Young people from Indigenous communities in British Columbia are getting a chance to work on their basketball moves thanks to a partnership involving FortisBC, the Vancouver Bandits professional basketball team and the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity and Recreation Council.
The partnership, called Court Programs, developed from FortisBC’s sponsorship of the Bandits and the Indigenous Basketball Collective. It builds basketball courts that will serve as new recreational hubs for local youth in four Indigenous communities across the province.
As of January 2024, three have been completed and one is in development.
According to Diana Sorace, senior advisor, corporate communications at FortisBC, the program is part of the company’s efforts to make a positive difference in the well-being of province communities.
“Through our Community Investment programs, FortisBC provides funding for a variety of grassroots community initiatives that work toward improving communities and a stronger, thriving B.C.,” Sorace told American Gas. “We see these contributions as an important part of our efforts to partner with the communities we serve. Our donations are grassroots and community-driven, where we connect to a community to understand its values, interests and needs.”
The court project is a component of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, which has a goal to create increased opportunities for Indigenous players, coaches and others involved in basketball to participate in training camps, competitions, workshops and more. That includes offerings like the collective’s summer basketball camp, which helps more than 50 Indigenous youth receive fundamental basketball instruction and is hosted by the Bandits’ coaching staff.
“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 efforts 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.” —Eric Johnson