Women in Squash
B.C. is developing a thriving community of female squash players that come together to play, compete, and share their love of the game. For opportunities to get more involved in squash, either recreationally or competitively, check out the following events and/or get in touch with your local squash facility to discover what opportunities are available for your level of play. Get involved and connect with our community of passionate players!
Women's Squash Week ~ Sept 14th to 22nd, 2019
Women’s Squash Week (WSW) is an opportunity for clubs to encourage women and girls of all ages and skill levels to participate in singles and/or doubles squash in a fun, social environment. The goal is social, not competitive, play to inspire women to get back on court after the summer, reconnect with old friends, and introduce new women players to the sport.
Sign Up for an Event near you!WSW Toolkit for Clubs WSW Club Registration Form
Thanks to our 2019 WSW sponsors...
Faces of Women in Squash
The Faces of Women in Squash is dedicated to highlighting the broad spectrum of female squash players in British Columbia. This section celebrates the diverse group of women and girls, from beginner to seasoned player, who play the sport for fitness, competition and fun. We hope that you will feel inspired by their stories.
Sophie Dorrius - July 2019
As soon as she could hold a racquet, Revelstoke native Sophie Dorrius started playing squash. Her Dad Kevin Dorrius started the then three year old with a beach ball gradually moving to smaller balls.
She says she remembers the close losses more than significant wins, especially the ones where she was close to winning against a very strong player. She says she has learned to focus on what to do differently instead of what she did wrong.
Hermione Cao - July 2019
Hermione Cao started playing squash three years ago in summer squash camps and private lessons with Richard Yendell, Jericho Tennis Club's resident Squash Pro. Initially, she says she “honestly thought squash was boring.” But the challenge of playing other people and an awareness of how the nature of the game changes as she plays opponents with varying rankings kept the 13-year-old Crofton House student in the game.
Click Here to View Past Faces of Women in Squash
Grants for Emerging Female Leaders in Squash
In 2019, Squash BC was proud to present two $500 grants to clubs that promote women and girls in squash ~ Bentall Athletic Centre in Vancouver (Elsa Snyder) and Nelson Squash Club (Rebecca Vassilakakis).
The 2019 grants were made possible by the generous support of ProMOTION Plus/Sport BC and BUNTAIN Insurance.
Two Women Crowned Emerging Leaders in BC Squash Community
Two British Columbian women have been recognized as Champions of women's squash in the province. Elsa Snyder of Vancouver (Bentall Centre Athletic Centre) and Rebecca Vassilakakis of Castlegar (Nelson Squash Club) were both named as emerging female leaders in the sport of squash, with each of their clubs being recipients of a $500 grant award from the Squash BC Emerging Female in Squash program.
This program was established in 2018 as a new initiative to attract and retain women and girls in squash. Clubs were encouraged to identify and nominate a female ambassador who is committed to promoting the sport to girls and women at their respective clubs. Eligibility for the grant program was open to the 18 participating clubs in the annual September Women’s Squash Week . Through an online nomination process, participating clubs nominated a female champion who best aligned with program criteria: going over and beyond to promote and identify opportunities to participate as well as encourage overall enjoyment of the sport.
The grants are to be used by the clubs to promote and deliver squash programs for girls and women through the calendar year (2019).
Over the past 20 years in Canada, female participation in sport in Canada has continued to decline and Squash BC has also been impacted by this downward trend. "Reversing this decline is a major priority for our organization and growth initiatives such as the Emerging Female Leader in Squash and strategic partnerships with organizations such as ProMOTION Plus and Buntain Insurance directly align with our sport association's mission and strategic direction" said Natasha Doucas, President of Squash BC.
The Emerging Female Leader in Squash program is presented by Squash BC in partnership with ProMOTION PLUS and Buntain Insurance.
Elsa Snyder (right) Rebecca Vassilakakis (left)
Doubles - Hardball
Squash BC has an active and engaged doubles community. For more information Click Here.
League Play
Playing league is a great way to get/stay fit, meet new friends, and have fun. There are many opportunities for women to play league in B.C., both recreationally and competitively.
The Vancouver Squash League (VSL) being the largest league in the province is an amateur league for players in the Greater Vancouver area. There are both open and women only divisions. The teams are club based and players and it is expected that players are club members. For more information please check out the VSL website.
Victoria has a Women's Squash League. Please contact one of the local squash clubs to get more information. Cedar Hill Squash Club; St. Michael's University School; and University of Victoria.
For those in other parts of the province, please drop by your local squash club to see what leagues are available. You can find a list of our member clubs by clicking here.
And, for those who are interested in Doubles, Vancouver has a Ladies Doubles League (VLDL). The clubs that offers doubles are: Vancouver Racquets Club; Evergreen Squash Club; Hollyburn Country Club; and Vancouver Lawn and Tennis Club. Please contact the individual clubs to find out more about doubles squash.
There are more leagues across the province. Check with your local club or contact the Squash BC office at [email protected]
A Special Thanks To Our Women in Squash Sponsors
