An enduring dedication to the sport he loves to play has earned a Yellowknife Tennis Club member a national award.
John St. Louis was recently bestowed with the Distinguished Service Award by Tennis Canada for 2023 SA国际影视传媒� a distinction that recognizes an outstanding commitment and long-term contribution to the sport of tennis.
St. Louis said he was honoured when he was contacted by Tennis Canada, Tennis NWT and the executive director of the Yellowknife Tennis Club SA国际影视传媒� all offering their congratulations for receiving the award.
SA国际影视传媒淚 was surprised and grateful to receive it and I'm very grateful to have others acknowledge the contribution that I made, and all the time and effort, even though I enjoyed it along the way,SA国际影视传媒� St. Louis said of his years of involvement in club activities.
CEO of Tennis Canada, Gavin Ziv, said in an email that St. Louis SA国际影视传媒渉as notably helped the growth and popularity of the game.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淣ot only do the (Distinguished Service Awards) DSAs honour the individual, but they also positively acknowledge tennis participation in their tennis community,SA国际影视传媒� Ziv said.
A plaque has been made in St. LouisSA国际影视传媒� name which will be presented to him at a ceremony organized locally, he added.
Valued contributions
Slavica Jovic, director and secretary of Tennis NWT, said the contributions St. Louis has made to the sport are exceptional.
SA国际影视传媒淭oday is a wonderful day for our organization,SA国际影视传媒� Jovic stated. SA国际影视传媒淛ohn has made a major impact on growing tennis in Yellowknife and (the) NWT for years, helping to greatly increase the participation in, and popularity of, tennis in the North of Canada.SA国际影视传媒�
St. Louis said while he played tennis as a youngster, his competitive tennis career began when he moved to Yellowknife in 2005.
SA国际影视传媒淚 don't think I played in a tournament before then. I played in lots here because the Yellowknife Tennis Club is so well organized that they have lots of tournaments every summer.
SA国际影视传媒淎nd so there were opportunities to play in friendly tournaments, where I hadn't had those opportunities before,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
After joining the Tennis NWT board in 2013, St. Louis soon became president for a five-year term. He was also on the board of the Yellowknife Tennis Club.
Jovic said he helped the growth and popularity of the game SA国际影视传媒渢hrough club management and community club involvement.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淗e volunteered his time and skills at tournaments, promotions, community activities and any other developmental programs that helped to grow the game,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
SA国际影视传媒淭his is an incredible achievement for our team and for the club. The Yellowknife Tennis Club is truly a special place, made up of incredible and talented people who love tennis,SA国际影视传媒� Jovic said.
Ziv said such outstanding efforts SA国际影视传媒渄o not go unnoticed.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淩ecognizing these individuals shows how we are able to continue to be a world-leading tennis nation and grow the sport on local, provincial, and national levels.SA国际影视传媒�
Ziv said tennis is a rapidly growing sport in Canada - one that builds community and promotes a healthy lifestyle as an SA国际影视传媒渁ccessible and safe sportSA国际影视传媒� - and cited a YouGov Canada study which indicated in 2023, almost five million Canadians participated in tennis.
Loving the game
St. Louis said there is SA国际影视传媒渘o sport like it.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒淚 was privileged to work with a number of very capable, hardworking, generous people on the board. And that's what kept me going and made it worthwhile.
SA国际影视传媒淪o, while I'm being recognized, really everything I was a part of was just as a member of a team,SA国际影视传媒� St. Louis said.
SA国际影视传媒淚 will never stop playing tennis as long as I have the ability to hold a racket.SA国际影视传媒�
St. Louis joins previous winners of Tennis CanadaSA国际影视传媒檚 Distinguished Service Award in the Northwest Territories: Dennis Bevington, Richard Daitch, Nikola Jovic, Slavica Jovic, Tamara Jovic, Jeannie Scott and Shirley Zhang.
