Honouring the Legacy of Jared Maclean

January 15th, 2026

On January 15th, the Edmonton Tennis Community (ETC) gathered to honour the life and legacy of Jared Maclean — a remarkable athlete, coach, leader, and friend whose impact continues to resonate deeply throughout our tennis community.

Jared was more than a talented coach or accomplished competitor. He was someone who left people feeling seen, supported, and believed in. His influence lives on through the programs he helped shape, the coaches he mentored, and the values he embodied both on and off the court.

Born and raised in Port Moody, British Columbia, Jared was a gifted athlete who represented his province at national championships. He went on to serve as captain of the University of Alberta Golden Bears Tennis Team, leading them to two Canadian National titles, most recently in August 2024. His leadership, determination, and passion for the game defined his athletic career.

In the summer of 2023, Jared joined the Edmonton Junior Tennis Society (now Edmonton Tennis Community) as Program Coordinator and Lead Coach. During his time with ETC, he championed TENNISfest 2023, led school outreach initiatives, and mentored many of our junior coaches. Jared had a unique ability to elevate those around him, shaping not only strong programs but confident, compassionate people.

Beyond his professional achievements, Jared was a passionate educator, a devoted son to Deb and Dave, a loving brother, and a proud fiancé to Madison. Known affectionately as “Diego” for his resemblance to professional tennis player Diego Schwartzman, Jared wore the nickname with pride. His magnetic energy, unwavering loyalty, and infectious laughter left a lasting impression on everyone who knew him.

In November 2024, Jared died by suicide. His passing has left an immeasurable void in our community — but it has also strengthened our collective responsibility to talk openly about mental health in sport, to check in on one another, and to ensure that no athlete, coach, or volunteer feels alone.

To honour Jared’s legacy, ETC is committed to providing mental health resources and support for coaches, volunteers, and community members — because caring for our community means caring for the people within it.

We are also looking ahead with purpose and intention. ETC is looking forward to hosting our 5th TENNISfest on June 13, 2026, at the Edmonton EXPO Centre, where we will once again dedicate a show court to Jared and continue raising awareness about mental health in sport.

During TENNISfest 2025, ETC accepted donations to create a permanent memorial in Jared’s honour. The memorial is a 3-foot-wide by 6-foot-high installation at the Saville Sports Centre, featuring tennis balls donated by Tennis Alberta, with each ball representing a family that Jared coached or mentored. The memorial was built and officially unveiled during the January 15th memorial, standing as a powerful and lasting tribute to the many lives Jared touched.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Saville Community Sports Centre team — Russ, Andrea, Alana, Marc, and Prashant — for opening their doors, their hearts, and their club to our community. As Russ Sluchinski, Tennis Manager at Saville Community Sports Centre, shared:

“The Saville Community Sports Centre is honoured to rename the Annual Saville Indoor Open and Play Tennis Tournament to the Jared Maclean Memorial Open and Play Tennis Tournament. As a member of the Golden Bears Tennis Team and as a coach at the Saville Community Sports Centre, Jared had a big impact on the sport of tennis at the club that extended beyond to the Edmonton Tennis Community. His energy and enthusiasm for the sport of tennis will be remembered throughout this event.”

Renaming the tournament the Jared Maclean Memorial Open & Play Tennis Tournament is a meaningful tribute that truly means more than words can express.

We extend our sincere thanks to Jackson Berg and Carson Bell for honouring Jared through the sharing of heartfelt memories, and to Harleigh Mailo for her powerful and compassionate presentation, continuing to lead vital conversations around mental health. We also congratulate Amelie Savage, this year’s recipient of the Jared Maclean Legacy Award!

With approximately 70 people in attendance, the memorial was filled with love, reflection, and a shared commitment to carrying Jared’s legacy forward — together.

If you’d like to donate to the Jared Maclean Memorial Fund for Mental Health, please visit our website at www.edmontontennis.ca and click on the Donate tab. Any support is greatly appreciated and helps ETC continue important work around mental health awareness and support within our community.

Jared Maclean’s legacy lives on through our people, our programs, and our continued commitment to building a tennis community rooted in care, connection, and compassion. 💙