Squash Canada is pleased to announce The Club at White Oaks as the host of the 2023 Canadian Junior Open presented by Forthlane Partners, which will be held December 9 – 12, 2023, in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario. The Canadian Junior Open is the most prestigious international junior squash tournament held annually in Canada. Information and registration is now available via Club Locker.
“Squash Canada is thrilled to host players from across Canada, Pan-America and the globe for the Canadian Junior Open,” says Squash Canada CEO Jamie Nicholls. “Young athletes will have the opportunity to compete on the all-glass Power Court presented by Syra Group, and enjoy world class hosting at the Mark Sachvie Squash Center at the Club at White Oaks. Notably, we are looking forward to welcoming U11 competitors to the CJO for the first time. We thank tournament directors Matt Easingwood and Cindy Sachvie, presenting sponsor Forthlane Partners and the Team at White Oaks in advance for what will no doubt be a memorable 2023 CJO.”
As mentioned, players can look forward to enjoying a heightened playing, spectating and broadcast experience with the return of the all-glass Power Court, named in honor of Canadian World Champion Jonathon Power by benefactors The Syra Group and Singh Family.
The Canadian Junior Open is a WSF World Junior Cup event enabling U19 and U17 players to accumulate world ranking points; as such, all U19 and U17 participants are required to have a WSF SPIN. Finally, for our post-junior developmental players to earn valuable PSA ranking points.
Categories will include:
- Girls and Boys U11/U13/U15 – cap is 32 players per category
- Girls and Boys U17/U19 – cap is 48 players per category
- NextGen PSA Satellite event – details coming soon
CJO registration is on a first-come basis. NextGen PSA registration is based on PSA ranking.
For more event information and to register, please visit Club Locker here.
Important Information:
Players – Mandatory Officials Certification Requirement for participation in Canadian Championships
All Canadian U15/U17/U19 and NextGen players must be a certified official at a minimum of the Club Referee level. This policy came into effect as of December 1, 2021. To access the Online Referee Certification: Click Here (to complete this mandatory requirement, players must have an NCCP# available through the Coaching Association of Canada ‘Locker’ database – if you require assistance, please email Geoffrey Johnson). Cost is $35.
Canadian Coaches Only – New Policy regarding mandatory Safe Sport Training to coach at the 2023 Canadian Junior Open
As with the entire Canadian sport system, Squash Canada has initiated a Safe Sport program to help ensure that participants can enjoy our sport in a safe and welcoming environment free from harassment, abuse and discrimination.
More broadly defined: “Safe Sport” refers to our collective responsibility to create, foster, and preserve sport environments that ensure positive, healthy and fulfilling experiences for all individuals. A Safe Sport environment is one in which all sport stakeholders recognize, and report acts of maltreatment and prioritize the welfare, safety and rights of every person at all times.
At present, there are no requirements for anyone who coaches at a National Championship to be NCCP certified coach or at the very least, have completed appropriate Safe Sport Training. In squash, anyone can coach – NCCP certified or not, Safe Sport educated or not. Many National Sport Organizations prohibit unqualified individuals on the field of play to coach athletes.
In an effort to continue to enhance our Safe Sport program, the Squash Canada Board of Directors has passed the following motion, which is effective immediately:
“Motion to approve all Certified and/or other Coaches (i.e. trained coaches, squash pros, parents, family members, etc.) must have CAC Safe Sport Training and/or Respect in Sport for Activity Leaders Training to be eligible to coach at the following National Championships – Canadian Junior Closed and Canadian Junior Open and is effective immediately.”
Important: The new policy is NOT targeting parents that might coach their children as a one-off because their regular coach is not attending or at another court coaching another player. The purpose of the policy is to target those who are a designated coach whether it is their own children or someone else’s.
We understand that this is not an easy topic to address but one that will position Squash Canada better with the Canadian Squash community that we are taking action to educate those that act in the role of Coach (Certified Coaches, Squash Pros, Parents, etc.) about Safe Sport. In addition, now that Squash Canada is a program signatory with Abuse Free Sport – OSIC (Office of the Sport Integrity Commissioner) that looks to us as the NSO to educate people on maltreatment in sport, we are doing the right thing by moving this forward. We are acting in the best interests of the athletes, and to reduce risk to our sport.
