Work underway on revamped pickleball, tennis courts in Hantsport, N.S.

January 17, 2024

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HANTSPORT, N.S. — Work is underway on a fitting memorial tribute to a longtime fitness advocate in Hantsport.

Over the winter months, the Renda VanderToorn Memorial Courts will start to take shape, with a revamped, fully accessible clubhouse stationed nearby.

“Renda was just such an important person in this community in respect to being an advocate for sport, recreation, and fitness,” said Brian Bishop, a driving force on the Hantsport Memorial Community Centre (HMCC) subcommittee that’s steering the project.

“She was involved in not only those things but she was one of Hantsport’s greatest promoters of this community,” he continued. “You’d see her every year involved with July 1 activities, Remembrance Day activities. She just played a pivotal role in this community.”

The final plans for the new memorial courts at the Hantsport Memorial Community Centre were unveiled recently. From left, Michael Calderwood (representing the tennis community) and Pat Lunn (representing the pickleball community) discussed the plans with family members of the late Renda VanderToorn — her husband Casey VanderToorn and siblings Paula Newcombe and Randy Casey. – Carole Morris-Underhill

During her 40-year career as a physical education teacher, it was common to see VanderToorn bring her gym class to the 18-acre grounds. She was a lifelong, multi-sport athlete, enjoying golf, track and field, pickleball and tennis, and became quite involved with the Nova Scotia 55-Plus Games.

At 61, VanderToorn died after a brief illness in August 2022. In lieu of flowers, her family requested donations be made to HMCC – a not-for-profit charitable organization that provides recreational, social and cultural activities.

Around $27,000 in donations poured in, with the board of directors deciding to do something in her memory.

As she was passionate about pickleball, upgrading and renaming the HMCC courts just made sense.

“She was just a very huge advocate for being active,” said Ben Johnson, the HMCC recreation director.

He said when he switched careers and started with HMCC, he considered VanderToorn a mentor, knowing he could bounce ideas off of her.

“She never stopped. She had such a love for Hantsport; such a love of kids. For anyone that was trying their best, she was there to support them,” said Johnson.

“She really left an impression on a lot of people – I’m going to say thousands and thousands of people along the way.”

Officials involved with the soon-to-be revamped Renda VanderToorn Memorial Courts say the complex will have a positive impact not only on Hantsport but on the sport of tennis and pickleball throughout the region. From left are West Hants Deputy Mayor Paul Morton, Brianna Benedict, the assistant manager of Payzant Home Hardware in Hantsport, and Ben Johnson, the recreation director for the Hantsport Memorial Community Centre. - Carole Morris-Underhill — Officials involved with the soon-to-be revamped Renda VanderToorn Memorial Courts say the complex will have a positive impact not only on Hantsport but on the sport of tennis and pickleball throughout the region. From left are West Hants Deputy Mayor Paul Morton, Brianna Benedict, the assistant manager of Payzant Home Hardware in Hantsport, and Ben Johnson, the recreation director for the Hantsport Memorial Community Centre. – Carole Morris-Underhill

What’s planned

Big Sky Builders Inc., of Port Williams, Maritime Tennis Court Builders and Refinishers, and Nova Fencing, both of New Glasgow, have been hired to see the project to fruition.

The existing courts will be resurfaced, repairs will be made to the fencing, plus new entrance gates and ramps will be added to the make the courts accessible. The former tennis court and rink building will also be renovated and repurposed.

Beacon Hill Home and Property Designs, a Gaspereau company, developed plans to bring the building up to code, expand the footprint, and ensure the facility is accessible for all users. The building, which has yet to be named, will be outfitted with heat and cooling pumps, and a kitchenette will be added for social functions.

“It’s a modernization that’s been needed here,” said Johnson.

An outdoor, accessible public washroom will also be added.

