Marcia (Porteous) Jackson

Athlete (2025)

Badminton, Squash, Tennis

The game has changed, but not the gamer. From badminton to tennis, squash to pickle ball, Marcia (Porteous) Jackson has played the big shot.

Whether it’s defeating Sheila Clark 6-1, 6-love for the provincial under-12 tennis title in 1966 or teaming with badminton partner Tetiana Rodkina of the Ukraine for silver at European masters in 2019, her court presence has endured.

“She would always exhibit the utmost sportsmanship,” said Dr. James Stephenson, the president of Saskatchewan Squash. “She was an excellent resource for up-and-coming junior and senior players alike.”

She has shown grit, too. Consider the Saskatoon city tennis tournament in 1970. Porteous, 15, won the first set in a quarter-final. Irene Ositis, who was a higher seed, won the second set. Porteous took a backward tumble on the asphalt court during the third set, but with a cross-court backhand, she won the set 10-8 and the three-hour match.

Or how about badminton’s junior nationals in 1971. Relegated from the championship bracket on opening-day play in Montreal, Porteous went on to win the consolation title.

She has gone coast to coast to coast, competing in tennis nationals in Vancouver, badminton nationals in Halifax and squash nationals in Yellowknife.

She has played for seven decades at the highest levels, playing for Team Canada at the World Masters in both tennis and badminton. She has played singles, doubles and mixed doubles. The weight of her medals and trophies from winning more than 200 championships would crater hard clay.

It’s believed that she is the only adult in Saskatchewan ever to win provincials in three racquet sports, winning four singles titles in each sport.

When Marcia Jackson hasn’t been serving on the court, she has served on boards and committees with racquet sports, most recently with Tennis Canada for 17 years.