Niagara Academy was established in 1997, by Ms Lezlie Murch, who saw a need for students to combine excellence in tennis with excellence in academic studies.



To satisfy this need, Ms Murch, along with her partners, Doug Carter and Clint Nolman, have brought together a strong team of academic teachers and tennis coaches to develop a program according to the requirements of the Ontario Ministry of Education and the guidelines of Tennis Canada. This approach has enabled students to attain success. Indeed, all of the students who have graduated from Niagara Academy have been highly successful at the university or college level and almost all of them have attained athletic scholarships in the United States.

Niagara Academy has a small school setting, with Grades 7 through 12. Students are encouraged to set athletic and academic goals and then given the tools and guidance for success. While at Niagara Academy, students are given the personalized attention and support they need to develop the fundamentals of leadership, championship, and true excellence, as well as the ability to participate as part of a team.



Niagara Academy's unique program has attracted students from across Canada, as well as from around the world. Since its inception, the program has been enriched by students from Argentina, Armenia, Bolivia, Canada, Colombia, Egypt, Japan, Lebanon, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, United States, and Venezuela. To help students adjust to life away from home and to ensure the happiness and well-being of the each student, students who come from outside the local area live with carefully selected local families.