Calgary pickeball enthusiasts are fortunate to benefit from the efforts of Pickleball Alberta’s volunteer of the year – Susan “Susie” Graham.
Susie joined the Calgary Pickleball Club board in 2023 in order to advance her passion for group play in tournament format. Her love for the sport grew after playing in tournaments across Canada and the US. “It was my desire to recreate the positive atmosphere and experience that I loved about tournaments for people in Calgary and beyond. And that’s what we have done with the help of many CPC volunteers,” she says.
“I come from a squash background and, after three knee surgeries, I was relegated to the sidelines. I tried indoor tennis and realized I would never be able to compete at this stage of life with others who had been playing their whole life. Then I ran into a friend who suggested I join her for a game of pickleball. After that first night I thought, ‘I can do this and play competitively again’ – I fell in love,” Susie explains.
Susie continues to sharpen her skills by taking occasional lessons and she’s coordinating two pickleball tournaments this summer. The first was on Saturday, June 14th and the second one will be September 13. Susie notes CPC is fortunate to be partnering with The Rotary Club of Calgary for the planning and promotion of the 2025 tournaments.
Known for her personal tagline, “life is good, pickleball makes it better”, Susie recently found romance on the courts and started dating a fellow pickleball player and tournament volunteer.
Congratulations, Susie! Thanks for all you do to support our local pickleball community.
