Melanie Hider (she/her)

aka Pickle Dad

Founder of Queer Pickleball Club

As a proud member of the Brockton community, I fell in love with Pickleball at McCormick’s weekday drop-in sessions. Inspired by the growth of Queer clubs in other sports, I founded the Queer Pickleball Club (QPC) in May 2023 to create a haven for Queer women, Trans, and Non-binary individuals to enjoy Pickleball.

Our journey began with free Monday evening sessions in Trinity Bellwoods, guided by the motto “a safe space for Queer women, trans, and non-binary folk to learn and play Pickleball.” Adapting to our community’s feedback, we’ve shaped a system now shared at McCormick and other Community Centres today.

Recognizing financial challenges, we collaborated with the City of Toronto to establish Toronto’s only 2SLGBTQIA+ drop-in program. We’ve always aimed to best serve our community’s needs and remain committed to fostering connection through Pickleball.