The Badminton & Racquet Club of Toronto - Toronto, Ontario

Ronald M.

The front desk is incompetent and not caring. Waited at the front desk as no one was there, when they came back they just sat down and did not even acknowledge my presence. After a few minutes my friend came to get me and we went to the restaurant and I was taken aback at how rude the server was, he was busy and basically through the menu at us. We are new to the city and thinking of joining the club, but with so many options of private clubs with more to offer we decided to check out the other private clubs. And as expected all the other clubs were much more hospitable. I would avoid this club, its a club of the past. join clubs looking for the future where they treat you with decency and believe in diversity.

RL

A Disturbing Experience at The Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto

I had a deeply upsetting experience at The Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto, near Yonge and St. Clair, that highlighted racism, elitism, and double standards.

I parked in a space next to a driveway to quickly pick up an order from a nearby restaurant. There was no clear signage indicating parking restrictions, and I assumed the spot was fine for a quick stop. As soon as I exited my car, I was aggressively confronted by a tall white man and his wife, seated in their car. The wife yelled, “It’s people like you who take advantage!” in a tone filled with entitlement and prejudice. Her husband then exited their vehicle, walked toward me in a threatening manner, and began shouting. I repeatedly told him to leave me alone, but he refused.

To make matters worse, another woman idling near a fire lane sign joined in, yelling at me as well. Despite clearly violating the fire lane rule, no one addressed her actions, likely because she appeared to be a member of the club. This stark double standard made the hostility I faced even more disturbing.

The husband eventually entered the club but returned moments later to resume shouting slurs at me. This harassment was deliberate and calculated. Club staff, including a security guard and a man claiming to be the manager, witnessed the incident and failed to intervene or de-escalate the situation. Instead, the manager focused on telling me I should not have parked there, ignoring the hostile behavior of the club’s members.

It is worth noting that all the individuals who confronted me, including the manager, were white. This dynamic, paired with their aggressive and dismissive behavior, raises concerns about privilege, elitism, and exclusion. This is further reflected in the club’s history. In 1987, during an attempted expansion, the club faced allegations of an “unofficial, unwritten policy” that excluded Jews and other minorities. While the club denied this, its documented history of gender-based segregation is undeniable. Women were barred from voting in board meetings until 1980, and a co-ed dining room was not introduced until 1997. A 2017 article by CBC News even highlighted the club’s past attitudes with the phrase, “Women are to be seen and not heard,” underscoring a history of exclusion and elitism.

The club’s current materials show little evidence of progress. For example, a photo on their website depicts a membership that appears entirely white, further emphasizing the lack of inclusivity.

The absence of clear signage does not excuse the hostility I experienced. The individuals involved assumed the right to treat me as if I did not belong there, fueled by entitlement and prejudice. The inaction of the staff only amplified the harm caused.

I urge The Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto to address this incident seriously. This behavior has no place in any establishment. Policies, training, and accountability measures must be implemented to foster a more inclusive and respectful environment.

Tye C.

Had an event with work for a Pickel ball tournament. Great staff and facility

Rory D.

Went as a guest of a member to play squash. Courts are very well maintained and the club was very nice. Staff were very friendly. Of course, this is a members only club, but it looks to be a great club to be a member of if you want to play any racket sports.

Cathy S.

A warm and welcoming environment that feels like home. Love this place.

Eric H.

We went for dinner with some member friends and it is a cool place. It is hidden behind a bunch of tall buildings which makes it more secret than it is. It was rebuilt after a fire apparently but was not changed much in reconstruction. It looks like they could have added a lot more than they did.

Anne M. F.

Great food nice staff and great atmosphere visited with a friend who is a member

Mike F.

On facilities, quality and application of coaching staff, programming and staff investment in getting new members of any skill level (including a duffer like me) involved, this club is truly exemplary. Any club would benefit from sending its management to study/shadow how the b and r has responded to its own unique allocation of adversity in recent years.

Before getting good at the frilly stuff however, a core responsibility of any club is regulation of equitable use of the assets among members, and based on three years here, this club is still an intermittent fail on that one. A tiny number of super-entitled folks repeatedly disregard court booking limits with apparent impunity (hence the repetition). Raising the issue repeatedly has not effected a cure. Whether this is the club for you depends on whether you have mental health budget to put up with this.