Cheryl McKenzie (left), Brenda Hoffman (right)
Brenda
Cheryl McKenzie and I played in the Utterson Badminton Club. In my youth, this was one of the most pleasurable activities I participated in and remains a wonderful memory . Being able to play with my long time friend Cheryl was even better as we were, and have remained long time friends. We played from a young age, and continued into high school and beyond. I still play once a week with friends.
The Utterson Badminton Club presented an ideal venue for young members of the community to play a sport in a safe and enthusiastic environment, allowing the members including Cheryl and I, to learn and enjoy a lifetime sport. Fifty years later, we still enjoy
Cheryl
Playing a sport with a friend is the best experience ever, and I’ve been lucky enough to make many friends in my sporting life. Brenda Hoffman Walker and I have known each other from day one when our mothers visited back and forth. We both played at the Utterson Badminton Club from a young age. I joined the juniors at six, the earliest allowed. The club was run by community volunteers whose expertise, enthusiasm and dedication to the sport was infectious. I had the good fortune to play with brothers, cousins and friends, many of whom went on to win high school, district and provincial championships.
Throughout high school, I played in the GBSSA badminton tournaments, and came away with eight or ten singles and doubles titles. Brenda and I won for women’s doubles. Fifty-six years later, I still play twice a week and serve as vice-chair of the RA Badminton Council in Ottawa, where my fondest wish is to pass along a love of the game to the next generations, as it was passed on to me.