Kim Ezzard-Simpson’s return to the World Police & Fire Games was a fruitful one, filled with medals, memories and new friendships formed down south.
Birmingham, Ala., was the stage for this year’s event, held June 27 to July 6, with thousands of first responders from around the world making the trip.
Ezzard-Simpson, a corrections officer at Stony Mountain Institution, was among the Manitobans competing, returning to the pickleball court after claiming gold in ladies doubles and silver in mixed doubles when Winnipeg hosted the Games in 2023.
This year, the 52-year-old from East Selkirk set her sights on double gold with her mixed doubles partner Brent Weaver, a firefighter with Toronto Fire Services, and ladies doubles partner Lauri Burgett, a retired police officer with the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Each event had its own designated day, with play moving indoors to The Picklr courts due to the heat.
The venue change proved no setback for Ezzard-Simpson and company, as both teams struck gold, fulfilling her long-term goal of winning a mixed doubles gold medal.
“When I got the silver in the mixed doubles, I knew I wanted to go to Alabama because I felt like I didn’t play as well as I could have in that game,” said Ezzard-Simpson. “I really concentrated for about the last year on just being mentally more prepared for such a big match and really wanted to perform well in the gold medal match, because I felt like I didn’t do that last time.”
Ezzard-Simpson and Weaver faced a New York Police Department duo in the final—the same team that had beaten them earlier in the tournament.
This time, the Canadians led throughout the match en route to victory, contributing to Canada’s 345 total medals—the fourth-most among participating nations.
“It was a pretty big game, and I felt like I just walked right through it because I had gone through it in my mind so many times,” she said. “We just stuck to our strategy, stayed calm and cool, and let the win come to us. Let them make errors—and that’s what we did.”
Ezzard-Simpson said her experience at the Games went far beyond the competition. The opening ceremonies included an Olympic-style torch lighting, an eagle flying overhead and a rendition of America the Beautiful.
She also took some time to explore local attractions, including nearby caves and caverns.
“What I came away with most was the friendships I made with the ladies throughout the day,” she said. “I play in public tournaments all the time, but I would say policemen, corrections, sheriffs—they are extremely competitive, and you’re playing people in extremely good shape. They’re all firemen or firefighters, and physically, you weren’t going to get away with too many mistakes. What I came away with was the respect for each other. On the court it was cutthroat and very competitive, but the second we walked off, I would say we were all brothers and sisters for being first responders.”
The WPFG will next be held in Perth, Australia, in March 2027.
Back home, Manitoba is set to host the 2025 Myoflex National Championship, presented by HearingLife, from Aug. 19 to 24.
The event—known as the Pickleball Nationals—will be played at the Taylor Tennis Centre in Winnipeg. Ezzard-Simpson, who also serves as director of coaching with Pickleball Manitoba, will compete in both ladies and mixed doubles.
“That’s going to be huge,” she said. “People are going to be able to watch almost pro players playing here in Winnipeg in August, so we’re working hard for that too.”
As pickleball continues to be the world’s fastest-growing sport, Ezzard-Simpson, a certified NCAA instructor, has been helping grow the game across Manitoba, especially in the Interlake.
Since returning from Alabama, she has led learn-to-play and intermediate courses in St. Andrews and is planning future sessions, including one for youth.
