The PSC Rally Newsletter on the WEB
Just a reminder to those who want to play doubles house league this season, the deadline is fast approaching for signup. Please make sure your team is listed on the signup sheets or contact Jim or Nicole to express your interest in playing by this Friday, January 10th.
If Jim or Nicole do not hear from you by the 10th we cannot guarantee your participation in the upcoming house league as we need time to put schedules together to be ready for the week of January 19th.
Dear family and friends,
Sincere thanks to all who have donated so generously with food or monetary transfer to the St Paul’s on the Hill Food Bank and Children’s Aid of Durham, serving the needs of many families across our communities of Pickering and Ajax.
We are extremely pleased to inform you Dec 11, 2024 we provided 331 pounds of food (a record amount for us), along with significant amount of funds to the food bank. Lindsey Morrill (Food Bank Director) expressed her sincere gratitude for our efforts and significant contributions.
Sadly, demand for support continues to increase substantially, with numbers posted on their site including those helped, individuals fed, volumes distributed and household visits Food Bank | St Paul’s on-the-Hill Community Food Bank | Ajax Pickering | Ontario . Although they receive donations from many sources, she re-iterated “it all goes out as fast as it comes in”, highlighting the need for continuous support.
On behalf of Lindsey Morrill, Rick D’Souza and myself (supported by the Pickering Squash Club), a sincere thank you for supporting our community in need.
Happy New Year to you and loved ones.
Best regards,
Rick D’Souza & Fred Dizig
Pickering Squash Club
The Pickering Squash Club held a great season of doubles hardball squash house league. We really enjoyed getting to know the players who came from Mayfair Parkway.
The finalists and runners-up are: Div 1: Mark Rowland and Alfredo Portillo over Raj and Sameer Vadera. Div 2: Terry and Anderson over Shan and Dayan. Div 3: Jim and John over Dan and Naveen. Congratulations to all!
Winners for Div 1 are Mark Rowland and Alfredo Portillo over Raj and Sameer Vadera.
Div 2 winners are Terry and Anderson over Shan and Dayan.
Jim and John over Dan and Naveen in Div 3 final.
We hope you are looking forward to the winter 2025 of the doubles hardball squash house league!
If you haven’t already signed up on the list outside the double courts, please contact Jim by January 10th. Please include the names of your partners. As schedules need to be compiled, so if we don’t hear from you by then, we can’t guarantee your participation.
– From Nicole Pirko
The first half of the squash season has been a success and there is much more to come in the new year. So don’t you dare put your racquet away over the holidays because we have a busy schedule of house leagues, tournaments and lots of clinic opportunities coming up in the new year.
First up is our Monday Night Singles House League that will be starting up again on Monday Jan. 20th. I have automatically added everyone from the final round in December so there is no need to sign up if you were participating in the final weeks before the break. If you are new to the league and would like to participate, simply send me an email and say “I’m in” and I will add you to the list. If you are not sure if you are included, just send me an email and I’ll confirm. All levels are welcome and the house league is a fun way to meet other players and get a great work out.
Our doubles house league will also be starting on the week of Jan. 20th. The sign-up sheet is posted on the board outside the doubles courts. Please find yourself a partner and add your team to the list!
Our annual Lee Hanebury Memorial Tournament – Jan. 31, Feb. 1, 2, 2025. I would like to invite you all to participate in the Pickering Squash Club’s annual Lee Hanebury Memorial Tournament on the weekend of Jan. 31-Feb. 2. This is a tournament weekend you do not want to miss! Tournament events include Men’s and Women’s singles events levels A-E (This means everyone at every level should play), as well as Doubles Men’s and Women’s B and C draws (you will need to register with a partner). Women may play both singles and doubles (only required to pay one entry fee) but due to limited court time, men may only play one event. Your entry fee includes a tournament souvenir, licensed bar, Saturday breakfast and lunch, Saturday night doubles Calcutta (if court time permits) followed by a social night at our local restaurant and lots of squash. You must register on the Squash Ontario website at: www.squashontario.com (under the “tournament community” tab. The sign-up deadline is Wed. Jan. 22th but please sign up early to avoid disappointment as some draws WILL fill up fast! Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Junior Squash Programs:
Our junior squash program is in full swing and we have added more clinics for juniors of all levels and ages! All clinics are 12 weeks and the emphasis will be on teaching the kids proper techniques, drills, game play and of course fun! Here are the details below. Please sign up early because the clinics fill up fast!
