PIctured above: Sharon Arnold receiving her award presented by Gavin Ziv (left) President & CEO of Tennis Canada and Dianne Weatherby (right), Chair of the Board, Ontario Tennis Association.
Written by Philpott Children’s Tennis
Sharon Arnold Honoured with Tennis Canada’s Jacqueline L. Boutet Community Award
The UNMATCHED Gender Equity in Sports conference was the perfect setting for a milestone moment as Sharon Arnold, a founding board member of Philpott Children’s Tennis, was named the 2024 receipt of the prestigious Jacqueline L. Boutet Community Award by Tennis Canada.
This honour recognises Sharon’s exceptional contributions to advancing equity, inclusivity, and accessibility of tennis in Canada, and her efforts to ensure that sport becomes a space of belonging for everyone. Sharon shared her gratitude upon receiving the award, “Tennis has always been a part of my life, but being able to use the sport to create opportunities for young girls and underserved communities has been the most meaningful experience.” This award is a reflection of the team effort at Philpott and the countless lives we’re striving to impact.”
Sharon was recognised for her pioneering work in creating the first teaching manuals for physical education teachers and promoting tennis instruction in schools during her 20 years as Education Committee Chair at the Ontario Tennis Association (OTA); along with her lifelong work with Philpott Children’s Tennis where she is a founding board member, serving for over 30 years.
Richard Crowell, Philpott Executive Director, highlighted Sharon’s leadership and dedication, “Sharon’s passion and commitment have been transformative, not just for our program but for the tennis community as a whole. Her work to bring accessible community programming to the forefront has set a new standard for what’s possible. This recognition is well-deserved, and we are so proud of her.”
Sharon’s recognition comes at a time when Philpott is expanding its impact through initiatives like the Jane-Finch indoor tennis bubble, where breaking barriers in sport participation and improving access remains at the heart of our mission.
Congratulations, Sharon, on this incredible achievement! You continue to inspire us all.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Adding to the excitement of the day, several girls from our Girls Leadership program had the the incredible opportunity to also attend the UNMATCHED conference where they enjoyed the chance to meet leaders in the sport industry, and cheer on Sharon as she accepted her award. For most of them, this was their very first professional conference – a transformative experience that allowed them to see how leadership and advocacy play out on a larger stage.
A highlight of the day? Meeting tennis legend Venus Williams! Venus spoke about her journey as a trailblazer in gender equity and her dedication to breaking barriers on and off the court.
The conference was not only an unforgettable moment for these young leaders, but also a pivotal development opportunity. Being surrounded by change makers like Sharon Arnold and Venus Williams inspired them to also shape the future of tennis – and beyond!
