We're pleased to introduce Joelle Efford, who has joined Tennis Canada as Vice President, Fund Development, succeeding Jill Bridgman following her retirement earlier this year.
Joelle is an accomplished fundraising leader with over 18 years of experience driving strategic initiatives, cultivating strong donor relationships, and delivering impactful results for nonprofit organizations. In her previous leadership roles, Joelle has successfully guided development efforts across mission-driven organizations, combining strategic vision with practical execution to grow major gifts. Most recently, she served as Executive Director, Development at Alpine Canada, and previously as Senior Director, Development at Golf Canada.
In both organizations, Joelle played a key role in strengthening fundraising strategy, expanding donor engagement, and building high-performing development teams to support long-term success
Joelle joins us at an exciting moment for Tennis Canada. She is eager to work closely with our donor community to advance programming that expands access to tennis, supports girls' programs, invests in community courts, and develops the next generation of Canadian players — all central to our recently launched Return the Love campaign.
Community Corner
Building Community, Changing the Game: Black Girls in Tennis
In 2024, a simple but powerful idea took root: what if there were a space where young women could learn tennis, feel welcome, and build real community? An ambitious, driven young woman, Jackie, saw that gap clearly, and instead of waiting for permission, she built what she wished had existed.
That vision became Black Girls in Tennis.
This grassroots outreach quickly revealed just how needed this space was. The response was overwhelming. Programs filled. Connections formed. A community emerged, proving that when barriers are removed, interest and talent rise to the surface.
Since then, Black Girls in Tennis has grown rapidly, expanding from Calgary to Edmonton, and most recently, Winnipeg. With each new city, the mission has remained the same: create accessible opportunities to learn the sport, foster belonging, and open pathways for leadership within tennis.
In 2025, Tennis Canada played a meaningful role in supporting this growth, helping to strengthen the program’s foundation and amplify its impact. As a GSE Community Grant Recipient, Calgary Tennis Society leveraged this funding to invest in Black Girls in Tennis Calgary Chapter at a critical stage of its development. That support signaled something important: that there is space in Canadian tennis for initiatives led by young women of color, and that their leadership matters.
Today, the organization’s goals extend beyond participation. Black Girls in Tennis is focused on:
· Securing sustainable funding
· Expanding its network of partners and supporters
· Creating pathways for women to advance into coaching
· Finding and securing space to host consistent, high-quality programming
This year marks another milestone. The young woman leading the Calgary chapter of Black Girls in Tennis, Yosabeth Agonafer will be among the first cohort of Regional Ambassadors representing Alberta, launching this year. Her selection reflects not only her leadership, but the growing recognition of the impact community-driven initiatives can have on the future of the sport.
At its core, Black Girls in Tennis is about more than tennis. It’s about confidence, visibility, mentorship, and community. It’s about seeing yourself reflected on the court and believing you belong there.
As we look ahead, we want to encourage more young women of color to join the sport, whether as players, coaches, organizers, or leaders. There is space for you. There is a community ready to welcome you. And together, we can continue building a more inclusive, vibrant future for tennis in Canada.
To learn more or get involved, visit: blackgirlsintennis.ca.
Taking the Court Beyond Tennis
This past week, the TC GSE Team was proud to partner with Jumpstart Play to Lead for a two-day leadership and sport summit celebrating Black girls ages 14–18 from across Ontario.
On March 18, we opened the doors of Sobeys Stadium to four athletes and two coaches for an intimate Career Field Trip. The small-group setting gave these young leaders a behind-the-scenes look at the diverse career pathways that live within professional sport far beyond what happens on the court.
The following day, we brought that energy to a larger stage. At the Career Discovery Lab, 60 athletes and 20 coaches had the opportunity to learn about our Game. Set. Equity. initiative and explore the volunteer and employment opportunities that exist within the Canadian Tennis landscape.
It was a powerful reminder that when we invest in young people we strengthen the entire game. We left inspired, and we hope they did too!
Masters Tennis Highlight
Marijke’s sporting journey has taken her across continents, cultures, and even national colours, sometimes in beautifully unexpected ways.
She first represented South Africa through rugby, earning a place on the Springboks’ women’s team competing at World Championships. Rugby gave her the opportunity to represent her country, but it also set her on a path that would eventually lead her to Canada.
After competing in Canada, Marijke moved here to begin a new chapter as a tennis coach. Tennis had always been her first love, and returning to the sport allowed her to build a life grounded in purpose and connection.
For Marijke, tennis is not just about physical health or competition. It is about community. Living in Canada without family, the tennis community became her support system. Through coaching, competition, and shared time on court, she built relationships that provided stability, friendship, and belonging.
That sense of belonging deepened when Marijke committed to becoming a Canadian citizen. With the support of Tennis Canada and the Masters tennis community, she completed her citizenship so she could represent Canada internationally. It was a decision she made thoughtfully, only after fully understanding what it meant to be Canadian. Returning to South Africa representing Canada was a meaningful full circle moment.
