Monthly Archives:March 2023

Table Tennis North is excited to announce that the Territorial Trials for the 2026 Arctic Winter Games will take place in Yellowknife, January 7–11, 2026.

This single set of trials, hosted for all AWG sports in Yellowknife and the surrounding area, is a change from past years and comes as part of a financial decision by Sport North to ensure full participation for Team NT while managing reduced Games funding. In previous years, separate trials were held for team and individual sports.

The 2026 Arctic Winter Games will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon, from March 8–15, 2026, giving athletes just under two months of training and preparation between trials and the Games.

Team Composition for Table Tennis
According to the AWG Technical Package, each jurisdiction may send up to:

• U15 Male (2011–2012) – 2 athletes
• U15 Female (2011–2012) – 2 athletes
• U18 Male (2008–2010) – 2 athletes
• U18 Female (2008–2010) – 2 athletes
• Coaches – 1 male and 1 female (a chaperone may be substituted if a coach from one gender is not available)

Athletes will compete in Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles, and the Mixed Team Event.

The Table Tennis events at the 2026 AWG will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon, as part of the multi-sport celebration that brings together athletes, coaches, officials, and communities from across the North.

More details, including registration links and schedules, will be shared in the near future. In the meantime, clubs and communities are encouraged to start preparing and identifying potential athletes for these trials.

The 2025 Canadian Table Tennis Championships, hosted at the Richmond Olympic Oval, marked more than just another competition. For Team NT, it was a celebration of courage, connection, and quiet resilience, proof that showing up matters just as much as standing on a podium.

This year, seven athletes from the Northwest Territories stood tall on the national stage. Four of them were competing at their very first Canadian Championships, bringing youthful energy, wide eyes, and a whole lot of heart. For a territory with a small population and vast distances, just making it here is a victory in itself.

But Team NT didn’t just arrive, they made an impact.

Signing postcards for athletes and volunteers.
Receiving a thank-you t-shirt from BC Table Tennis.
Making new friendships across provinces.
Scoring historic wins, like Isaiah & Kaleb defeating a provincial team from Manitoba, the first-ever U15 NT doubles team to do so.

All info about the Senior Championships:
https://tabletennisnorth.ca/senior-canadian-table-tennis-championships/

All info about the Junior Championships:
https://tabletennisnorth.ca/team-nt-in-action-at-the-2025-canadian-junior-championships/

These moments may not appear on a medal table, but they are etched in memory and meaning. They are the ripple effects that spread when young people are given the chance to compete, to be seen, and to make a mark beyond sport.

One of the standout moments came when Kathleen teamed up with Polina from Manitoba in the Women’s Doubles, two athletes from different regions, different backgrounds, united by the joy of the game. That’s what these championships are about.

The journey doesn’t end in Richmond. These athletes return home as ambassadors of possibility, bringing back stories, pride, and inspiration to their communities in the North.

They remind us all:
Showing up matters.
Being kind matters.
Representing where you come from with heart, that matters the most.

To our athletes, thank you for wearing the North with pride. You made us all proud. And to the communities behind them, your support shines through in every rally.

From July 20 to 22, Team NT athletes proudly competed at the 2025 Canadian Junior Championships at the Richmond Olympic Oval in British Columbia. Across three intense days of matches, our players gave it their all in both individual and team events. From early morning starts to late afternoon finishes, each athlete represented the Northwest Territories with passion, dedication, and resilience.

Event Highlights & Images
Check out the full gallery of Team NT at the Junior Championships!

Facebook
Instagram

Individual Matches – Team NT
Sunday, July 20, 2025

• BTU13 QC vs. NT 3:0
• BTU15 QC vs. NT 3:0
• BTU15 NB vs. NT 3:0
• BTU15 NT vs. MB 0:3
• BTU13 NT vs. NB 0:3
• BTU15 NT vs. SK 1:3

Monday, July 21, 2025

• Kaleb Sabourin vs. Zylen Li (U13B Group N) 0:3
• Zander Sabourin vs. Krrish Hari Kishore (U13B Group P) 0:3
• Calin Landry vs. Shawn Suo (U13B Group Q) 0:3
• Kathleen Cai vs. Jasmine Zheng (U17G Group E) 0:3
• Kathleen Cai vs. Amanda Zhu (U15G Group C) 0:3
• Isaiah Elleze vs. Gavin Li (U17B Group C) 0:3
• Isaiah Elleze vs. Ethan Su (U15B Group F) 0:3
• Calin Landry vs. Ryan Wong (U15B Group C) 0:3
• Kaleb Sabourin vs. Edward Xin (U15B Group G) 0:3
• Zander Sabourin vs. Pak Yu Ng (U13B Group P) 0:3
• Calin Landry vs. Jacob Zhang (U13B Group Q) 0:3