Tuesday’s 4:30-5:30- Advanced Junior Clinic (all ages)
Tuesday’s 5:30-6:30- Intermediate Junior Clinic (Ages 7-14)
Saturday’s 12:30-1:30 – Novice/Beginner (Ages 4-15)
Saturday’s 1:30-2:30 – Intermediate Junior Clinic (Ages 7-14) this is an additional class for our Tuesday Intermediate players.
Please contact Nicole to sign up for all Tuesday classes and Sameer for all Saturday classes.
Are looking for some extra training to improve your game, why not try a clinic? Here are the new clinic dates for various levels starting in Jan.
Beginner Squash Clinic (men and women) – Wednesday’s 6:00-7:00 – 4 week program – Contact Nicole to sign up
Men’s intermediate Skills Clinic (tournament level C/D) -Thursday’s 6:00-7:00- 6 week program- Contact Sameer to sign up
Mixed Performance Advanced Clinic (tournament level A/B) – Thursday’s 7:00-8:00 – 6 week program – Contact Nicole to sign up
Lastly, our social directors are busy planning this year’s banquet party and we have a date confirmed. Be sure to add Sat. April 5th on your calendars for this year’s banquet party following our Club Championships Tournament. More details to come!
I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday and we will see you on the courts in the new year!
Nicole
Dear Family and Friends,
We are reaching out to you again this year to extend a helping hand to those less fortunate in our communities of Ajax-Pickering, by way of support to the St. Paul’s on the Hill Food Bank.
The need for support continues to grow especially over the past few years as families continue to struggle through a challenging economy, health issues or other reasons. Anything you can offer to help support this effort is greatly appreciated by many. Please feel free to forward this message to extended family and friends who you think may also be able to help.
Our plan is to deliver all donations received to the Food Bank on Fri Dec 13 2024. If you are able to help, kindly consider the following options:
Their most urgent needs at this time include the following items. Please ensure all donated food items are within the ‘best before’ or expiration dates.
| Canned Tuna | Breakfast cereals/oatmeal |
| Pancake Mix | Canned tomatoes |
| Peanut Butter | Granola bars |
| Halal items | Canned fruits |
| Canned corn | Tomato paste |
| Corned beef | Cooking oil |
| Juice | Hygiene products |
| Dry beans (chickpeas, kidney) |
Reference their website for a complete list as this changes from time to time: Food Bank | St Paul’s on-the-Hill Community Food Bank | Ajax Pickering | Ontario
All donations (food and monetary) received will be delivered to Lindsey Morrill (Food Bank Director) at St. Paul’s on the Hill Food Bank at 1537 Pickering Parkway, on December 13 2024. No amount of food or monetary donation is too small. All funds received will be used by the Food Bank team to purchase needed items at wholesale cost, and distributed to those in need. All our efforts to collect and deliver your donations are strictly on a volunteer basis.
Thank you very much again for your consideration and any support you could offer, by Friday Dec 06 2024.
We wish you and loved ones the very best of health and happiness, especially during the coming holiday season.
Kind regards,
Rick D’Souza & Fred Dizig
Pickering Squash Club
The holiday season is a time of joy, tradition, and togetherness. But for some families in our community, it can also be a time of great vulnerability. Many face the heartbreak of struggling to provide for their children or maintain cherished traditions, making the holidays feel like a challenge instead of a celebration.
That’s why every year, our squash club comes together for something bigger than squash: our Annual Toy Drive & Round Robin. It’s our way of giving back, supporting families in need, and rediscovering the true spirit of the season.