The existing clubhouse building at the Hantsport Memorial Community Centre will be getting more than a facelift. Big Sky Builders has been contracted to completely renovate the building, bringing it up to code and making it accessible to all. Additionally, a public, barrier-free outdoor washroom will also be built. - Carole Morris-Underhill — The existing clubhouse building at the Hantsport Memorial Community Centre will be getting more than a facelift. Big Sky Builders has been contracted to completely renovate the building, bringing it up to code and making it accessible to all. Additionally, a public, barrier-free outdoor washroom will also be built. – Carole Morris-Underhill

“It won’t be open 24/7 but it will be open certain hours of the day,” Johnson said, noting it will be especially convenient for the users of the adjacent dog park and playground.

Bishop said aside from the donations made to the HMCC Renda VanderToorn Memorial Fund, West Hants Regional Municipality provided a $350,000 grant, the HMCC board provided a contribution, and there were in-kind donations from Payzant Home Hardware’s Hantsport store, Manta World Sport and Annapolis Valley Pickleball.

“Pickleball has taken off because of Renda, right across the province,” said Paul Morton, West Hants’ deputy mayor.

He said council was fully behind the project as it focuses on accessibility and inclusion.

“She was a great advocate for the whole area. She did a lot of great (things) for the people in Hantsport, and outside of Hantsport, as a gym teacher and an instructor through all kinds of sports and through all of her life,” said Morton.

“The municipality is really excited about the project and can’t wait to see it fulfilled.”

Two clubs, one roof

Pat Lunn, with the Hantsport pickleball club, and Michael Calderwood, with the recently revived Hantsport tennis club, played off each other’s sentences as they described how great the new courts and clubhouse will be for their groups.

Lunn, who knew VanderToorn well, has been playing pickleball for about five years. She said VanderToorn promoted the sport and Lunn believes the new facility will help grow it even more.

“We’ve got over 100 people right now just in the pickleball community,” said Lunn. “It’s growing all the time.”

From left, Nick Zamora, the president of Hantsport Memorial Community Centre (HMCC), Ben Johnson, the HMCC recreation director, and Tyler Fletcher, owner of Big Sky Builders, signed contracts late last year for work on the Renda VanderToorn Memorial Courts project. - Contributed — From left, Nick Zamora, the president of Hantsport Memorial Community Centre (HMCC), Ben Johnson, the HMCC recreation director, and Tyler Fletcher, owner of Big Sky Builders, signed contracts late last year for work on the Renda VanderToorn Memorial Courts project. – Contributed

On the tennis side, 2023 marked the first year the sport returned to Hantsport thanks to Calderwood and his wife, Chris, and there were about 50 members. Chris plays wheelchair tennis and there’s already interest growing in that aspect of the sport heading into this summer.

Both sports organizations will operate out of the new clubhouse, will have some storage on site, and have a play time schedule. They see this as a win for all involved.

“We can be an example here in Hantsport of how to work together,” said Calderwood. “It can be an example to other clubs that this is how it can be done.”

Fitting tribute

VanderToorn’s husband, Casey VanderToorn, and her siblings Randy Carey and Paula Newcombe, are among those excited to see the project finished in 2024.

“Every time I drive by and see them playing pickleball and tennis, I think of her,” said Carey.

“I know Renda would be very proud for sure, and honoured to have this being done in her memory.”

Newcombe described it as a fitting tribute to her sister.

“She worked so hard and she gave a lot of her time up to volunteer with every sport in the community. All the kids that she taught loved her. She never stopped. I don’t know where she had the energy,” said Newcombe.

This is the vision for the Renda VanderToorn Memorial Courts in Hantsport. - Contributed — This is the vision for the Renda VanderToorn Memorial Courts in Hantsport. – Contributed

VanderToorn ensured every child had a chance to play – even if that meant having multiple basketball teams or using her own money to assist them.

Newcombe said VanderToorn not only motivated people to get healthy and be active, but she listened and provided advice. She was involved in their lives outside of school, and because of that, so many people have shared messages with the family about the impact she had.

“People ask if she had any children of her own. She didn’t, but there were thousands of children she looked after. I’m very proud of her for that,” said Carey.

“There will be a lot of kids who never got to know Renda that are going to be using the facilities. It’ll be nice to have the dedication to her.”

Family members said they have so many people to thank for spearheading this project. For them, it’s touching to know she was loved by so many.

“It’s keeping her memory alive,” Carey said.