Image: Court Projects via Vancouver Bandits / Shxwhá:y Village Councillor Michelle Roberts of Chilliwack stands in front of a new full-court basketball court that was recently under construction at the First Nation reserve in Chilliwack. FortisBC has joined forces with the Vancouver Bandits, BC's professional basketball team from the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) to build outdoor basketball courts that will serve as new recreational hubs for local youth in four Indigenous communities across the province, including Shxwhá:y Village, Soowahlie First Nation in Chilliwack, one in Nanaimo and one in Abbotsford, Sumas First Nation. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Basketball courts for First Nations

Vancouver Bandits, partners bring basketball courts to First Nations in Chilliwack, Abbotsford

Oct 30, 2023 | 9:35 AM

LANGLEY — FortisBC has joined forces with the Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team from the Canadian Elite Basketball League, and the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) to build outdoor basketball courts that will serve as new recreational hubs for local youth in four Indigenous communities across the province.

According to a news release dated Friday, October 27 on the Vancouver Bandits, the four communities where courts equipped with backboards and hoops are already completed or are in the process of anticipated construction are as follows:

• Completed – Full court: Shxwhá:y Village (Chilliwack)
• Completed – Half-court: Soowahlie First Nation (Chilliwack)
• Completed – Full court: Snuneymuxw First Nation (Nanaimo)
• In development: Sumas First Nation (Abbotsford)

The initiative as a whole is called ‘Court Projects’ and is supported by the Province of British Columbia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, as well as various local partners to bolster the existing collaboration between FortisBC, I∙SPARC and the Bandits, who have worked in partnership to host the annual Indigenous Basketball Collective Camp during the BC Basketball Festival at Langley Events Centre (LEC) each summer since 2022.

Image: Court Projects via Vancouver Bandits / Construction of a new basketball court at one of four First Nations communities across British Columbia.

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“We applaud the work the Bandits and these communities are doing to invest in basketball courts which will support fun, meaningful activities for youth,” said Doug Slater, vice-president, Indigenous relations and regulatory affairs at FortisBC. “We are committed to making a positive difference in the communities we serve and we’re pleased to be a part of this project.”

Inspired by the rapid rise in popularity of one of Canada’s most accessible sports, Court Projects is a legacy component inspired by the unifying spirit of the BC Basketball Festival and is the latest touchpoint of the Indigenous Basketball Collective. The goal of the Collective is to create increased opportunities for Indigenous players, coaches and others involved in basketball to participate in training camps, competitions, workshops and more.

The Court Projects initiative is a contributing facet of the Indigenous Basketball Collective.

“The Indigenous Basketball Collective was created to provide opportunities for Indigenous involvement and growth in the sport of basketball. Training camps, competitions and player development can only be made possible through access to facilities,” said Rick Brant, chief executive officer of I∙SPARC.

Chief Robert Gladstone of Shxwhá:y Village remarked, “This partnership symbolizes coming together to show support and recognition of each other’s cultures. Showing this to children and instilling it in them – it gives them strength going forward. It is much more than the game of basketball. It is the evolution of growth and working with cultures and people in other areas. It is a beautiful thing to be part of.”

Image: Court Projects via Vancouver Bandits / New basketball court being installed at one of four First Nations communities across British Columbia.

Soowahlie First Nation Chief Brenda Wallace said, “Basketball, hockey, soccer and baseball are the main sports within Soowahlie. Basketball has been on the back burner because of not having a court, but now having the court is going to bring it to our community in a greater way. For youth, it is an easy sport to play because you can play it one-on-one or you can play it with a team or individually.”

Adding to Court Projects’ mandate is a focus on revitalizing courts and hoops in need. To do so, the Vancouver Bandits have collaborated with schools, recreation centres and local partners to donate new metal rims and fresh net mesh for outdoor courts in regions across British Columbia. These upgrades have been supported by partners of the Court Projects program.

“It is an honour to work with FortisBC in partnership with Indigenous communities across B.C. to build basketball courts for public use by individuals of all ages. Basketball is one of Canada’s most inclusive sports and we hope these new courts can serve as an added resource to help encourage recreation, as well as active and healthy lifestyles,” said Bandits team president Dylan Kular.