Squash players in Montreal lament planned closure of 5 courts

Players say they were blindsided after learning squash courts at a private Outremont health club will be eliminated during upcoming renovations.

A private athletic club in Outremont is getting rid of its five squash courts as part of renovations planned for the new year.

Around 200 members of Midtown Sanctuaire play squash at the club and say they were blindsided by the news just a few weeks ago.

“I had been literally thinking, I’m so happy that I have squash, that I have this outlet, that I have this community, and then I found out that it’s going away,” said Erica Haviland, who plays several times per week.

Haviland says the club opened in the 1980s and some members have been using the squash courts for decades. With little time to get organized, the players have so far sent a petition to head office, and wrote letters to the club’s management, hoping to negotiate a way to save a few of the courts.

“The response has always been, sorry, the decision is final,” said Haviland.

According to Squash Quebec, there are only 30 to 40 squash courts in Montreal and none are publicly run. Around one quarter of Squash Quebec’s events and tournaments are held at Midtown Sanctuaire.

“It’s a major site of squash for Montreal, so somehow it’s going to have a direct impact on the access to the sport,” said Stephane Lussier, the president of Squash Quebec. “We really depend on the private sector and in squash and that’s a problem compared to other sports where you could find public hockey rinks, gymnasiums or tennis courts.”

The players say they’re surprised to see courts closing at a time when squash appears to be growing in popularity.

“Squash is making its debut in the 2028 Olympics so we’re super excited for that,” said Haviland. “And now it’s like, well, in Montreal, what are we supposed to do?”

The club is privately owned by Midtown Athletic Clubs, an American company based in Chicago.

In a statement to CTV News, it said the decision was not taken lightly.

“Our leadership team explored every possible way to keep courts in the new design, and despite extensive efforts, even as recently as this week, we were unable to find a viable solution.”

It added: “This change reflects a broader evolution in member preferences and the realities of space. Members have asked for more opportunities to move, recover, and connect - through group fitness, coworking, and community spaces - and our redesign will deliver that.”

But the players say, as club members, they should have been consulted and say they don’t feel respected, or heard, by the company.

With few alternatives for players, Squash Quebec would like to see long-term investments made in creating public courts.

“I’m based in Gatineau and we have a non-profit organization, which is running the squash court there and it’s working fantastic,” said Lussier. “How can we do the same thing in Montreal with, you know, some investment from the city, from the Quebec government?”

The players say they plan to continue fighting to save the Midtown Sanctuaire squash courts. They have retained a lawyer and are considering legal options.