The Canadian Lawn Tennis Association (CLTA) is known today as Tennis Canada.  It was founded in 1890 at a meeting in Toronto.

A primary responsibility of the new CLTA became the management of the Canadian Championship Tournament, which later became the Canadian Open and is known today as the Rogers Cup.  Founded in 1881 by the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, the tournament first came under the auspices of the CLTA in 1890.  From the outset, there were ambitions to build the tournament into something more grand and expansive than had been possible at the founding club, despite the beautiful facilities offered there.  The Wright & Ditson Annual reported, regarding the 1890 Canadian Championships:

The first tournament held by the Canadian Lawn Tennis Association for the Championship of Canada began on the grounds of the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club on September 2, and concluded on September 5.  The weather was all that could be desired and the grounds were in perfect condition, reflecting great credit on the club.  Many of the best Canadian players were unable to attend the meeting, and there were fewer entries from the States than usual.

…. The championship tournament of 1891 will be held in July.  It has not been definitely decided where it will be held, but the probability is that the Toronto club grounds will be again selected, being probably the best grass courts on the continent, with the additional advantage of having two excellent cinder courts which can be used in case of wet weather.

…. A championship cup was offered for competition in singles, to be held by the winner of the tournament for one year, and if won three years successively by the same person to become his personal property.  The winner of the tournament each year will also receive a handsome prize.

The tournament was moved from early September to July, but carried on at the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club each year.  Despite the lovely facilities at the Club, the tournament was very small in comparison to the Niagara International.  The Wright & Ditson report regarding 1893:

The Canadian Lawn Tennis Association opened its fourth annual tournament on the grounds of the Toronto Club, July 25 1893 and following days. There was a list of eighteen entries – twelve from Toronto, three from the States, two from Barrie and one from Ottawa.

…. Ottawa was selected as the place for holding next year’s tournament.

Things didn’t improve much in 1894.  The Wright & Ditson report:

The fifth annual tournament for the championship of Canada, under the auspices of the Canadian Lawn Tennis Association, was held on the grounds of the Ottawa Lawn Tennis Club on July 3 and following days.  There were five entries in the ladies singles, fifteen in the gentlemen’s singles (seven from Ottawa, five from Toronto, one from Hamilton, one from Thorold, and one from Pembroke), and sixteen pairs in the gentlemen’s doubles.

But soon thereafter, the Hon. Secretary-Treasurer of the CLTA, Arthur C Rowe, was able to make a very big announcement :

It has since been decided that the next tournament is to be held at Niagara-on-the-Lake, commencing Tuesday July 9, on the grounds of the Queen’s Royal Hotel, the proprietors having very kindly placed the same at the disposal of the Niagara Lawn Tennis Club for the occasion.

… Several of the American cracks have promised to attend and they can rely on a warm welcome being accorded them by the association.

And thus we know that a Niagara-on-the-Lake Tennis Club, referred to as the Niagara Lawn Tennis Club in the records of the Canadian Lawn Tennis Association in 1894, was partner to the CLTA in the presentation of the Canadian Championships for the first time in 1895.

It was clear that if the Canadian Championships were to rise in stature and attract international players, the best way to do so was to move the event to Niagara-on-the-Lake.  It was an easy decision for the CLTA to make, given that the Niagara International had established Niagara-on-the-Lake as the feature location for world-class tennis in Canada.  The Wright & Ditson report for 1894:

The Niagara International tennis tournament will be long remembered by the Canadian tennis player as establishing a friendly entente between several leading players of the United States and Canada, who spent an enjoyable week together at the beautiful watering place of Niagara-on-the-Lake Canada.

The tenth annual renewal of the Niagara International was held on the picturesque courts of the Queen’s Royal Hotel beginning on Tuesday August 28.  It was the most expert and numerous gathering of tennis players hitherto seen on Canadian courts.

…. Tournament week at Niagara will not soon be forgotten by those who took part in it.  The dances, balls and concerts in the evening added greatly to the enjoyment, and many international friendships were cemented.  One result of the pleasant meetings at Niagara was the famous winter trip of the American College Hockey Team to Canada, in which Chace, Foote and Larned were the moving spirits, assisted by Mr George Wright of Boston.

This was followed by a reiteration of the big announcement :

During the coming season, two tournaments will be held at Niagara-on-the-Lake : the Canadian Lawn Tennis Association’s championship tournament open to all comers beginning Tuesday July 9, and the Niagara International tennis tournament beginning Tuesday August 27 and continuing until Labor Day September 2.

Could Niagara-on-the-Lake help the CLTA elevate its Canadian Championships to greater prominence?  And could Niagara-on-the-Lake and its Tennis Club support two world-class international tennis events?  1895 was to be the year to try it out.