Time for tennis to come to town

Sports stars of all different stripes have come out of Kahnawake - from lacrosse to paddling, water polo to hockey - there’s plenty of activities to choose from for young athletes.

But for community member Linda T. McGregor, there’s one sport that simply doesn’t get enough attention in town: tennis.

That’s why she’s made it her mission to start a tennis club, which she anticipates being up and running by summer of next year.

“If we do this now then I think in five years it will have grown so tremendously, by then we could have 50 or 60 kids involved and we could even hire people in summer programs to get them involved,” said McGregor. “We’re just looking to get these kids off the streets, get them thinking positive, and getting them involved in sports.”

McGregor credits Onake Paddling Club with being a major support system for her in her youth.

“If I didn’t have them, I would have been a wreck, I’d probably be in jail, and I’m serious about that,” she said.

As an adult, she’s found a passion for tennis, and now she wants to introduce more in the community to the sport. While she’s got a particular focus on youth, she wants to create an organization that can facilitate access to tennis for Kahnawa’kehró:non of all ages.

“It’s a sport for absolutely everyone,” she said. “We’ll have children, teenagers, adults, we’re looking at everyone.”

Right now, McGregor is in the process of securing sponsorships and coordinating volunteers to help launch the club in time for tennis season next year, most likely in May or June. One of their first tasks will be purchasing equipment, like tennis rackets, nets, and sportswear for players – something that she said can often be an obstacle to getting involved in the sport.

“Tennis is a really expensive sport. Most parents can’t afford the fees, they can’t afford the equipment. In town with hockey, there’s a lot of sponsorship so people can afford it, and that’s what I want to be able to do with tennis,” she said.

“I’m a former businessperson and I know a lot of people and a lot are willing to help, so I know that the community will back this idea, and I know it’s going to be great.”

McGregor has been a longtime supporter of Eugenie “Genie” Bouchard, a now-retired professional tennis player from Montreal. She’s become close to Bouchard over the years, even writing a song, “Genie’s Army,” for fans to sing at her games.

She said she’s mentioned the idea of fostering tennis involvement in the community to Bouchard, and that she has expressed support for the idea.

“She’s a great person, and she’s willing to come down here,” said McGregor.

By securing the support of a major athlete like Bouchard, McGregor hopes that she’ll be able to coordinate workshops and talks that could get kids in the community enthused about pursuing the sport.

“If in my lifetime I get to see one professional tennis player from Kahnawake, I will have fulfilled all my dreams,” McGregor said.

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