With the removal of the bubble, the club would have had to cease operations and tennis enthusiasts in Nanaimo would be left in the cold to play outdoors during the winter months. (Photo by Joe Pugh / CHLY 101.7FM)

After advocacy from the tennis playing community, the Westwood Lake Tennis Bubble will remain inflated, for now.

Previously in September, the City of Nanaimo purchased the 2.85 acre lot, home of the Westwood Lake Tennis Club, at 2367 Arbot Road. The land was purchased to expand Westwood Lake Park, but not with the intention to maintain the club’s aging indoor tennis bubble. With the removal of the bubble, the club would have had to cease operations and tennis enthusiasts in Nanaimo would be left in the cold to play outdoors during the winter months. In fear of losing the unique asset for the tennis playing community, members of the club gathered to advocate against the removal of the bubble.

The concerns prompted Nanaimo City Council to hold a Special In Camera meeting held on October 14th. It was decided to keep the tennis bubble, starting with a one year license of use agreement for the facility’s future operation. According to Friends of Indoor Tennis in Nanaimo, the city is planning to work with the Nanaimo Area Indoor Tennis Society (NAITS) on taking charge of the operations of the facility.

Charlotte Davis, director of Parks, Recreation and Culture at the City of Nanaimo explained how council reached this decision.

“ I would say that council very much heard from the community, and that is the advocates for indoor tennis, around their desire, uh, to keep the bubble going. Obviously, the bubble is towards the end of its life. However, the notion that there is still a little bit of life left in it, you know, piqued council's interest and, um, gave them cause to reconsider, um, an ability to retain the bubble in working with a non-for-profit organization in a cost-neutral way.”

The city’s acquisition was part of a plan to expand Westwood Lake Park’s recreation facilities, public access and general community amenities. Davis stated the city sees a lot of potential for the area, with potential event places, new buildings for potential community programs and bookable spaces for the community.

According to the city, the Westwood Lake Tennis Club will cease operation on November 1st, with the city taking ownership of the property on December 18th.

Davis explained what that period will look like for the city and the club.

“ Between that time, once, um, the operations of the club is over and until we have an operating agreement in place, um, with the non-for-profit society, the w- the bubble won't be open or available for play,” said Davis. “ The bubble will stay, up during this time, but it will not be open for play. And then once city has taken ownership, the bubble will be available for play only when we have the agreement in place.”

Davis added the city is not quite sure yet when an agreement would come to fruition. Nevertheless, she says the city will have a more concrete idea around December as discussion progresses with those advocating for indoor tennis. However, the city has set some conditions: the incoming organization will be responsible for the facility’s operation, maintenance, capital costs and ensuring court time slots are available for public booking.

Davis added that the city is still looking for a longer term solution for the indoor tennis community in Nanaimo, with Beban Park as an option for the future. In the meantime the tennis bubble will remain for indoor play.

“ I think really what we're just trying to do is to use that phrase again, limp the bubble along for a couple more... what may be one or a couple more winters, that kind of thing, um, just to, to maximize its use and not at, um, taxpayers' expense by working in a non- with a non-profit way at a cost-neutral model”

The Westwood Lake Tennis Club will cease operation on November 1st, with the city taking ownership of the property on December 18th. (Photo by Joe Pugh / CHLY 101.7FM)

Advocacy from members of the Westwood Lake Tennis Club, a group active since 1977, is what ultimately saved the bubble in the short term. Club coach Whitman Tomusiak says that he initially doubted community efforts would make a difference.

“ So I was pleasantly surprised, I guess, that, um, the people who have the power to do so were able to, you know, adapt and, and figure out a solution.”

He was concerned about losing the community tennis programs offered at the bubble, if it was to disappear.

With the facility now saved, Tomusiak sees this as an opportunity for the proposed non-profit operator to expand the local tennis community.

“ First of all, you don't have to be a member to do it, um, which is a big turnoff for a lot of people, right? Because it's somewhat expensive, even though it's pretty good relative to every other city in Canada.”

Tomusiak explained having a facility like the bubble allows the tennis community to play during the wetter months, from October to almost mid spring. He adds outdoor courts cannot constantly work with scheduled lessons during that period, leaving a gap for both adult and children tennis players.

Tomusiak believed opening bookings to the public could attract more additional players and revenue.

“ Financially, it's way better as a non-profit, right? Because you can put money back into the club, and that might be putting it back into certain programs or things like that or … it's just gonna bring in probably more money with public offering as well.”

Tomusiak doesn't see the bubble as the sole option for the tennis community in Nanaimo. He welcomes an eventual move to Beban Park or any other suitable location, even adding that a change could offer improved facilities. Nevertheless, in the meantime, he sees the proposed non-profit operator option as an opportunity to grow.

While those additions depend on the future agreements, Tomusiak hopes the transition brings a wider range of activities to the courts.

“The key thing is like hopefully if everything goes good, we'll have sort of like a flourishing tennis community running out of there. So that means there'll be like more events, more public booking, more clinics, everything like that. I think the opportunity is to really make it flourish that way.”

Tomusiak hopes public bookings and programming can begin in January 2027, although the City of Nanaimo has yet to confirm when the facility will reopen.

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.

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