Meet Vicky Merrick of GrannyBasketball.com

Vicki, an Anglo-Quebecker originally from Thetford Mines, shared her journey from growing up in the eastern townships to moving to Ontario, attending Ryerson University, and eventually settling in Toronto after a 20-year stint in Barbados. She discussed her return to Toronto in 2014 and her rediscovery of basketball, leading her to join the Toronto Chill Granny Basketball team, which practices at Eastminster United Church on the Danforth and supports the Out of the Cold program. Despite previous injuries, Vicki's passion for the game persisted, and she found a new community through Granny Basketball, which she learned about through social media.

Vicky explained the rules of Granny Basketball League, a 6-on-6 basketball game for women 50 and older played in zones with no shot clock and limited dribbles to make it safer for older players. Paul shared his experience with adapting to less intense sports as he aged, and both discussed how the league provides an opportunity for older women to continue playing basketball in a modified, safer format.

Vicky described her experience with the Granny Basketball League, which has been operating in the United States for 25 years with 55 teams, primarily in the Midwest. She explained that the league brings women of various ages and skill levels together for friendly competition, community building, and physical activity. Vicky also highlighted the league's charitable efforts, having raised over $8,000 for the Out of the Cold program at Eastminster Church. While no specific date was set for the next charity game, Vicky mentioned that details would be shared on their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Vicky and Paul discussed the concept of "Granny Basketball," a program designed to allow older adults to continue playing basketball in a modified, lower-impact format. Vicky explained that the program provides a safe and warm environment for participants, particularly on cold nights. Paul shared his experience with similar sports programs and emphasized the importance of allowing people to continue doing what they love as they age. They also discussed the logistics of the program, including practice schedules and upcoming games against other basketball leagues. Vicky provided her email address for interested participants to reach out.

Vicky discussed the Toronto Chill, the only Canadian team in the Granny Basketball League, which promotes fitness and community through basketball for women over 50. She shared their recent activities, including a visit from a team from Wisconsin and plans for a "Learn to Play" event in Etobicoke on December 9th. Vicky expressed interest in expanding the league to other communities and encouraged listeners to visit grannybasketball.com for more information. Paul appreciated Vicky's passion and commitment, noting that her enthusiasm would likely attract a wide audience for the podcast episode.

Vicky and Paul discussed the recording of a podcast episode, with Vicky expressing gratitude for the opportunity. Paul advised Vicky on the importance of maintaining media presence without over-sharing, comparing it to the art of storytelling. They agreed that the podcast would allow for ongoing engagement with listeners, unlike traditional media which quickly becomes outdated. Paul shared his experience with media interviews and his decision to start podcasting in 2018, noting how the medium gained widespread popularity during COVID-19.

Paul and Vicky discussed the growing popularity of podcasts, with Vicky expressing interest in highlighting local community stories, including her work at Eastminster Church and the Out of the Cold program. Paul offered to promote these stories through his podcast and social media channels, emphasizing the potential for exponential growth in exposure. They agreed to stay in touch for future collaborations, with Paul committing to share the podcast episode once it's ready.