Welcome to the International Club of Canada
"Hands across the net, friendship across the ocean "

Welcome to the International Club of Canada

Aims of the International Lawn Tennis Club of Canada

To promote friendship and sportsmanship in tennis between Canada and other countries by hosting tennis events with other IC countries and supporting tennis development in Canada by providing mentorship for young tennis players.

The first meeting of Active Members of the International Lawn Tennis Club of Canada was held at the Albany Club in Toronto on Wednesday, August 11, 1965, at 12.30 p.m. Laird Watt, the first president of the Club, was unable to attend and Gilbert Nunns chaired the meeting. In addition to Gilbert those attending the meeting in person or by proxy were familiar names in Canadian tennis history: Peter Barnard, John Bassett, Bob Barnard, François Godbout, Bruce Harrison, Sydney Hermant, Jim Macken, Harry Marpole and Walter Martin. Don Fontana, captain of the Club, agreed to approach the I.C. of the USA for a match in 1966. There were discussions of a black tie dinner, a match against a touring team from England and plans to participate in I.C. matches in Holland. The Canadian I.C. was up and operating. It had officially received “International Club” recognition just six weeks before, at the annual meeting of the Council of I.C.’s held each year during the fortnight of Wimbledon. It joined thirteen other nations with International Clubs, all existing with a common interest in the game of tennis.

The annual match with the USA Club has been the main regular event of the Club since that time, with matches alternating each year between the Donalda Club and various locations in the USA. The Piping Rock Club on Long Island, The Merion Cricket Club in Philadelphia, The West Side Tennis Club on Long Island. In 1971 the matches were divided in an open event competing for the Proctor Cup and a seniors event for the new Lawrence Baker Trophy. Women’s matches were included in the late 90’s and starting in the year 2000 teams will play for the Carole Graebner Trophy. 

There is no doubt that tournaments for the Windmill, Christiane Mercelis, and Columbus Trophies represent the highlights of the I.C. Movement. On these occasions many of the now 42 International Clubs meet in team competition. In these tournaments old friendships across the net and across the nations are renewed, and new ones made. Equally enjoyable are the I.C. Tours where teams of I.C. players tour other countries at the invitation of their I.C.’s, or host visiting teams.

This brief review of the Club’s history would not be complete without an expression of gratitude to the spirit behind the creation of the I.C. Club of Canada, the Late Bruce Harrison and those who have served on the Club’s executive, particularly its presidents: Laird Watt, Walter Martin, John Proctor, Jim Skelton, Frank Mott-Trille, Brian Flood and David Dimmer.

News & Results

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IC Council News

January 2021
Virtual AGM and Executive Committee Meetings

Virtual AGM and Executive Committee Meetings

Both Executive Committee meetings and the IC AGM for 2020 still took place on their usual weekends but like everyone in the world, things were a bit different and they were held virtually over zoom. However, all three meetings were efficient and successful – key takeaways shown below.

Sunday 31st May 2020 – Executive Committee Meeting

  • The Chairman reported that Rafael Nadal has graciously accepted the IC Jean Borotra CQS Sportsmanship Award. The granting ceremony is still to be re-arranged.
  • Finances and IC Philanthropy update and discussion
  • Events – all cancelled (some subsequently) due to Covid-19
  • Alumni networks – work has commenced to build up a network for the Potter Cup and IC Junior Challenge participants, who can be convened closer to the IC Community, strengthening our network of active members

Sunday 5th July 2020 – IC Annual General Meeting

  • 59 participants in attendance

  • Business Returns 2019 – 38 out of 42 ICs responded to the survey. The 2019 IC Business Report can be found here.

  • Executive Committee recommend that ICs work together regionally to support and learn from one another through Covid-19 – starting with zoom meetings in smaller groups

  • The Chairman and Executive Committee expressed their immense gratitude to Julian Tatum, a longstanding member of the Executive Committee who has been instrumental for decades in many important initiatives

  • The following slate of candidates was presented for election to the Executive Committee:
    a. Thierry Pham, Permanent Member (France)
    b. Alex Kurucz (Europe)
    c. Des Shaw (Australasia)
    d. Philippe Pinet (replacing Gustavo Herrero) for South America Regional Representative
    e. Kit Spencer (Events)

  • Finances update – full update can be found in the minutes section, in the members login area

  • IC Rod Laver Junior Challenge Worldwide Finals – postponed to 2021

  • The Professional Game – work being carried out by the ICs of Australia (Beyond the Tour initiative) and the United States (Career Supportive Initiative) to assist active and retiring tour players in their post-play careers and lives. Further information can be found at www.beyondthetour.com.au and on Facebook @BTTIC.

  • IC Philanthropy - Since inception in 2010, in excess of 15,000 disadvantaged or disabled children and young people have attended and benefitted from the ICP Foundation’s programmes. The ICP Foundation is supporting 14 programmes again in 2020, that are in different stages of activity, due to the pandemic

Sunday 8th November 2020 – Executive Committee Meeting

  • Finances and the impact of Covid-19. A full update can be found in the minutes section, in the members login area
  • Events update – including rescheduling fixtures, the impact on the IC Rod Laver Worldwide Junior Challenge Finals (postponed to November 2021), and the proposal for a younger IC Council event
  • Business returns - the EC agreed that next year, the business returns questionnaire would not be distributed and collected for each IC, given this unique year and halt of IC activity. Although, Regional Representatives will continue to work with their ICs to support the issues raised in this year’s report
  • An additional EC Meeting will be adjourned in January 2021 to focus on events for 2021 onwards

 

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