In June, Tennis Month shone a spotlight on the power of tennis to bring people together. This month, The Boulevard Club is helping make the sport more accessible through its Wheelchair Tennis Exhibition as part of Tennis Canada’s Game. Set. Roll campaign.
Funds raised will directly support Tennis Canada’s Ontario Recruitment & Development Program – an initiative designed to promote accessible participation and create a welcoming environment where individuals can play wheelchair tennis at a level that aligns with their skill level and interests.
Spearheaded by Paul Cairns, Tennis Director at The Boulevard Club, the campaign aims to raise awareness and funds to help remove barriers facing wheelchair tennis athletes across Ontario. Funds raised will support the purchase of sport wheelchairs and expand opportunities for individuals with disabilities to discover and participate in the sport.
The fundraising campaign will culminate with a Wheelchair Tennis Exhibition on August 23, where members and guests will have the opportunity to experience wheelchair tennis firsthand alongside Ontario-based wheelchair tennis athletes and coaches.
Photo : The Boulevard Club
The initiative also comes during a significant milestone year, as 2026 marks 50 years of wheelchair tennis, highlighting five decades of growth, opportunity and inclusion in the sport.
One of the biggest barriers to participation is access to equipment. A basic wheelchair suitable for tennis can cost approximately $5,000, while customized high-performance chairs can approach $12,000. Through this fundraiser, The Boulevard Club hopes to help address that challenge while inspiring greater support for adaptive tennis programming across the province.
Read also: Competition 101: Wheelchair
“Tennis has the power to change lives, and that impact should be available to everyone,” said Paul Cairns, Tennis Director at The Boulevard Club. “This fundraiser is about more than purchasing equipment. It’s about creating opportunities, raising awareness, and showing that wheelchair tennis has an important role in our tennis community. We hope this initiative encourages more clubs, organizations, and individuals to help make the sport accessible to all.”
Thanks to the support of one generous Boulevard Club member, Yuri Mykolyk, Game.Set.Roll is off to a strong start. Mykolyk has committed to donating $5K to purchase one sport chair suitable for tennis, bringing the campaign one step closer to its goal of five chairs, one for each decade wheelchair tennis has been played.
The August 23 exhibition is designed to build understanding and appreciation for wheelchair tennis by allowing participants to experience the sport from a new perspective. Attendees will hear directly from athletes about their journeys and gain insight into the challenges and opportunities that exist within adaptive sport.
Research and wheelchair tennis participant experiences have linked involvement in adaptive sport to improved physical and mental health, a stronger sense of belonging and community, increased confidence and improved opportunities in education and employment.
“The friendships, support, and opportunities I’ve found through wheelchair tennis have been amazing and inspiring. A year ago, I knew nothing about the sport – now I can’t imagine my life without it,” said Stefan Cook, wheelchair tennis player from Markham, ON.
The Boulevard Club has a long history of community engagement through initiatives such as its “Good Neighbour's Programme”, which helps support equity-deserving groups on their tennis journeys. The Wheelchair Tennis Exhibition represents another step in its commitment to using sport as a factor to drive connection, inclusion and positive social impact.
The Boulevard Club was recognized as the 2025 Year-Round Facility Excellence Award recipient by the Tennis Professionals Association (TPA), recognizing its commitment to tennis programming and coach development.
Donations to the campaign can be made through Tennis Canada’s fundraising page, and will contribute to the overall federation goal of raising enough funds to purchase a total of 20 new chairs by the end of 2026.
The campaign aligns with Tennis Canada’s vision of "A Lifetime of Play.” By creating more opportunities to play, Tennis Canada continues to invest in health, well-being, inclusion and stronger communities across the country.
Read also: Ace your Health Through Tennis
“Access to the right equipment and programming can make all the difference for someone who wants to try wheelchair tennis. Initiatives like this help open doors for the next generation of players and show that there is a place for everyone in our sport,” said Kai Schrameyer, National Coach, Wheelchair Tennis at Tennis Canada. “The more opportunities we create today, the stronger and more inclusive our tennis community will be tomorrow.”
The Davis Cup is coming to Quebec City September 18 and 19 as Team Canada hosts France in the Davis Cup Qualifiers Second Round. Tickets are on sale now. CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS!
Feature Photo: Barry McCluskey
