Fort Simpson was the site for Table Tennis North's latest hosting of its Table Tennis 4 All initiative. More than 20 participants from multiple communities came together for a weekend of instruction and friendly games on March 22 and 23.

Thorsten Gohl, Table Tennis North's executive director, said everything started with an introduction to the rules of the sport followed by activities and games that focused on skill development. 

Once that was all over, it was time for tournaments where everyone got the chance to show off what they had learned, he added, with prizes for the top players in each division.

Bob Howard, Team NT's 2023 Canada Games table tennis coach, was on hand for the weekend and said he was excited about how it all went. 

"I had a good time," he said. "Everyone was friendly, keen, and very sportsmanlike. It was a pleasant experience, and the improvement was remarkable."

Something that came out of the event was a new collaboration with the Fort Simpson Speed Skating Club, which will now be incorporating off-ice sessions with Table Tennis North. 

Gohl said the new partnership could potentially lead to the establishment of a new table tennis club in Fort Simpson, which would help support the growth of the sport in the community.