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Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1365499
36 BCBUSINESS MAY 2021 dozens of friends and fam- ily members, Varshney joined the board of the Vancouver Pickleball As- sociation. The group was a driving force in setting up the many pickleball courts at Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Park, which remains one of the city's only dedicated public ar- eas for the game. Varshney hopes to keep growing the associa- tion, which has some 750 members, in large part so that it has added back- ing when he goes to the City and the park board to request more access to courts. He's also consider- ing talks with the school board, given that much of its public space generally sits unused from 5 p.m. until sundown. As a member of the Arbutus Club, Varshney has access to its indoor courts, so he isn't promot- ing pickleball for his own gain. "It's about how can we create more aware- ness of this sport and get more people to try it," he argues. "And inevitably, more people try it, even the hardcore tennis guys, and they end up liking it— or secretly liking it." Along with the obvious rewards that the game of- fers to older folks by help- ing them stay physically active, Varshney, who at 56 plays three to five times a week, advocates for its mental benefits, too. "It's truly one of these sports that's going to keep people fit longer," he says. "We want a long life, but we want the quality to go with it—we don't want to be a vegetable or what- ever. And I think with the quickness side of it, for brain health, it'll help people with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's because it's fast—you have to think quickly." Besides making the game more accessible, Varshney has some bigger- picture goals. "We'd love to make it an Olympic sport. If they can make breakdancing a sport, pickleball can get there," he says with a laugh. "And we'd like to get Vancouver on the map and maybe host an international tour- nament as well." For now, both of those seem like a bit of a pipe dream, but with the pandemic boosting pickleball's popularity and Queen E's courts seeing wait lists that rival those of the hottest restaurants in town, Varshney just may be onto something. "You play doubles and get a nice rally going, and then someone screws up and you get a nice gut- busting laugh," he says. "I really do think the social isolation issues from the pandemic are being ad- dressed by the sport." • A F T E R HO U R S TRUE NORTH You can't head up North anytime soon, but here's the next best thing. Arctic Voices, the newest exhibition at Science World, takes visitors on an interactive tour of the vast region, with an emphasis on its people, ecology and wildlife. In the 8,000-square-foot gallery, developed by Ontario museum Science North with the Canadian Museum of Nature, you might find yourself studying up on Arctic whales, playing a scientist researching animal adaptations or getting hands-on with the paws, claws and jaws of three North American bears. Through September 6 $18.57-$27.62 for non-members; 9:30 and 9:45 a.m. admissions for members only; visitors aged six and over must wear a face covering; reservations at scienceworld.ca PADDLE POWER When it comes to diversity in sports, what's now called the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival is well ahead of the pack. Paddles Up! The Canadian International Dragon Boat Festival Exhibit looks back on the racing event, which has become a Vancouver tradition since it debuted at Expo 86. Running until at least September at the BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum, the retrospective features two full-size boats, stories from a varied group of athletes and a primer on the gathering's cultural heritage. Fridays and Saturdays $12-$18; free admission for children aged five and under; visitors six and over must wear a face covering; hours and reservations at bcsportshall.com • FROM TOP: SCIENCE WORLD; CONCORD PACIFIC DRAGON BOAT FESTIVAL DELIVERING JOY AND DELIGHT SAFELY TO YOUR DOOR EVERY 90 DAYS. JUST $98 ($225 + VALUE) A curated collection of self-care items W I N N E R "Best Overall Box" at the 2020 Canadian Subscription Box Awards SUBSCRIBE NOW SimplyBeautifulBox.com EDITOR'S BOX