The History of Paddle in Canada

The sport of Paddle in Canada had its beginnings in Calgary, Alberta. The sport was introduced to Canada by Bill Stamile, who first saw the game played while on vacation in Argentina in 1991. He founded the Paddle Association of Canada in February 1992, as a federally incorporated Canadian Registered Amateur Athletic Association. The main objective of the PAC is to encourage and develop the widest participation and highest proficiency in Paddle in Canada.

The first Paddle court was built in mid-1992 by Bill and his brother, Angelo inside a Calgary warehouse, which operated for nearly one year. The court was used to attract some of Calgary’s top tennis and squash players, many of whom still play the game today. In May 1993,the first Paddle team representing Canada internationally played the Corcuera Cup in Acapulco, Mexico.

The PAC was invited to join the World Paddle Federation at this time and has continued as a member in good standing. The PAC has participated in over a dozen other tournaments including six world championships, most recently in Murcia, Spain in October of 2006.

The PAC has been actively involved in promoting the sport of Paddle to Canadians through a series of clinics, orientations, tournaments and special events. The current PAC headquarters located at a public school facility in Calgary has provided a base for a substantial increase in outdoor Paddle participation with demand growing for a year round indoor Paddle facility.

The History of Paddle

Paddle originated in Acapulco, Mexico in 1969.  Enrique Corcuera, a Mexican industrialist in search of a less strenuous family-oriented racquet game, altered tennis court dimensions, rules and the racquet to create the new sport.

The Mexican elite enjoyed paddle for several years before it was picked up by the Spanish royal family and taken to Madrid, where it was first introduced to Europe.  In the late 1970’s, the game was introduced to Argentina, again as a game for a wealthier set of people.