New beach volleyball courts open at Canadore and Nipissing University campus
A new set of beach volleyball courts officially opened at Nipissing University and Canadore College on Thursday, giving young athletes in the region a high-quality facility to hone their skills.
Young athletes - Education Centre Beach Courts -volleyball
Young athletes honing their volleyball skills at Nipissing University and Canadore College's new Education Centre Beach Courts on July 3, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)
The Education Centre Beach Courts were unveiled with a ceremonial serve, and players wasted no time putting them to use. Among them were Katelyn Smart and Emma Underwood, teammates who expressed excitement about the new addition to their volleyball community.
Education Centre Beach Courts open
Young athletes celebrate the opening of Nipissing University and Canadore College's new Education Centre Beach Courts on July 3, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)
'I've been playing since I was about 12 years old. I started with the U12. I'm already in two different leagues and I've been having a great time,' Smart told CTV News.
'I play on Mondays and Wednesdays. I play a U18 women's league and I play a coed division.'
Underwood, 16, highlighted the growth of the sport in the area.
'Our team, we only have four players on my team, Katelyn being one of them, and it really makes us like really close together. A few years ago, we would not have had this many players,' she said.
'It's great to see the sport grow. In U14, me and my partner brought home a silver, and that was in 2019. I've been playing for three years.'
The courts meet Fédération Internationale de Volleyball standards, featuring Olympic-grade sand. Club president Sylvie Laperriere, who began working on the project three years ago, emphasized the facility's amenities.
Sylvie Laperriere
North Bay Jr. Lakers Volleyball Club President Sylvie Laperriere talks to media ahead of the ceremonial first serve at Nipissing University and Canadore College's new Education Centre Beach Courts on July 3, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)
'We also have foot washing and water filling stations,' she said. 'We have lights that we can have on to play later in the evening.'
With approximately 150 players in the North Bay Jr. Lakers Volleyball Club, the facility is expected to bolster both local play and regional tournaments. There are also ongoing discussions about Ontario University Athletics potentially adding varsity beach volleyball – a move that would position Nipissing and Canadore as ready hosts.
'To me, it appears like a national-level facility where we might consider hosting events,' said Nipissing University President Kevin Wamsley.
'Certainly, we've got the residence rooms, we've got the food capacity, and we've got this beautiful facility.'
Nipissing University President Kevin Walmsley
Nipissing University President Kevin Walmsley talks with city news at the ceremonial unveilling of Nipissing University and Canadore College's new Education Centre Beach Courts on July 3, 2025. (Eric Taschner/CTV News Northern Ontario)
Laperriere added that the club is collaborating with Tourism North Bay and Volleyball Canada to explore hosting higher-level competitions in the future.
'We're just trying to open up and see through with baby steps so far,' she said.
'But we are trying to see if we can look into those things for next summer.'
For now, young players like Smart are simply thrilled to have a top-tier venue to enjoy the sport.
'I love it and can't get enough of it,' she said.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
36 minutes ago
- CTV News
Air Force fighter jet to conduct flyby at Blue Bombers game
Winnipeg Blue Bombers helmets on the sideline during practice in Hamilton, Ont., Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nick Iwanyshyn The Royal Canadian Air Force is currently scheduled to conduct a flypast over a Winnipeg Blue Bombers game this week. A CF-18 Hornet fighter jet from 409 Squadron in Cold Lake, Alta., will conduct a flyby between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m. over Princess Auto Stadium. Thursday's game between the Blue Bombers and the Ottawa Redblacks also serves as Canadian Armed Forces Appreciation Night. According to the Canadian Armed Forces, the jet will fly no more than 500 feet above the highest obstacle on the route. The flyby is dependent on weather and flying conditions.
CTV News
40 minutes ago
- CTV News
Clement and Varsho hit homers as Blue Jays kick off homestand with 5-1 win over Cubs
Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement celebrates his three-run homer against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning of a Major League Baseball game in Toronto on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette TORONTO — Ernie Clement hit a three-run homer and Jose Berrios threw 5 1/3 effective innings as the Toronto Blue Jays kicked off a six-game homestand Tuesday with a 5-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs. With Daulton Varsho and Ty France aboard in the fourth inning, Clement turned on a first-pitch slider from Javier Assad for his ninth homer of the season. Varsho added a solo shot in the eighth inning for his 12th homer of the year. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had three hits for the Blue Jays, who improved their American League-best record to 70-50. Toronto also owns the best home record in the AL at 39-19. Berrios (9-4) struggled with control at times — he issued four walks — but still kept the Cubs (67-51) in check. He held them to two hits and did not give up a run. The right-hander escaped a bases-loaded jam in the third by fanning cleanup hitter Carson Kelly, one of three strikeouts on the night. Assad (0-1), reinstated from the 60-day injured list before the game, allowed four earned runs and eight hits over four innings. He had two strikeouts and one walk. The Cubs scored their lone run in the seventh inning when Michael Busch drove in Dansby Swanson with a single. Chicago loaded the bases before Brendon Little struck out Pete Crow-Armstrong to end the threat. Mason Fluharty, Tommy Nance, Louis Varland and Jeff Hoffman also worked in relief for the Blue Jays in front of a sellout crowd of 43,003. Toronto outhit Chicago 12-4. The game took two hours 43 minutes to play. KEY MOMENT Guerrero and Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette delivered a highlight-reel play in the fourth inning. Bichette speared a Nico Hoerner grounder and made a rainbow throw to first base from the outfield grass. Guerrero nearly did the splits to get Hoerner by a quarter step for the out. KEY STAT The Blue Jays improved to 23-11 against National League opponents. It's the best winning percentage (. 677) in interleague play in the major leagues. UP NEXT The three-game series continues Wednesday at Rogers Centre. Kevin Gausman (8-8, 3.85 earned-run average) was scheduled to start for Toronto against fellow right-hander Cade Horton (6-3, 3.18). This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 12, 2025. Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Red Sox squash record-breaking Berries team to advance to WCBL championship
The Regina Red Sox are going to the Western Canadian Baseball League (WCBL) Final after defeating the Saskatoon Berries 6-2 in Game 3 of the East Division Final Tuesday night. On the road, Regina got out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Only for Saskatoon to immediately tie the game at one in the bottom half. Red Sox all-stars Matthew Fox and Brady Bye would seal the game in the 7th inning with back-to-back RBI doubles to give Regina a 4-run lead. Reliever Ayden Page would close out the ball game pitching 3.2 innings scoreless innings, giving up just two hits, a walk and striking out two Saskatoon batters. The berry pie has been made. FANS, WE ARE GOING TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP ❤️😤🔥 — Regina Red Sox (@ReginaRedSox) August 13, 2025 The Berries' season ends after they set a league record, 46 wins in the regular season. In their two playoff series against Moose Jaw and the Red Sox, Saskatoon lost both game ones before staying off elimination and force a third game in each series. The win sends the Red Sox to their first WCBL championship since 2019. It is also their seventh appearance in the league final since 2010 – the most of any team in the WCBL. However, Regina has not won a league title in 13 years, when they won back-to-back championships in 2011 and 2012. Regina now readies to take on the Sylvan Lake Gulls in the league final. Sylvan Lake has not lost a game yet this postseason, sweeping the Lethbridge Bulls in the West semi-finals and then Okotoks in the Division final. Game 1 is scheduled for Thursday night at Currie Field, first pitch at 7:05 p.m. Because the Gulls had a better regular season record than Regina, games 2 and 3 will both be at Gulls Stadium.
