Robert Laham
Regional Chair, North York Tennis Association
My tennis journey began as a teenager when I joined the Ottawa Tennis and Lawn Bowling Club along the banks of the Rideau River. I was self-taught and learned just by playing with others, watching the better players at the club, and many hours on the great big green practice board.
After moving to Toronto at the age of 21 to study Medicine, I played first on the campus courts and later joined several City of Toronto clubs. I settled into North York and for the past many years I mainly play at Tournament Park Tennis Club, where I served on the Executive Board for about 15 years, seven as President. I am also a member at Gwendolen Tennis Club and the North York Winter Tennis Club Mercifully, I gave up trying to be totally self-taught and have taken many lessons and clinics from some wonderful teaching professionals over the years - and still do! I play often with other members and club programs and play with Inter- County teams.
Tennis as a sport and club volunteer involvement has been a fantastic way to meet and become friends with so many wonderful people in my neighbourhood and beyond. Our local clubs contribute greatly to our neighbourhoods and communities.
My wife and three wonderful daughters all enjoy tennis recreationally and tennis bonds us together as a family. My daughters are all in their twenties and continue to play enthusiastically. Many of my friends comment on how lucky I am to be able to play with my daughters and indeed I am. I am happy to have the opportunity to continue giving back to tennis as a volunteer with the North York Tennis and Ontario Tennis associations.
