For tennis fans in Canada, the name Bedard is a familiar one as they are arguably the First Family of the sport in this country. Patriarch Robert Bedard, Canada’s most decorated singles player during the 50s and 60s, and his four sons have their names all over the record books. At York University, it was Peter who made his mark on the program and remains, to this day, one of the most decorated players in team history.
After earning his undergraduate degree in psychology and criminology at the University of Toronto, Bedard came north to York and decided to join the tennis team while completing his MBA at Schulich. Over five seasons, he helped the squad win two OUAA championships, was a three-time conference all-star, the first player in program history to earn the honour three times, and won four doubles OUAA medals including three golds.
Becoming a tennis player was a natural fit for a boy whose parents competed together in mixed doubles at Wimbledon, and the whole family followed suit.
“Playing tennis was all I knew growing up. But I found it challenging trying to live up to the expectations that came with being the son of my father and so when I was in my teens I left the sport and didn’t pick up a racquet for a competitive match again until my university days. However, I have appreciated it ever since.”
Peter’s specialty was doubles, something he says he excelled at because the team element and the strategy of the game suited his personality. He had a special gift on the court to match his game to that of his partner’s, and he won his three OUAA doubles titles alongside three different men.
He looks back fondly on his days playing at York and credits former head coach Eric Bojesen for establishing a winning culture and a team that top players wanted to join.
“Eric was a terrific coach, especially for our team in those days. I was a little older as I had already completed my undergrad, and most of my teammates had been down to compete in the NCAA and had come back home. He guided us well but also let us do what we needed to do, and his influence was a major reason why we were so dominant in those years.”
Bedard stayed connected to York even after earning his MBA, spending 10 years teaching at Schulich while also pursuing a career in human resources and project management. But after realizing he’d rather work for himself than someone else, he founded his own company called People First, a consulting company helping businesses with organizational development.
“I believe strongly that focusing on people will allow results to follow. It’s right in the name of my company, and it’s what I care about and who I am.”
Tennis is often called a sport for life, and Bedard has taken that mantra to heart and stayed in the sport even after his varsity playing days were over. He continued to compete at a high level, winning multiple Ontario and Canadian doubles championships in the open and senior categories, and he also teamed up with his father to win four United States senior national father-son championships.
To this day he finds time throughout the week to hit the courts with friends, his wife Jane – a former OUAA medallist in her own right whom he met while playing at York – and their three sons, ensuring the tradition of Bedards playing tennis has been passed down to the next generation.