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

• Zander Sabourin vs. Krrish Hari Kishore (U13B Group P – Round 2) 0:3
• Calin Landry vs. Shawn Suo (U13B Group Q – Round 2) 0:3
• Kaleb Sabourin vs. Keegan Mah (U13B Group N – Round 2) 0:3
• Isaiah Elleze vs. Easton Gui (U17B Group C – Round 2) 0:3
• Kathleen Cai vs. Sienna Calderaro (U17G Group E – Round 2) 0:3
• Kathleen Cai vs. Wendy Liu (U15G Group C – Round 2) 0:3
• Calin Landry vs. Stanley Zhang (U15B Group C – Round 3) 0:3
• Isaiah Elleze vs. Michael JW Liang (U15B Group F – Round 3) 0:3
• Kaleb Sabourin vs. Dexter Oyewo (U15B Group G – Round 3) 0:3

Venue: Richmond Olympic Oval, Richmond, BC

Draws & Results
All draws and results for the 2025 Canadian Junior Championships can be found on the TTCAN website:
https://ttcanada.ca/canadian-junior-championships/

Live Streaming
Matches from the Junior Championships were streamed live on Table Tennis Canada’s YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@TableTennisCanadaTennisdeTable/streams

MEET OUR ATHLETES – Get to know the dedicated players, coaches, and officials representing the Northwest Territories.

Isaiah Elleze – U15 Team, U17 Singles, U15 Singles
Kaleb Sabourin – U15 Team, U15 Singles, U13 Singles
Calin Landry – U13 Team, U15 Singles, U13 Singles
Zander Sabourin – U13 Team, U13 Singles, U11 Singles
Kathleen Cai – U17 Singles, U15 Singles

Thank you to all parents, coaches, officials, volunteers, and partners who made this experience possible for our athletes. Your support helps us build the next generation of sport leaders in the North. This is what sport is about. Growth, effort, pride, and the joy of playing together. We are proud of you, Team NT

Behind every elite athlete is a community that believes in them, and sometimes, that community stretches across the country.

As Ivy Liao, a Vancouver based National Team athlete, prepares to represent Team Canada at the 2025 FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany (July 28 – August 8, 2025), she does so with the support of a unique and values driven partnership between Table Tennis North and the Richmond Olympic Oval.

While Ivy trains at the Oval in preparation for international competition, she’s also giving back, serving as a mentor for youth in the Northwest Territories through Table Tennis North. It’s a beautiful cycle of empowerment. Ivy receives high-performance support from one of Canada’s premier facilities, and in turn, shares her experience and encouragement with young players who may one day follow in her footsteps.

“This partnership reflects the kind of sport ecosystem we want to see in Canada,” says Thorsten Gohl, Executive Director of Table Tennis North. “It’s about lifting each other up, creating conditions for our national athletes to thrive, while making space for youth to feel seen and supported.”

Mentorship programs like this do more than inspire. They break isolation, build confidence, and connect players across regions and generations. For Ivy, it’s a chance to be a visible role model. For the youth she supports, it’s a reminder that excellence is possible, no matter where you live. The Richmond Olympic Oval plays a critical role in this story. By providing Ivy with the resources and space to train, they’re not only helping her reach her goals, they’re helping build the future of Table Tennis in Canada.

“It has been such an incredible journey to grow as an athlete with the Oval’s support, while connecting with youth in the Northwest Territories as a mentor. I’m so grateful for the support I’ve received, and it means a lot to also play a role in empowering and inspiring younger athletes. I’m looking forward to competing alongside my teammates at the World University Games and will do my best to make Canada proud!” – Ivy Liao

As Ivy steps onto the global stage at the FISU Games, she carries the strength of partnership, the power of community, and the belief that when we support each other, everyone rises. Table Tennis North is proud to stand alongside Ivy, and the Richmond Olympic Oval in championing a model of sport that values both excellence and connection. Good luck, Ivy! 

Richmond Olympic Oval, British Columbia
July 18–23, 2025

The stage is set! Team Northwest Territories is ready to compete at the 2025 Senior Canadian Table Tennis Championships, hosted July 18–20 at the iconic Richmond Olympic Oval in Richmond, British Columbia.

LIVE STREAM – Watch our Northern athletes in action live from the Richmond Olympic Oval.

FOLLOW THE JOURNEY – Celebrate the moments with us, on and off the table! Use the hashtag #TeamNT and #weareallteamnt to share your support and find us on Facebook & Instagram.

