Thunderbird Marina helps present a day of tennis, mentorship, and inspiration.

This Saturday morning, the tennis courts at Hollyburn Country Club belong to the kids.

On June 13 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., forty 10-to-12-year-olds from the Surrey School District and participants in Tennis BC’s Girls in Action outreach program hit the courts for a high-energy tennis workshop at the 2026 Odlum Brown VanOpen Community Day presented by Thunderbird Marina.

“Seeing the kids light up on the court is exactly why we do this,” said Odlum Brown VanOpen Chair Carlota Lee. “A lot of these young people deal with significant hurdles every single day. If we can give them a few hours of joy and a boost of confidence this weekend, that’s a massive win.”

The half-day event isn’t just about forehands and match points. While Hollyburn Country Club coaches provide the on-court instruction, youth also hear inspiring stories of perseverance and dedication directly from Tennis Canada high-performance junior players.

The message they will share is simple but powerful – adversity can be overcome, goals are achievable, and dreams matter.

“When you give kids a solid foundation of confidence and the right kind of mentorship, there is really no limit to what they can do. We’re incredibly proud to help steer these young people toward a bright future,” said Michael de Pfyffer, General Manager at Thunderbird Marina, which is the presenting partner of the Odlum Brown VanOpen Community Day. “What Tennis BC Girls in Action and the Surrey School District are doing here by opening doors to experiences these kids might otherwise miss out on is truly amazing work.”

For Tennis BC, the day is about long-term impact.

“Tennis BC has a long-standing partnership with Girls in Action, and bringing free tennis lessons to this program has been an important part of our community work,” said Tennis BC Executive Director Henry Choi. “The Odlum Brown VanOpen Community Day is a special event our participants look forward to each year, and we are incredibly grateful for Odlum Brown’s continued support. Creating more opportunities for kids to participate in sport helps build confidence, connection, and a strong foundation for positive choices in their lives.”

An event like this takes a full team effort. The Odlum Brown VanOpen extends a massive thank you in advance to presenting partner Thunderbird Marina, as well as the supporting cast who will make the day possible: T-Shirt Printing Company for outfitting everyone, Babolat for supplying the rackets and balls for all participants to take home, and Hollyburn Country Club for opening their doors to host and their incredible tennis coaching staff.

This community celebration sets the stage for Canadian and international tennis stars to take to the courts for the Odlum Brown VanOpen tournament at Hollyburn Country Club from July 25 to August 1, 2026.