Dear Honorable Premier Pallister & Chief Provincial Public Health Officer, Dr Brent Roussin:

cc:
Minister of Sport, Culture & Heritage, Cathy Cox
MLA, Covid Liaison for sport in Manitoba, Greg Nesbitt
Interim President & CEO Sport Manitoba, Janet McMahon

(Note to the public: Tennis Manitoba will not approach Premier Pallister and Dr Roussin to re-designate the sport of tennis while Winnipeg region is in Critical Level Red on the Province's Pandemic Response System). 

Please see here with this letter our signatures for your consideration and service. 

We the women and men primarily of the tennis community come now in good faith and in good conscience to convey our concern to your good hands with regard to the following current conditions in relation to health and well-being of our cherished Manitoba tennis community. Tennis is our physical activity. Our indoor and outdoor tennis clubs were one of the first to reopen early in May after the pandemic hit in March. With the assistance of Tennis Manitoba, a safe return-to-play template was drafted, and became a model platform for other sports to adopt in our province and beyond.

In an abundance of caution and awareness arising from the current situation as reported by our trusted ministers and with concern for our fellow neighbors, and the well being of those of us who take part in our tennis community, we, in good faith, do say and convey the following in regard to our intention for the continued playing of indoor tennis as an essential means for fitness.

Whereas we, the signatories, believe the following to be good and true:

1. Tennis, by its physical design, meets and far exceeds (social distancing) health minister recommendations at this time.

2. The previously developed Tennis Manitoba “Safe Play” guidelines, in cooperation with the province’s guidelines, for a safe tennis environment, exceed the recommended safety mandates when properly adhered to. 

3. In consideration of the physical facts so unique to tennis, we strongly believe it does at this time function to provide the very necessary means to maintain the well-established health benefits associated with physical movement, human interaction, and now more than ever the importance of a strong immune system.

4. Tennis was one of the first sports to open successfully in Manitoba in May. Currently, other provinces such as Ontario and Quebec have remained open with safe play restrictions equal to those in Manitoba.

In good faith we convey to our much appreciated, trusted ministers serving at such a challenging time, this petition and the following signatories in support for the immediate (or reasonably within the next thirty days) new designation be made for tennis excluded from general sports and included as an essential fitness activity.

Thank you.