SCHEDULE

RESULTS & DRAWS

Men’s Doubles – Round of 32 – RESULTS
Meech Dullaert / Suhaan Gulati (ON) vs. Tommaso Cai / Neilson Vandell (NT) 3:0

Women’s Doubles – Round of 16 – RESULTS
Kathleen Cai (NT) / Polina Sirotina (MB) vs. Ruoyan Yang / Sunny Zhang (ON) 0:3

Mixed Doubles – Round of 32 – RESULTS
Demi Yu Ting / Suhaan Gulati (ON) vs. Kathleen Cai / Tommaso Cai (NT) 3:0

Men’s Singles – Group C – RESULTS

• Jonathan S. Li (BC)
• Lucas Xie (ON)
• Babu Thiravidamani (NB)
• Neilson Vandell (NT)

Neilson Vandell (NT) vs. Jonathan S. Li (BC) 0:3 
Neilson Vandell (NT) vs. Lucas Xie (ON) 0:3
Neilson Vandell (NT) vs. Babu Thiravidamani (NB) 0:3

Women’s Singles – Group J – RESULTS

• Amy Zhao (ON)
• Jayme Li (BC)
• Coco Zhang (ON)
• Kathleen Cai (NT)

Kathleen Cai (NT) vs. Amy Zhao (ON) 0:3
Kathleen Cai (NT) vs. Jayme Li (BC) 0:3
Kathleen Cai (NT) vs. Coco Zhang (ON) 0:3

Men’s Singles Over 40 – RESULTS

• Michael Zisman (BC)
• Lawrence Zhang (AB)
• Eddy Lee (AB)
• Tommaso Cai (NT)

Tommaso Cai (NT) vs. Michael Zisman (BC) 0:3
Tommaso Cai (NT) vs. Lawrence Zhang (AB) 0:3
Tommaso Cai (NT) vs. Eddy Lee (AB) 0:3

MEET OUR ATHLETES – Get to know the dedicated players, coaches, and officials representing the Northwest Territories.

Neilson Vandell – Open Singles, Open Men Doubles
Tommaso Cai – O40 Singles, Men Doubles
Kathleen Cai – Women Singles, Women Doubles, Mixed Doubles

Isaiah Elleze – U15 Team, U17 Singles, U15 Singles
Kaleb Sabourin – U15 Team, U15 Singles, U13 Singles
Calin Landry – U13 Team, U15 Singles, U13 Singles
Zander Sabourin – U13 Team, U13 Singles, U11 Singles
Kathleen Cai – U17 Singles, U15 Singles

Let’s cheer loud and proud for Team NT as they compete with heart, hustle, and Northern spirit!

The Indigenous Sport Circle NWT (ISCNWT) is now accepting applications for its Community Development Grant Program, a funding initiative designed to support recreation, sport development, and cultural activities that involve physical activity across the Northwest Territories.

This grant helps offset costs associated with community based programs and events that promote wellness, movement, and cultural connection.

• Key Details:
  Application period (this year only): July 1 – July 31, 2025
• Regular intake windows: May 1–31 and November 1–30 (starting in 2026)
• Projects must take place in the NWT
• Multiple applications per community are welcome (for different projects)
• A letter of support from a Community Champion or organization is required
• A final report is required upon project completion
• Priority will be given to free, inclusive events that build capacity and benefit the entire community

Note, ISCNWT funding is intended to assist with costs, not fully fund a project. If you’ve previously received funding, you are welcome to apply again, but new applicants may be prioritized.

Ineligible Costs:

• Staff wages
• Per diems
• Cash prizes

This is a great opportunity for schools, sport groups, youth programs, and community leaders to access support for local movement, sport, or cultural events. Applications are only accepted during the intake window. Be sure to plan ahead!

As we mark Canada Day in the North, we do so with deep respect for the land, the people, and the stories that came long before us, and continue to guide us forward.

Table Tennis North is proud to live, work, and play on the traditional territories of the Dene, Métis, and Inuit Peoples of the Northwest Territories. These lands are not just landscapes, but living spaces filled with history, teachings, and community. Today, and every day, we recognize the strength, resilience, and contributions of Indigenous communities in shaping who we are, as individuals, as a sport, and as a country.

Table Tennis is a sport of connection. In small northern communities and across the territory, it has become a way to gather, to play, to build confidence, and to share joy. Whether in school gyms, recreation centers, or on makeshift tables, we’ve seen how the paddle and ball can spark moments of laughter, focus, and belonging.

This Canada Day, we celebrate the many cultures and identities that make the North so vibrant. We also reaffirm our commitment to making Table Tennis a welcoming space for all, rooted in respect, accessibility, and inclusion. To the youth, coaches, Elders, volunteers, and community leaders who continue to shape our journey: Thank you!!! Your spirit and support are what make this movement meaningful.

From all of us at Table Tennis North, Happy Canada Day. May we continue to learn, share, and rally together, on land that holds us all.

Table Tennis North is proud to support the 2025 Canadian Table Tennis Championships, hosted by Table Tennis Canada at the iconic Richmond Olympic Oval in British Columbia. This national event brings together the country’s top players for a celebration of skill, speed, and sportsmanship.

