Angela Hupalo was granted the 2018 Provincial Ambassador Award from the Pickleball Association of Ontario.

The Pickleball Association of Ontario has developed a recognition program to acknowledge and thank the many volunteers who have helped to grow the sport of pickleball across the province. The Builder Award, Community Award, Official Award and Ambassador Award are each presented to one person annually to honour their significant contributions to the sport.

This year’s Provincial Ambassador Award was presented to Angela Hupalo of the Saugeen Shores Pickleball Club (SSPC).

In a SSPC release, Hupalo has been an Ambassador for the SSPC since its inception in 2012 and has been instrumental in growing the sport of pickleball in the Saugeen Shores area.

In the beginning, she and another founding member toured the community in hopes of finding a site for some pickleball courts. Ultimately, a space was found at Lakeshore Recreation and pickleball in Saugeen Shores began with four outdoor courts. Thanks to Hupalo's love of the sport and persistence in finding new players, the club now has 150 members and eight dedicated courts. She was also involved in securing indoor space at the Port Elgin United Church where the Club plays four times a week for the winter months.

Even though SSPC has 150 members and on any given morning there are 30 plus players, Hupalo welcomes each person by name. This summer a new couple let her know that it was the best summer they had ever had at the cottage. There is always lots of laugher on the courts.

With her Co-Ambassador, the SSPC schedule has been developed to provide times for all levels of ability, as well as drop-in-lessons, ‘mentor play’, weekly round robins and winter 'skills and drills'. Ambassadors organize inter-club play and an annual tournament as well as a number of social events throughout both indoor and outdoor play seasons. Year-round member Connie said that Hupalo even takes the pickleballs home during ‘cold and flu season’ and washes them weekly.

Besides what you see at the courts six mornings a week, Hupalo takes care of the Club business after hours as well, acting as the bookkeeper, treasurer, accountant and purchaser.

The SSPC plays at Lakeshore six mornings a week in the summer season and four times a week at Port Elgin United Church during the indoor season.

Angela was nominated by Club Member Bill Haley and Co-Ambassador Marcia Hesse.