Emerging Female Leaders Program

The Emerging Female Leader Program was established in 2018 to attract women and girls to the game of squash. Clubs and facilities benefit in having a female champion help to promote Women’s Squash Week resulting in increased participation of women year over year!

2022/23 Emerging Female Leader in Squash

This year Squash BC is excited to award Vancouver Squash Academy/River Club’s Kira Gwadry the Emerging Female Leader grant! This $500 grant supports a female leader in her design and delivery of squash programs for women and girls through the remainder 2023. Kira will be leading weekly sessions at River Club with support and mentorship from Jessica Almaguer. The weekly programming will have an introductory focus for women and girls to be introduced to the sport of squash with the aim to build a passion for the sport and confidence among the participants to register for the upcoming VSL and other tournaments this coming season. We look forward to seeing this program take place at River Club and continue the growth of female participation in the Richmond area.

We thank our Women in Squash Partner Buntain Insurance for supporting this initiative. As part of Squash BC’s Women in Squash initiatives, the Emerging Female Leader Grant Program supports female leaders at Squash BC member clubs to promote the participation of women and girls in squash. Squash BC thanks all clubs that have nominated Female Ambassadors for this grant.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

  • 2021/22 – Rocio Lebolo of YWCA Racquet + Fitness Club, Dara Sklar of Squamish Squash Club
  • 2020/21 – Trish Campbell of Bayside Racquets Club, Jessica Evans of Cheam Leisure Centre
  • 2019/20 – Elsa Snyder of Bentall Athletic Club, Rebecca Vassilakakis of Nelson Squash Club

2021/22 Emerging Female Leaders in Squash

Rocio Lebolo

Rocio is an extremely easy-going and enthusiastic person who loves sharing her passion for the sport with others. Rocio will happily go on court with players of all levels and is very excited about the easing of restrictions for sport which will give her the opportunity to help introduce women to squash. In her first months as a YWCA volunteer, Rocio has proven to be a terrific role model for both the sport and our organization!
At the YWCA, Rocio will be coordinating a weekly Women’s Drop-in squash program. This program will initially focus on targeting existing YWCA members by providing a non-competitive, social avenue to try (or get back into) squash. In the fall (hopefully starting in September), Rocio will also be helping run the club’s Women’s Intro to Squash sessions.

 

Dara Sklar

Dara has been instrumental in the SSC’s effort to recruit women into the sport of Squash. She gives freely of her time in helping run programs as well as assisting with administrative functions of the Club. She clearly has a passion for the sport and her drive to see more people, especially women play the sport is infectious to others around her.
With the Covid situation improving, the Club plans to use their grant to revive the Ladies night program that has been so successful over the past years.

2020/21 Emerging Female Leaders in Squash

In February 2020, Squash BC was proud to present $500 grants to two clubs and their female leaders who promote women and girls in squash; Trish Campbell – Bayside Squash Club in Parksville and Jessica Evans – Cheam Leisure Center Mission/Chilliwack Squash Club. The grants are to be used to promote participation of women and girls in squash and to recognize female volunteers who are committed to promoting squash programs in their respective clubs.

“Jessica and Trish proved to be outstanding leaders in their communities in promoting squash to women and girls. Clubs rely on their volunteer hours to organize events such as women’s squash clinics, leagues, fun tournaments and socials. We really appreciate the time and effort from these individuals to connect with the squash community” stated Shelley Neil, Chair of the Women & Girls in Squash Committee.

Parksville’s Trish Campbell Helps to Double Squash Membership

The $500 Emerging Leaders grant has come at a time when the Bayside Squash Club is on an upswing. “This was not the case in 2018. We were losing members due to the loss of our social hub sports bar” said the thirty-five year squash veteran. “This year we took advantage of the promotional tools and momentum that Squash BC and Women’s Squash Week offers and really worked it in the community”.

“Trish played a major role in the success of our club and Women’s Squash Week” commented Jan Townend also a member of the local squash club. “She has been instrumental in inspiring new members step onto the court and put a racquet in their hand”.

Campbell and Townend’s efforts have paid off. The club’s membership has doubled helping to reenergize the members and club significantly.

Jessica Evans Boosts Women’s Squash in Chilliwack

For Jessica Evans of Chilliwack her love of the sport she has been playing for close to a decade is shared between two cities. She supports the squash program at Cheam Leisure Centre in Mission where she works with Parks & REC and she volunteers her time as a squash instructor a few hours a week at the Chilliwack Squash Club. “Jessica was willing to drive from Mission to Chilliwack every week to help run the ladies program in Chilliwack. The ladies look up to her as a high level female player and her presence inspires ladies to keep coming out to play. She runs the “hot boxes” Chilliwack Women’s Squash Facebook group to help with communication and a sense of community. She has recently completed her level 1 coaching certification and also sits on the board of the Chilliwack Squash Club” explained Shawn Zwierzchowski the resident squash pro at the Chilliwack Squash Club who submitted Jessica’s nomination.

2019/20 Emerging Female Leaders in Squash

Supporting Squash BC’s Women in Squash initiative, the purpose of these grants is to support member clubs that promote participation of women and girls in squash and to recognize female volunteers/participants who are committed to promoting squash programs for girls and women in their respective clubs.

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).

Click here for more information on the 2019 Emerging Leaders.

The 2019 grants were made possible by the generous support of ProMOTION Plus/Sport BC and BUNTAIN Insurance.

Emerging Female Leaders Forum ~ Summerland 2019

On October 5, 2019, Squash BC in partnership with the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) presented the Emerging Female Leaders Forum. The forum, the first of its kind Squash BC, was developed for the squash community and focused to increase squash participation and retention of women and in British Columbia.

“Great event!  Loved all the passion and enthusiasm from everyone!  Very motivated about moving forward with a bunch of the ideas and suggestions that came up, including having a central forum where all the participants as well as other like minded individuals can continue sharing experiences and feedback!”

Quote from Helen Kim, Ambassador, Women’s Squash Week, Vancouver Racquets Club