Here’s how you can join us:
Sign up for singles on the board in the singles court area and for doubles on the board outside the doubles courts. You can also respond to Nicole and let her know if you would prefer to play doubles or singles and she will add you to the list.
By giving, we help families feel the warmth of the holidays and create moments of joy for children who might otherwise go without. It’s also an opportunity to counterbalance the season’s consumerism and focus on what truly matters – kindness, connection, and community.
And let’s not forget, this event isn’t just about helping others. It’s also about celebrating and strengthening the bonds that make our squash club so special. It’s a chance to reconnect with fellow members, share some laughs, and celebrate what it means to be part of a team that cares.
The night will include both doubles and singles squash round-robin fun games for all levels of players and all ages (the more the merrier)! The evening will finish off at Sabina’s restaurant for some drinks and food for those of you who would like to join us!
So, whether you’re here to play, donate, or simply show your support, your presence will make a difference. Together, let’s show the power of our community to bring hope, joy, and generosity to those who need it most.
Looking forward to playing some “fun” squash and helping to put smiles on some children’s faces this holiday season!
This past season opener was an amazing experience for the Pickering Squash Club as we hosted the 2024 Heidelberg Materials Ontario Championships, Presented by NFP Canada. Players from across the province came together for a memorable weekend filled with exciting matches and great camaraderie. From intense singles matches in the Men’s and Women’s divisions to high-energy doubles play in the Harvest Hit tournament, it was an event that truly celebrated the competitive spirit of squash.
Heidelberg Materials, the Title Sponsor at this year’s Ontario Championships, along with NFP Canada, Squash Ontario, and the Pickering Squash Club with our dedicated volunteers made this tournament possible. Their support allowed us to provide players with an amazing tournament experience, complete with fun extras like a tournament top, Friday night pizza, Saturday lunch, and generous prize money for the Open divisions.
Special Spotlight: The Women’s Social and Seminar
This year, supported by Heidelberg Materials, we were especially excited to host the Women’s Social and Seminar, an event that brought together female players for a discussion on “Competing in Squash.”
Led by Marci Sier and a panel featuring top competitors Hollie Naughton, Nadia Luttmer, and Vanessa Steinwall, this seminar offered valuable insights into managing performance anxiety and maintaining mental focus. As part of our commitment to increase women’s participation in squash, this social event marked a meaningful step forward in bridging the gender gap within the sport.
Although squash has often led the way in supporting female athletes, we’re aware that Ontario’s recent participation numbers show 2.5 male players for every female player. It’s our mission to create welcoming spaces and events that encourage more women to join, compete, and thrive in the game.
For a more detailed look at the tournament and the Women’s Social, read the full article on Squash Ontario’s website.
Thank you to everyone who helped make this tournament a success! We look forward to seeing more of you on the courts throughout the season.
The tournament results and photos of the champions are displayed below – congratulations to all participants on a fantastic start to the 2024/2025 squash season!
Heidelberg Materials is excited to be supporting Squash Ontario and is delighted to be the Title Sponsor at this year’s Ontario Championships.
Heidelberg Materials is one of the world’s largest building materials companies and operates on five continents. Our products are used for the construction of houses, infrastructure, and commercial and industrial facilities, thus meeting the demands of a growing world population for housing, mobility, and economic development. Learn more about Heidelberg Materials.
We are excited to share that NFP will officially partner with Squash Ontario in the 2024-2025 season as a Corporate Partner and Presenting Sponsor of the 2024 Ontario Championships. This partnership will continue to offer the 15% home and auto insurance discount to Squash Ontario members and in exchange, they will be supporting Squash Ontario events and contributing to the Lee Hanebury Junior Squash Fund. To learn more about the discount program, please visit Squash Ontario’s Membership webpage.
Please read below for our 2024 Champions, runners-up, and 3rd place finishers.
