The National Squash Academy
The National Squash Academy (NSA) is Canada’s first and only facility dedicated to growing the sport from the ground up. Our goals are access, performance and changing the future of squash while embracing it’s past.
Our newly constructed 10-court public squash facility targets schools, youth, families, and players/enthusiasts of all socio-economic backgrounds. The NSA has programs for all levels and our atmosphere is one of inclusion as we work to build a broader base of squash players.
In addition, the NSA is a dedicated training facility for North America’s aspiring touring professionals and top juniors. We provide all of the necessary elements of long-term athlete development including top coaching, dedicated court time, world-class fitness/training facilities and therapy/rehab services.
The NSA will also serve as one of North America’s premier event spaces with a 10,000 square foot squash stadium featuring two all-glass exhibition courts, seating for over 1500 people (including food and beverage and sponsor boxes) and an in-house filming studio for streaming and television broadcasts.
The National Squash Academy will strive to collaborate with all stakeholders in the North American squash community, including key club programs, top coaches, regional and national organizations and corporate supporters. We are positioned to provide the top of the high performance pyramid as North America’s first and only centre of squash excellence.
Management Team:
Jonathon Power, Director of Squash
Jonathon Power is a former PSA World #1 and North America’s most successful squash player of all-time. His remarkable achievements and unique playing style have helped to both popularize and change the way the modern game is played. Throughout his 15 year career, Jonathon boasts over 36 tour titles, including the World Open, British Open, and the Commonwealth Games. He held the #1 ranking from 1999-2001 and then again in 2006 shortly before retiring from professional squash. With over 12 Canadian National titles to his name, Jonathon continues to compete internationally for Canada and has recently signed on as a feature player on the Pro Squash Legends tour. He is generally considered the greatest shot-maker in the history of squash.
Since his retirement, Jonathon has dedicated himself to coaching and growing the game within North America. As the head coach of the Power Squash Academy, he trains Canada’s and the United States’ top juniors via his summer camps in the US and weekly programs in Toronto. Jonathon’s role at the National Squash Academy will be as the Director of Squash. He will oversee all junior and adult programming with a focus on high performance training, working in particular with Canada’s top young professionals and top junior athletes. Jonathon will also be the face of the National Squash Academy, working as an ambassador within the domestic and international squash community, including all media relations. Jonathon’s love and passion for squash is infectious and will be a major draw for players of all experience and background to be a part of the National Squash Academy.
Jamie Nicholls, General Manager
Jamie Nicholls is one of Canada’s top junior squash coaches, and has been the architect of many successful junior programs in the country over the past decade. As a former national squad member and a highly ranked senior singles and doubles player, Jamie has years of experience both coaching and playing at an International level, as well as extensive administrative and committee work within Squash Ontario and Squash Canada. He is the 2009 Squash Ontario Coaching Achievement award winner, a 3-time varsity team captain at Western Ontario and has coached countless provincial and national champions as the squash professional at the Badminton and Racquet Club in Toronto. With a background in economics, Jamie also has extensive business experience most recently as a regional manager for Canada’s largest resource and reforestation company, managing multiple projects of more than $2 million with over 100 employees.
Jamie will be the General Manager of the National Squash Academy. His primary responsibilities will be operations, sales, marketing and management of staff and membership. Jamie will continue to coach on a limited basis, specifically grooming the Academy’s top U15 juniors and overseeing the recreational squash program at the NSA.
Gary Waite, Director of Sales and Membership
Gary Waite is North America’s most successful all-around squash player. Hailing from Sarnia, Ontario, Gary achieved a PSA World ranking of #12, World Hardball Singles ranking of #2 and went on to dominate the North American Doubles World, winning 10 World titles and maintaining a #1 ranking for 14 years straight with various partners. During this period, Gary attended Harvard University and then became the Head Professional for 5 years at the prestigious University Club in New York City. His contributions to Doubles squash in North America have continued in recent years, promoting the game as an ambassador of the game through US squash and the Elmaleh project. Gary also has extensive business experience including real estate success and doubles related projects such as founding the ISDA doubles tour and being a partner in Harrow sports.
Gary will be the National Squash Academy’s Director of Sales and Membership, and work tirelessly to promote it within Toronto and Internationally. His primary responsibilities include Membership sales, operations and squash programming in the executive area and running major events, tournaments and exhibitions within the center. Gary is also looking forward to sharing his vast experience while working in a coaching capacity with the NSA’s top junior and young professionals.
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