03/07/2026
What does it actually take to build a national badminton program? Mike Butler, National Team Head Coach of Badminton Canada, gave us the honest answer in three parts.
It starts at the grassroots. ”I’m indebted to them in a big way,“ he says of the personal coaches and private clubs putting in the countless hours with the national team, the backbone most people never see.
Then there‘s funding. ”We’re succeeding in spite of the lack of funding,“ Mike told us candidly. His goal is to take that financial weight off the athletes so they can focus on competing instead of worrying about who‘s paying the bill.
And this year, Canada held its first ever Badminton Summit, tackling safe sport, women in sport, and a sponsorship barrier that’s held the program back for years. Mike‘s hope is to land the next big partner for Canadian badminton, alongside longtime sponsor Yonex.
Clubs, funding, sponsorship, it’s all connected, and it‘s exactly the gap UBNEXT is built to help close. Structured leagues, development pathways, and community programs designed to bring more people into the sport at every level. Fall pilot season registration is opening soon for players, clubs, schools, and community groups. Link in bio to be part of it.
Come cheer on Team Canada this week in Markham Destination Markham at Markham Pan Am Centre. Tickets at yonexcanadaopen.ca