The Pickering Squash Club in partnership with Squash Ontario is welcoming competitors to our annual Harvest Hit Doubles Tournament and the 2024 Heidelberg Materials Ontario Championships Presented by NFP Canada starting this evening, October 25, 2024!
We have an extremely packed schedule this weekend with no open court time, so are asking competitors to please arrive early for your matches so we can stay on time.
All winners will be expected to referee the next match on their court, unless told otherwise by a volunteer or Nicole.
Start times can be found in your welcome email. Draws were posted Thursday under the draws tab on Clublocker for each tournament this weekend.
If you are running late or unable to make a match, it is extremely important you let Nicole know ahead of time so she can inform your opponent. Please see the welcome email for her contact information.
Scheduled Events:
Friday: Squash Matches 5:00pm – 9:30pm
There will be snacks and of course drinks served at the bar in the doubles court area. Craft 360 is our beer/cooler sponsor for the weekend so you can redeem your drink ticket for a Craft 360 beverage at the bar located in the doubles squash courts. We have a cash bar only for the weekend and all alcoholic drinks are $5, please bring some cash.
Saturday: Squash Matches 9:00am – 9:00pm
Lunch 12:00pm – 2:30pm, lunch will be served on the second floor outside the singles courts viewing area.
Saturday Women’s Social and Mental Toughness Seminar – Meeting rooms 1 & 2 (upper level) – 4:30-5:30 pm
We will be hosting a complimentary women’s seminar and panel discussion hosted by Marci Sier who is a squash coach and Certified Mental Performance Consultant, in Sport and Performance Psychology. Our panel members include Hollie Naughton (PSA World # 20), Vanessa Steinwall, and Nadia Luttmer. Topics will include: how to deal with nerves and how to create a positive mindset surrounding nerves, as well as the benefits of competition and the squash community!
Sunday: Squash Matches 8:45am – 4:00pm, Presentation and Awards to follow
Extra Notes: We do not have a restaurant facility at our club so please pack extra snacks! We will be serving lunch on Saturdaybut if you have specific dietary requirements, please pack your own lunch. There are plenty of eateries near the club. Our club alongside with Squash Ontario has worked very hard to give everyone a great tournament experience and we are looking forward to a fun weekend of squash, social and of course some great competition! There is no towel service at our club so please bring your own towel.
With thanks to title sponsor Heidelberg Materials and presenting sponsor NFP Canada, we trust you will have a great tournament experience.
What’s more? With thanks to Squash Ontario’s partnership with NFP Canada, Squash Ontario members can enjoy discounted home and auto insurance. Feel free to stop by the NFP booth throughout the weekend, or reach out to [email protected] to get a quote!
Thanks and good luck,
Nicole Pirko (Tournament Chair)
Greetings PSC Members!
Just a friendly reminder of next Tuesday’s PSC AGM & Fun Round Robin – starting 6:00 pm sharp. We will meet at the doubles courts.
The AGM is your opportunity to find out about upcoming Club events, to ask any questions about the Club, and to provide input into planning future events. You will also be able to meet our volunteer Club Executive team members who work hard to keep our squash Club successful.
Following the AGM, all members are invited to join in for a fun round-robin both for singles & doubles play. This will be a great opportunity for new & renewing members to meet other club players at all different playing levels.
Following our fun round-robin, we will be heading out for appetizers. Members should have received an email with the details. Please join us.
We hope to see everyone at the AGM & fun round-robin!
Your Volunteer PSC Executive Committee
To All Current PSC Members:
The Pickering Squash Club Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Tuesday, September 24th, starting at 6 PM sharp. We will meet at the doubles court area.
The following positions are up for election at this AGM:
Duties of each position are identified in the constitution of the Pickering Squash Club, available here:
Nominations are now open and must be received no later than Tuesday, September 17th (one week prior to the AGM).
Please submit your nominations to:
Fred Dizig (President):
fred @ pickeringsquash.com
John Kerr (Director at Large – Memberships):
membership @ pickeringsquash.com
– Your Volunteer PSC Executive Committee