The following comes from the files of Paul Marley. And, to quote Adam Radziminski,

Beautifully written - it's one of the few things that I would spend 20 minutes to read on the web.

History of the Building of Evergreen Squash Club

In the 1960's there were only two member-owned clubs with squash courts in the Lower Mainland. The old Vancouver Racquets Club on Oak and King Edward, and The Vancouver Lanw Tennis & Badminton Club. Both Clubs were located in uptown Vancouver. Some players who lived on the North Shore but worked in Vancouver were able to manage their commuting and playing, but others who lived and worked on the North Shore found it very difficult and time consuming to make the drive to town and back for a game of squash.

One of these players was Dr. Mitch Hiddleston who lived and worked on the North Shore. He was determined to build a Squash Club on the North Shore. In pursuit of this purpose, he contacted a number of active squash players living on the North Shore for a series of meetings, to discuss the possibilities of forming a club. These meetings and discussions went on for a period of two years.

The initial group consisted of Mitch Hiddleston, David Foster, George Morfitt, Nigel Williams, Lawrie Moxon, Ron Howard and a few others, each of whom were asked to input their expertise in architecture, construction, advertising, promotion and public relations. The outcome of their initial meetings, was a consensus that there wer four major problems confronting them in establishing a Club on the North Shore: location, construction, financing, and membership.

To quote Mitch Hiddleston, "Finding a site was a dramatic exercise in frustration". We approached Hollyburn Country Club but were turned down. Capilano Winter Club was in financial problems at the time and we offered to bring in a healthy new additional membership, and build courts on their location, if they would recognise a limited type of membership, which would not require the squash members to participate in the other winter club sports, such as curling and skating. This was also turned down, and it is interesting to note that this Club folded shortly after, and reopened at a later date, for a short time, with squash courts after Evergreen ws built. Capilano Tennis Club was in favour, but the District of North Vancouver killed it. West Vancovuer Council approved an amalgamation with the West Vancouver Tennis Club, but their members turned it down. Submissions acceptable to West Vancouver Council were repeatedly defeated at public hearings. This in spite of an intense campaign by committee members to counter the fears of residents regarding probable wild parties (as if we were rugby players!) and increased traffic on their streets.

Again to quote Mitch Hiddleston, "On one occasion we persuaded British Pacific Properties to offer land at less than half price, with a letter of support from them to the Council. The West Vancouver Council approved the application since it was near the cemetery, the City dump, a church and apark, and there were only three residences in the near vicinity. One hundred and fifty persons objected. After repeated submissions to the Parks Board and packing Council Meetings almost to the exclusion fo other Council buisness the present site was secured, some three and one half years after we started." Industrial property in North Vancouver was also considered but rejected because of the high cost.

Bob Spray, Chairman of Parks and Recreation and Reeve (Mayor) Alex Forst were a great help in the later stages of our negotiations. We undertook that if this land was made available to us, we would maintain our philosophy of providing a low cost operation, keeping it within financial reach of the majority of local residents. We also offered priority memberships to West Vancouver residents, and offered to start a programme in the High Schools to coach students during school hours, as a part of the schools' atheletic programmes. In addition, we agreed to set aside time for an active Junior coaching programme to encourage youn players. The Club would be open to men and women of all ages, and the emphasis would be on sports activity.

So it was that we eventually secured lease property, adjoining Klahanie Park, on which we could build. The terms were very reasonable financially, with only the special requirement to incorporate public wash rooms into the exterior of our building to service the adjacent Park. We were now able to proceed to have plans drawn up for our Club in this location. The main object was to keep it simple and inexpensive, but not to accept any compromise in the quality of the courts themselves. There would be a small lounge overlooking court #2, with a spectator gallery behind court #1, and changing rooms with facilities for men & women. The only token of social activity would be a fridge to hold cold drinks to be consumed after a match — no bar, no staff. Ron Howard donated much of his time in designing the facilities; cost estimates were obtained and financing efforts began.

We soon realised that it would be difficult to obtain a traditional mortgage on a unique type of building on leased land. George Morfitt, our Honourary designated Treasurer, spent hours preparing financial projections. His conclusion was that our only avenue was to obtain a five year bank financing, backed by members' personal guarantees. This was a major commitment, but was fully endorsed by the founding members. George Morfitt produced budget projections, which showed that the bank debt could be amortised over five years, with a membership of one hundred and twenty-five.

Now we required members. Mitch Hiddleston canvassed the entire Medical Profession on the North Shore, pointing out to them the need for exercise and to keep fit, with great success. Many of them signed up and paid their entrance fees without the remotest idea of what Squash was. (In later years, we often encountered Doctors who asked where the Club was, what facilities it had, how it was doing, and how much their shares were now worth.) We also canvassed all Tennis and Badminton Players at the various clubs, together with all other athletic associations. We ran local newspaper ads, and eventually signed up enough members, whose entrance fees together with the personal financial guarantess of some, enabled us to apply for the funding necessary to be able to proceed with construction.

The Bank of Montreal provided us with the necessary financing, as it did again at a later date with the subsequent Club expansion. The construction contract was let, with some misgivings, and with the fifty-fie signed up members. The Club has never looked back.

It was an exciting time, with weekly meetings, held at various members' homes, depending on whose turn it was to provide the beer and snacks. We were all driven by the enthusiasm of Mitch Hiddleton, who, in spite of all the set backs along the way, maintained his enthusiasm and convinced the group to persevere. He is the one individual who can truly be regarded as the founder of the Evergreen Squash Club.

At one of the meetings, late in the evening, it was pointed out that it was necessary to find a name for the club. Like most insignificant problems, this caused intense discussion, argument, and disagreement. Numerous names were considered and rejected; and, it seemed obvious that there was no consensus. Fianlly, David Foster suggested adopting a temporary working name which could be change later, and suggested the name Evergreen. This was grudgingly approved and was never again discussed, so the name stuck.

It is gratifying to know, that even though there have been the usual operational problems of the years, Evergreen Squash Club has been an unqualified success — and an example to many other Clubs. The original principles of low cost, with emphasis on the game of squash itself, with minimum social facilities and absence of any paid staff, continues to this day. Ours was the first club to use telephone answering booking and use contracted janitorial services. These policies have added extra work and administrative problems for directors. Yet as a club, we have not lacked the enjoyment of Social activities, due to the efforts of directors, members, and, especially, the lady members and wives of members. The Club has functioned magnificently, and has grown far beyond the expectations of the original founders and continues to thrive.

We have produced many outstanding players of National and Internationa calibre, and are looked on as a powerhouse amongst other Squash Clubs, judged by the successful performance of our men and women league players. We have always had a very active junior coachig programme, run by dedicated individuals, who have taught squash to numerous youngsters, boys and girls, over the years. Evergreen is also recognised as a Club that can host and run a successful tournament event at any level, with dedication and style.

Further, it is interesting that it was through the dedication to squash by many of the original Evergreen members that Hollyburn Country Club was encouraged to build their original squash courts; many Evergreen players undertook to coach players at Hollyburn, to get their programme under way. Other members also founded and promoted squash at other clubs.

We are fortunate to have had the benefit of many dedicated individuals who have served as officers, directors and on various committees. They have always been devoted to ensuring the health of the Club and were not frightened of making the difficult decisions to build, expand and improve the Club, even when there was a divergence of opinion and considerable doubt as to the wisdom of some proposals.

It is to these people that we owe a debt of thanks for the existence of Evergreen Squash Club as it is today.

David Foster / George Morfitt
February, 2000

Note: a small gallery of the above news items, and photos of the 1989 Renovation is available.