New tennis courts open in Winnipeg’s Garden City neighbourhood as part of national program 

A newly restored set of tennis courts in Winnipeg’s Garden City neighbourhood is now open to the public — part of a Canada-wide effort to expand access to the sport and get more young people playing. 

The project is backed by Tennis Canada and National Bank through the Play Your Court program, which aims to build or revamp 100 facilities across the country by 2030. So far, 34 sites are complete. 

In addition to the Winnipeg courts, three more projects are underway in Ontario and Quebec. 

The local initiative received $300,000 in provincial funding, while the City of Winnipeg provided the land. The facility is primarily for students at Garden City Collegiate but is also open to the wider community. 

Tennis Manitoba will run programming for both youth and adults at the site. 

“Tennis is growing fast in Canada, especially among youth,” said Mohamed Ismath, board member at Tennis Canada. “We want to make sure there are enough facilities to meet that demand — and to create more opportunities for kids to grow into strong citizens.” 

A 2023 YouGov survey found that nearly 5 million Canadians played tennis last year, with an 11 per cent growth in participation among youth. 

The Garden City courts are also part of the City of Winnipeg’s Youth Programming Partnerships initiative, which will be presented to council for ongoing support. The program focuses on giving young people more access to sports, recreation, and community engagement opportunities. 

“For our students, the courts offer another outlet for physical activity — fostering not only health and fitness, but also teamwork, sportsmanship, social growth and self-confidence,” said Tony Kreml, superintendent of the Seven Oaks School Division. 

Mayor Scott Gillingham says the project aligns with the city’s broader goals of community connection through activity. 

“It does not matter if you are a good tennis player. It does not matter your skill level,” Gillingham said. “It matters more that you show up at the court, get active and be involved.” 

June is recognized as Tennis Month in Canada, and organizers say this project highlights how public partnerships can help build momentum for the sport at the grassroots level.