doona Memorial Award is given out each year to the person who most represents the spirit of the Pickering Squash Club. The recipient has contributed their time and efforts unselfishly over many years to help make the Club what it is today.

    John has been on the executive committee that helps run the club for several years, manages the membership applications and payments, and can often be seen helping out at the bar at tournaments. John is known for his kindness, quiet dignity and sense of humour and has a mean kill on the doubles courts!

    It was a special evening commemorating four decades of squash camaraderie and community spirit within our club. Thank you to everyone who came out to mark this milestone with us!

    None of this would have been possible without the incredible dedication of our volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to organize both the championships and the anniversary banquet. Your hard work and commitment are truly appreciated!

    Just a reminder that the regular season for our Doubles House League wraps up this week, with playoffs just around the corner. Stay tuned for another post outlining our plans for singles play throughout the remainder of the spring and summer.

    Thank you all for being such a fantastic part of our squash club!

    More pictures to come!

  • Club Champs – Day 4, Doubles Recap

    Hi Everyone,

    The matches over on the doubles side yesterday were awesome!  The Vadera duo were absolutely on fire…Raj was hitting nicks like they were handing them out for free!  Their opponents, Mike and Eric, didn’t know whether to chase the ball or just clap!  Meanwhile, Sameer was covering the court like a cheetah on steroids, flying around with so much speed and intensity you’d think the ball owed him money.  And then there was Darryl, who gave us the comedy highlight of the night by taking a mighty swing off the easiest serve of the match and totally whiffing the ball!  He then proceeded to stare down his racquet like there was something wrong with it…sorry Darryl, it wasn’t the racquet’s fault!  Great effort by everyone last night!

    I’ve made some changes to the times due to conflicting doubles and singles matches so be sure to check your times again!

    We are back over on the singles courts tonight finishing up around 7.  There are only two 6:00 doubles matches this evening so we can all get our beauty rest so we can party it up at the banquet tomorrow night.

    See you on the courts,

    Nicole

  • Thank you letter from Durham Children’s Aid Foundation

    We are pleased to share a special thank you letter from the Durham Children’s Aid Foundation, acknowledging the incredible support and generosity shown at our Annual Holiday Toy Drive Fun Night this past December. Your contributions made a meaningful difference in the lives of local families, helping to bring joy to children in need this holiday season.

    As members of our squash club community, your involvement in events like these goes beyond just participating—it makes a real impact. We are proud of the positive change we create together, and we want you to know that your actions truly matter. Thank you for being part of something that not only brings us together but also gives back to those who need it most.

    “Dear The Pickering Squash Club, 

    As the days grow a little longer and we settle into a new year, we want to take a moment to reflect on the warmth and generosity you shared through the Annual Holiday Hope Campaign.

    Because of you, children experienced the excitement of opening heartfelt gifts, families gathered around warm meals, and so many felt the embrace of a compassionate community. Your kindness ensured that no child was left without a moment of joy and no family felt alone.

    But the most incredible part? The hope you created didn’t fade with the season – it carries on. The joy, relief, and sense of belonging you helped provide continue to uplift families well into the new year, reminding them that they are not alone.

    We are deeply grateful for your support and the meaningful difference you’ve made. Your generosity is a beautiful reflection of what’s possible when we come together as a community.

    Wishing you a year filled with joy and connection. We look forward to continuing this important work with you by our side.

    With so much thanks and heartfelt appreciation,

    Durham Children’s Aid Foundation”

    905-433-1551 Ext. 2823  

    1320 Airport Blvd, Oshawa, ON L1J 0C6

    www.durhamcaf.ca