JAMES (JIM) BOYCE – TENNIS LEGEND

DISTINGUISHED PLAYER MEMBER

Vaughan Tennis Club welcomes  James (Jim) Boyce as a “Distinguished Player” member. Jim is a Canadian tennis legend; Canadian national junior champion, elite US college player, Canadian national singles, and doubles champion in 1976 and Canadian Davis Cup team member in 1977. Jim is a Tennis Canada Certified Coach Level 3  , and past president of the OTA which he served with distinction for 26 years.

Jim’s off court achievements are as incredible as those on the court. His leadership at the helm of the OTA has brought about the development of many great Canadian players who have gone on to the international scene and achieved tremendous success. Jim’s motivation of a skilled OTA staff and creation of partnerships (public sector / private sector / clubs) have produced significant outcomes. Jim saw Milos Raonic as the person who led the way and showed Canadians that we could play at the highest levels with Bianca Andrescu and Denis Shapavolov following several years later.

The crowning achievement of Jim Boyce’s incredible career started approximately fourteen years ago, when he recognized the need for a government funded year-round training facility for tennis in the GTA.  Rising land values were forcing many private clubs to close so an alternate, sustainable model had to be created.  Jim’s plan for a year-round facility was a decade in the making and was unanimously approved by the OTA Board in 2020. Two year later, on July 22, 2022, the City of Toronto Council unanimously approved a 50-year land lease on a prime piece of real estate (3.21 acres) on Allen Road in North York at $1 rent  per year for the new facility.  Jim’s model for the new OTA training centre will see ten permanent indoor courts on the first floor and ten outdoor/indoor courts on the second floor. Anticipated opening is expected in 2026.

Our Vaughan Tennis Club is honoured to have Jim as a “Distinguished Player” member. Say hi to Jim at our upcoming social events and do not be shy to engage him in conversation on the future of tennis or tips on your game.