The game of squash thrives when there is growth at the local and regional levels. Squash Ontario’s Community Awards program was created by the Board of Directors to recognize the contributions made by volunteers, corporations, officials, coaches and players at all levels of the game.
Please join us in celebrating and thanking the following recipients of 2023-2024 Outstanding Achievement Award:
Maya Deratnay
Maya was nominated for this award after a match during the 2024 Ontario Open. A close match resulted in a disappointing 5-game loss for Maya. After the customary hand-shake and cool down from the match, Maya took the time to again shake her opponent’s hand and offer sincere congratulations while her opponent was being celebrated by friends and family. It was very impressive and classy to watch a young player put aside her disappointment and celebrate another player. This is the definition of sportsmanship.
Nominated by Jenny Truong
Shannon Gemmell
Shannon has spent hours of volunteer time putting together the Western Ontario Women’s League (WOW) last year which was the inception of the league. Her passion for growing the game (especially the women’s game) outside of Toronto is a thing to be celebrated. She put in a lot of hours with the only reward being seeing women come together to have fun and play some squash. The women’s squash community is lucky to have such a dedicated volunteer in Shannon.
Nominated by Laura Savage
Keln Huang
Keln was nominated by several players at the LA Fitness - Don Mills club where he volunteers his time to build member engagement. His personal love for the gave has revived activity at the facility. Two years ago squash programming was a “tattered sign-up sheet stuck on a squash court door” and now a “buzzing” and “on fire”. He personally launched new tournaments, leagues, inter-city teams, lessons, and junior programs which has resulted in a strong and thriving squash community with 80-100 players. He is dedicated to building squash in the community for all levels. He makes a point to organize squash events that not only focus on competition, but also on sportsmanship and creating a social culture around the sport. Through hard work, kindness and exceptional organization, Keln has elevated the squash game at LA Fitness, Don Mills.
Nicole Jennex & Tania Kumar
Nicole and Tania are well known in the women’s squash community for their enthusiasm for the sport, getting people together, and having fun. They each had their individual paths to squash and their own squash communities, and eventually found themselves volunteering on the Toronto & District Women’s Squash Association committee, as well as at their respective clubs.
They are being nominated together thanks to their efforts stepping up to take over the Women’s Masters Team Tournament. After an unfortunate fire at the Greystone Club, this event needed a new host in 2024 and with less than six months to go, they stepped in and volunteered themselves to organize it. This is a huge undertaking as the event is the only all-women’s tournament on the calendar that sells out immediately thanks to a history of successful tournament organizers setting the stage for a well-organized, high value, and top priority social event of the year. They had big shoes to fill with very little time to do it and pulled it off.
The significance of Tania and Nicole’s contribution comes at an consequential time for female squash. Across all sports, 2.18 males to every 1 female is the average gender participation ratio. Pre-pandemic, squash outperformed the average at 1.9 males to every 1 female. Sadly, that gender gap has increased to 2.12 last season and 2.50 this season. With this in mind, Squash Ontario has laser focused female participation goals across all events this season, and with Tania and Nicole’s support, we have started the season off on a very high note. Thank you to you both for the huge role you play every day in women’s squash.
Terry Pritchard
Terry has been a long time member of Headwaters Racquet Club, and a valued member on our squash courts. As some may know, our club has been without a consistent Head Squash Pro since shortly after covid. Given we are on the outskirts of the GTA, it is a hard sell to attract a pro as the demand is just not as high as in the city. Noticing our squash department needed some life brought back to it, Terry took it upon himself to reach out to offer to help grow squash at the club. He has volunteered countless hours doing just that. In addition to meeting with myself [Lindsay Philips], the racquets administrator, for several hours, he would get on the courts with new members to teach them the game, spending hours helping them get comfortable in a new sport. He made himself available for a weekly squash try it night for members, and a separate weekly lady’s squash try it night, really trying to get women back on our courts. He took the reins of our House League ensuring exceptional organization and continued participation. And ran a seamless Club Championship. He is also helping to plan the return of the HRC Open in the fall. While I know Terry doesn't do any of this for recognition, I think he truly deserves it. He is a community member, who loves the game, and wants to do all that he can to grow the sport and share his love of the game.