Love-All at Cedar Springs

It can sometimes happen that the draw for women’s singles is rather small in club tournaments. A group of players at Cedar Springs Racquet & Sports Club in Burlington wondered : what if this is an indication of lack of motivation, rather than indifference? They set out to test the idea by creating a blockbuster version of a women’s singles competition. What women want, they reasoned, is lots of fun and camaraderie along with a sense of purpose.

The goal was to have 32 players register to play singles, with a two-match guarantee as the preliminary round divided the players into Cup and Plate sections. It was decided to have evening play, beginning on the Tuesday following Family Day in mid-February. The opening round was structured as a festive social event, with freely-cheering spectators alongside all the competitors.

The next round was played on Wednesday and Thursday, with the quarter-finals on Friday again geared to spectators and supporters. Semi-finals were on Saturday, and the finals on Sunday were played as full matches to determine the champions in both Cup and Plate divisions as well as all the prizes for the raffles and the squares.

The key element in the program was the goal of raising a substantial amount of money to be donated to charity. This created the interest and involvement of a great many club members, as they were invited to participate as stakeholders. “Get in the Game and Give Back!” was the rallying cry to attract both player entries and supporters.

A starting point for fund-raising was the buy-a-player program. A chart filled with 64 numbered squares was offered for sale at $25 per square. (This was double the first year, in response to strong demand.) Players were assigned to the squares by random draw after all were sold, and each square’s owner had a stake in how far their player advanced in the draw. As the tournament progressed, the colours of the squares were changed, highlighting those that remained in play and building excitement for an eventual cash prize.

Another significant feature was a big-and-bold raffle, with 12 valuable prizes : Connor McDavid signed jersey ($2800 value), Ste Anne’s Spa ($1000 gift card), Premium Hair Care ($450 value), Lindt Chocolates ($250 package), SMEG Toaster ($230 value), Toronto Maple Leafs tickets ($300 value), Wilson Roland Garros tennis bag ($200 value), Wine Tasting at Locust Lane & Two Sisters vineyards ($200 value), Indoor Golf Simulation ($100 value), Conversate Steak & Seafood ($100 value), Tobermory Beer ($100 value).

The third main element of revenue was the entry fees from the players. The organizers recognized it would be challenging to win the commitment of 32 women for playing singles. The first 12-15 were relatively straight-forward, with the balance coming by personal contact and persuasion. Many were doubles players who had never experienced singles, but they recognized the significance of combined efforts and joint action. “If we all get behind this project, we can make an impact on some lives”. This was further enhanced by the decision to have the Love-All champions on Sunday determine the charities to be supported.

With all the combined efforts, the event experienced sustained energy and enthusiasm throughout the entire week. The initial event in 2024 was followed by an even greater success in 2025, with the concept better understood and accepted, and the operations more streamlined. Congratulations to Carey Hinkley, Lizzy Hadler, Jenn Bradbury and Michelle Feddema for taking this on, and to all the club members who gave it their support and made it a resounding success.

Recipients of the charitable proceeds from Love-All 2025 were Parkinson Canada (designated by Jenn Bradbury) and Halton Women’s Place (designated by Erin Closs).