Worldwide, approximately 300 million used tennis balls wind up in landfills every year, taking over 400 years to decompose. Now that’s a lot of waste! Recycle Balls Canada wants to end that by taking grounded rubber and felt of the tennis balls you recycle and builds new court surfaces, plant and garden mulch, playgrounds and much more. This year St. James will be using Recycle Balls Canada for our used tennis ball donations as we now have convenient courtside bins available so that you can do your part! We would like to thank Gary Hawkes of Performance Tennis for sponsoring these bins for the club and allowing us to participate in such an important program. Together we are reducing our carbon footprint as a club while enjoying the great sport of tennis !

National Capital Tennis Association

The Ontario Tennis Association (OTA) is the provincial sport governing body for tennis in Ontario and has roots dating back to 1890. It is a non-profit organization, and the largest provincial tennis association in Canada, boasting 241 clubs and 65,000 adult and child tennis players.  The two basic aims of the OTA are to encourage participation in the sport of tennis in Ontario and to provide a structure of services that will assist players to reach a level of competence consistent with their personal goals and abilities.  The strength of the OTA is seen in both its sheer numbers and exposure to every corner of the province and for the creation and maintenance of an atmosphere of unlimited tennis opportunities for players of all levels, from grassroots to national-caliber athletes.

The OTA provides support to the NCTA.  There is growing support for the OTA amongst the Ottawa clubs and various grants and programs have served to greatly strengthen the grassroots and competitive structure here in Ottawa.