Marita Winaut & Donald Johnston

Donald Johnston and Marita Winaut are passionate champions of pickleball in Nova Scotia. Donald, who practiced orthodontics in Truro and Antigonish over his career, currently serves as the President of Pickleball Nova Scotia. Marita, a lifelong athlete and proud Nova Scotian, wears many hats: she sits on the Pickleball Nova Scotia board, heads the tournament committee, and is involved in both coaching and communications. Together, they co-directed the 2024 Canadian National Pickleball Championships in Halifax.

WHY THEY DID IT

After competing in the 2022 Nationals in Kingston, Ontario, Marita saw firsthand what was possible and felt confident Nova Scotia could not only host, but elevate, the event. “I just knew we could do it here. I saw what they did in Kingston, and I knew we could successfully put this on to showcase Nova Scotia pickleball, and the province. It was great to promote how far Nova Scotia has come in this sport, and experience Nova Scotia hospitality.”

At the same time, Donald and Marita had already been building momentum in the province. Since 2021, they had been organizing increasingly successful tournaments, growing from 300 to nearly 500 participants. When Marita mentioned the idea of Nationals to the CEO of the Atlantic Tennis Centre, he was instantly on board. From there, things moved quickly: with a strong team, dedicated volunteers, and a clear vision, Pickleball Nova Scotia submitted a successful bid to host Nationals for the first time east of Ontario.

BIG OUTCOMES

The 2024 Canadian National Pickleball Championships brought over 800 participants from across Canada and the Atlantic provinces to Halifax. The five-day event packed in 2,842 matches across multiple divisions—men’s, women’s, singles, and mixed doubles—and sold out in under 48 hours. Many players came not just for the competition, but to experience the Maritimes, echoing the team’s key messaging: “Come for the tournament, stay for the vacation.”

The economic impact on Halifax was estimated at $1.6 million.

When asked if they’d do it again, Marita didn’t hesitate: “100% I would do it again.”

With their leadership and commitment, Donald and Marita have helped set a new standard for what pickleball events in Canada can be—and they’re not done yet.