TENNISfest Celebrates Five Years and a Record-Breaking Day!

June 13th, 2026

Five years ago, Edmonton Tennis Community's (ETC's) Executive Director, Karina Trkulja, had a vision. She wanted to create an event and become the benchmark for TryTennis events in Canada. She wanted to create a place where anyone, regardless of age or experience, could pick up a racquet and discover a love for the game.

The challenge? Finding a venue large enough to bring that vision to life.

With determination and more optimism than certainty, Karina walked into the Expo Centre and made her case. She explained what Edmonton Tennis Community was trying to build, how the event would introduce hundreds of kids and adults to tennis, and why it mattered to the community. She arrived with a small budget and no guarantee of success, just a belief in the power of sport and a dream for what a TryTennis event could become.

Somehow, that belief was contagious. The team at the Expo Centre saw the potential and took a chance. They provided a space valued at approximately $15,000, giving Edmonton Tennis Community an opportunity that seemed almost impossible at the time. That act of generosity helped launch something special.

Every year since, Karina has returned with the same passion, sharing the growth of the event and the impact it has had on families, children, and first-time players across the city. And every year, the answer has been YES. Five years later, a TPA winner of the Innovation Award, TENNISfest stands as proof of what can happen when a community comes together behind a shared vision.

This year, more than 1,000 attendees walked through the Expo Centre, with 675 registered participants including 475 children and more than 200 adults, with another 100 on the waitlist, supported by a community of over 100 coaches and volunteers on the courts. The following day, Karina extended that vision further with the launch of a women in sport and leadership conference, a space she recognized as a missing piece in the Edmonton community and a natural continuation of what ETC is working to build.

Canada’s largest TryTennis event, TENNISfest welcomed children as young as three alongside adults picking up a racquet, many for the very first time. The opening ceremonies reflected the significance of the occasion. Alberta Minister of Sport and Tourism, Andrew Boitchenko, attended and delivered a speech before stepping onto the exhibition court, dedicated to the memory of coach and Golden Bears varsity tennis captain Jared MacLean, to partner with fellow Golden Bear, Jackson Baerg, against Pandas tennis alumni, Kristina Sanjevic, and Canadian professional, Stacey Fung. The fact that he chose to be there on his son's wedding day speaks to the kind of event TENNISfest has become.

New to TENNISfest this year, Stacey Fung brought an extra level of excitement to the courts. A Canadian professional who reached a career-high world ranking of 222 and previously played NCAA tennis at the University of Washington, Fung took part in the opening exhibition match and spent time throughout the day connecting with participants. For young players, being in the same space as a professional athlete was an experience in itself, and for young girls especially, seeing a woman who had competed at that level was inspiring in a way that went beyond the game. The event also drew local media for the first time, with CTV News in attendance and CBC Radio promoting TENNISfest to audiences across Edmonton.

“I have volunteered at TENNISfest for the past four years, two of those driving from Calgary just to be part of it. The first year I came, Karina asked me why. Why did this matter so much to me? Tennis, whether recreational or competitive, is a sport for life. At any age, with anyone, you can grab a racquet and a ball and head to any public court. You make friends, stay physically healthy, and develop skills that extend well beyond the game including self-confidence, teamwork, and resilience. But the other reason I keep coming back is Karina. Her kindness, passion, and dedication are infectious, and this year they inspired me to take on a bigger role behind the scenes. Seeing the amount of work and coordination that goes into building a day like this gave me a whole new perspective on just how incredible an event like TENNISfest truly is. And then on the day of, seeing children from our programs, our school visits, and so many first-timers all on the courts at once reminded me exactly why we do this. It has been incredible to watch the event grow each year, and while this year was a huge success, I know we will come back even better in 2027.” 

— Emma Rutherford, Coach, Edmonton Tennis Community

Thank you to our sponsors: Subaru, Focus Physiotherapy, Lifemark, Apollonia Dental Clinic, Grit Psychology, Enaly, Converge, GroundTruth Exploration, and the Edmonton Expo Centre. And to our club partner, Tennis Alberta, thank you for your continued support of accessible tennis across the province.

Five years ago, one person walked into the Expo Centre with a vision. This past Saturday, more than 1,000 people walked in because of it. To every coach, volunteer, sponsor, and first-time player who was part of this year’s event: thank you. We look forward to seeing even more of Edmonton on the courts in 2027!