Location: Richmond Olympic Oval, 6111 River Road, Richmond, BC
Senior Championships: July 18–20, 2025
Junior Championships: July 20–23, 2025

Representing the North
We’re excited to announce that Table Tennis North will be sending a youth team to the national championships, only the second time in our history! Congratulations to the following athletes:

• Tommaso Cai
• Kathleen Cai
• Neilson Vandell
• Zander Sabourin
• Kaleb Sabourin
• Calin Landry
• Isaiah Elleze

Your hard work and dedication are an inspiration to the entire NWT Table tennis community.

Categories and Entry Lists:

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (July 18–20)
Participant List – Singles, XD, WD, MD

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS (July 20–23)
Participant List – Singles, Teams

Visit Table Tennis Canada for full event details, rules, and updates.

Join us in Richmond this July as we celebrate the energy, excellence, and community of Canadian Table Tennis with a flair of Northern Community.

Celebrating the Spirit of Sport, Community, and Support Across the North

June 2025, Northwest Territories – Originally started by Table Tennis North, Hockey NWT, and Badminton NWT in the lead-up to the 2023 multi-sport games, the #WeAreAllTeamNT campaign has grown into a territory-wide movement. With over 3,000 hashtag uses across social media and countless moments of community pride, the campaign is now entering a new chapter, with a bold new logo and the launch of an official online store.

#WeAreAllTeamNT shines a spotlight on the people behind the athletes. The parents, volunteers, teachers, coaches, zamboni drivers, recreation staff, and countless others who support Team NT in ways big and small. It is a reminder that success in sport is never achieved alone.

The online store is open from June 23 to July 6, 2025
Orders will ship in time for the 2025 Canada Summer Games
Shop here: https://store.vbsapparel.ca/weareallteamnt/shop/home

This first store opening is a test run to gauge interest and give supporters across the territory a chance to wear their pride. Whether you’re cheering from the stands, packing snacks, driving to practice, or coaching from the sidelines, this is your campaign too.

CONTEST ALERT
The first 5 people to email info@tabletennisnorth.ca will receive a #WeAreAllTeamNT pin and sticker, a small thank you for being part of something bigger.

A Logo That Reflects the North

The #WeAreAllTeamNT logo is more than just a design, it’s a powerful representation of unity, inclusion, and northern identity. At its center is the hashtag, symbolizing connection and shared purpose. The vibrant, mosaic-style “NT” reflects the diversity of people, communities, and perspectives that make up the Northwest Territories.

The colors draw from the land, deep lakes, green forests, northern lights, and starlit skies, all framed by a white outline symbolizing clarity, resilience, and unity. Like the snow that connects our communities, the outline pulls every piece together.

This logo doesn’t belong to any one organization. It belongs to the people who show up, every day, to support movement, growth, and opportunity for young athletes across the North.

Because it’s not just about the players on the field. It’s about all of us who support, believe, and belong.

#WeAreAllTeamNT

Every year on June 23, the world comes together to celebrate Olympic Day, a global movement that unites people through the joy of sport and physical activity. Inspired by the founding of the International Olympic Committee in 1894, this day serves as a powerful reminder of the Olympic values: excellence, friendship, and respect.

This year’s theme, Let’s Move, is a call to action. It’s about inspiring everyone, in every corner of the globe, to take a step, swing a paddle, jump, stretch, or simply find joy in motion.

At Table Tennis North, we are proud to be part of this global celebration. Whether it’s youth picking up a paddle for the first time, coaches leading inclusive community programs, or Northern athletes dreaming of international podiums, movement is at the heart of everything we do.

Why Table Tennis?

Table Tennis is a sport that reflects the Olympic spirit in every serve and rally:
•It builds focus, coordination, and confidence.
•It brings people together across generations and cultures.
•It’s accessible, adaptable, and full of joy, whether played on a kitchen table or a competition stage.

Olympic Day History

The first Olympic Day was celebrated on June 23, 1948, and today, more than 150 National Olympic Committees participate each year. The event includes fun runs, youth festivals, community workouts, and now more than ever, creative, culturally relevant ways to get moving.

Our Northern Contribution

Table Tennis North is committed to supporting the Olympism365 vision, making sport more accessible and inclusive across Canada’s North. Through school programs, community events, mentorship, and leadership development, we are helping build resilient, healthy communities, one swing at a time.

Share Your Movement

Join the global conversation! Post a photo or video of how you’re getting active and tag: #LetsMove | #OlympicDay | #TableTennisNorth #weareallteamnt

Let’s show the world how the North moves, with energy, connection, and community spirit. Thank you to all our players, coaches, volunteers, and partners who help bring the Olympic spirit to life every day in the Northwest Territories.

Happy Olympic Day from all of us at Table Tennis North!