“To put on the colours of a country and know you are the best in the country at what you do is an incredible feeling.”
In 2018, Marijke was diagnosed with cancer, and several years later she faced a second diagnosis. During her first treatment, she missed only eight days of work, remaining deeply connected to the sport and community around her. Tennis continued to be a constant, offering structure and support at a time when much felt uncertain.
When she was unable to play, Marijke turned to dirt bike racing. Training for long, demanding races gave her focus and helped her stay mentally strong throughout recovery. Setting clear goals outside of cancer allowed her to keep moving forward.
In 2025, Marijke returned to international competition in Lisbon, once again representing Canada in Masters tennis. The experience reflected not only her return to sport, but the strength of the community that supported her along the way.
Today, Marijke is a strong believer in Masters tennis. She sees it as essential to the sport’s long term health, offering lifelong participation, meaningful competition, and strong social connection.
She believes Masters programs deserve continued investment because they support people at every stage of life and form the backbone of the tennis community.
Marijke’s story is a reminder that sport can offer far more than results. It can provide identity, resilience, and community when it matters most.
Love of the Game: A Spring Break to Remember at Jarry Park
IGA Stadium at Jarry Park came alive with the sound of kids laughing, sneakers squeaking, and families simply enjoying being together. Our Spring Break celebration (a free, full-day event open to the whole community) was welcoming, active, and full of joy.
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., children got their first taste of tennis through introductory clinics as part of the national Rogers First Set program. For many of them, it was their very first time picking up a racket. But the day was bigger than tennis. Families skated, sledded, and cross-country skied through the last golden days of winter at Jarry Park. There was face painting, free equipment, indoor activities, and thanks to IGA, plenty of hot chocolate, coffee, and snacks to keep everyone happy.
This was a day for community, the kind where strangers cheer each other on, and nobody wants to leave when it's over.
This is exactly the kind of moment we want to keep creating. Tennis carries so much with it: physical health, confidence, connection, and a community that can last a lifetime. Events like this one are how we make sure those gifts are available to everyone.
Donors secure a win in Thunder Bay
Nestled in Chapples Park, in the heart of Thunder Bay, is where you can find the Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre (TBCTC). Founded in 1974, this facility has served as a long-standing community hub for tennis lovers for 52 years with its sprawling 9 outdoors courts and charming club house that resembles a country lodge. In 2019, after years of planning, the volunteer committee of the TBCTC approached the city with a plan to expand; building 6 more courts that would be covered year-round. This type of investment would be essential in not only expanding operations but giving the members of the Thunder Bay community a place to be active and social during long, cold winters. The group was successful in their proposal and was able to secure the land and some financial support from the city. But as the project progressed and costs grew exponentially following the pandemic, the committee prioritized a more diverse approach to securing the funds that would be needed to get this project across the line. They were successful in receiving both provincial and federal grants, sport tourism support and funding from the Tennis Canada Year-round Community Tennis Courts program presented by Rogers; a very impressive feat that closed the financial gap significantly. But where this group and this community really shined was through individual donors.
Donors represent a vital source of support for many community projects of this scale, and the Thunder Bay Community Tennis Centre is a perfect example of the impact that local donations can have.
“Donating to the construction of the Rogers Tennis Dome was an ideal opportunity for us to make our community an even better place to live. We knew our contribution would make a positive difference to the lives of Thunder Bay children, families, and residents of all ages. It is gratifying to know that we contributed to the building of an excellent indoor facility that all can use to stay healthy and active playing a sport that many love year-round".
Charlene and Ian MacRae
A record-breaking $147,500 was donated to the facility from individual donors, ranging from $50 donations to over $5,000, with an additional $383,000 from local sponsors. It is because of the generous donations from people like the Scotts and MacRaes that the facility was able to open in March 2026, offering adult and youth programming, social leagues and tournaments that will bring economic growth to the community through sport tourism. By donating money, members of the community became part of the facility’s success and legacy
“Living in a part of the country that has seven months of winter, or near winter conditions, with iffy weather on many days through the summer, the city has been short on indoor facilities for sports other than hockey. Many people would go south to get their tennis fixe and the many children we put through the summer tennis were left with nothing. It gave us a warm sense of community to be able to donate to the construction of this fantastic facility. It’s only been open for a few weeks for winter play and as older adults we already feel the improvement in our strength and health. We have welcomed new people to tennis and others that had played years ago have returned to the tennis community by joining the club. Gaggles of children have come now; and the joy they show to run around without snowsuits on makes our investment definitely worth it.
Evelyn & Bryan Scott
On behalf of Tennis Canada, we thank the donors of Thunder Bay, and all our donors across Canada who generously support programming and facilities that create safe and meaningful opportunities for players of every age and ability to enjoy the great sport of Tennis.
If you are interested in learning more about upcoming projects in your area or becoming a Tennis Canada donor, please contact Anzette Fernandes afernandes@tenniscanada.com, or you can donate here.
