CANADA BASKETBALL’S INAUGURAL NUNAVUT VISIT DELIVERS HOOPS DREAMS TO NORTHERN CANADA
Last Updated: March 11, 2010
TORONTO - Canada Basketball, the national governing body for the sport, announced Thursday that it is expanding its reach to the nation’s newest territory, Nunavut. For the first time, children and coaches in this area will have a chance to learn about basketball programs first hand as Ron Yeung, Manager for Steve Nash Youth Basketball and National Membership, embarks on two visits starting Friday, Feb. 5.
“We thank Sport Nunuvut for their generous hospitality and for taking the initiative in inviting Canada Basketball to meet with the wonderful people of Baker Lake and Igloolik,” said Wayne Parrish, CEO and Executive Director for Canada Basketball. “What an amazing and historical experience for everyone involved, especially the passionate youth and coaches in Nunavut who have the desire to learn more about our great sport.”
Yeung will make Canada Basketball’s first ever voyage to Nunavut when he visits Baker Lake Feb. 5-8. The second visit will take place in the community of Igloolik March 5-8.
“This is the first time Canada Basketball has been to Nunavut, and it’s groundbreaking,” said Yeung. “It’s a chance to bring basketball north, train coaches, and give the children in these communities a chance to play basketball at an organized level with qualified coaches.”
Canada Basketball continuously collaborates with its provincial and territorial sport organizations across the country to grow the sport. This particular journey is the result of months of organizing and a newly formed partnership between Canada Basketball and Sport Nunavut.
The overarching vision is to engage the community through Canada Basketball’s national grassroots program, Steve Nash Youth Basketball (SNYB). This initiative brings together children ages 5-13 years of age in an organized program designed to develop fundamental skills, sportsmanship and the love of basketball.
“Basketball is such a powerful resource not only as a sport, but also as a tool to unite cultures together from diverse backgrounds around the world,” added Parrish. “Right here in our own country we have a chance to introduce basketball to a new community and make it a thriving part of the Nunavut culture.”
Yeung’s primary purpose will be to work with the stakeholders in the community to develop programs that give the children of Nunavut a chance to play basketball. He will spend time working with coaches to reach certification levels, preparing to launch a Steve Nash Youth Basketball program in the communities and hosting clinics for players while experiencing Nunavut culture.
The goal of the youth clinics is to encourage participation of both children and parents while helping the coaches to develop a sustainable model to establish their own SNYB programs. Sport Nunavut and Canada Basketball have set a target of having 200 players taking part in the SNYB programs.
“I have the opportunity to bring basketball to these children and their families, but I also have a chance to see what a unique culture there is in Nunavut,” said Yeung. “It’s a chance of a lifetime for me, and to do it while bringing basketball to these kids is very rewarding.”
Baker Lake is on the Canadian mainland and is located over 1,600 kilometres north of Winnipeg and has a population of nearly 1,800 residents. Igloolik, located near Baffin Island, is over 2,800 kilometres north of Toronto and is home to nearly 1,600 residents.
Established as a national program in 2007, Steve Nash Youth Basketball has 17,000 active participants across Canada.
“We thank Sport Nunuvut for their generous hospitality and for taking the initiative in inviting Canada Basketball to meet with the wonderful people of Baker Lake and Igloolik,” said Wayne Parrish, CEO and Executive Director for Canada Basketball. “What an amazing and historical experience for everyone involved, especially the passionate youth and coaches in Nunavut who have the desire to learn more about our great sport.”
Yeung will make Canada Basketball’s first ever voyage to Nunavut when he visits Baker Lake Feb. 5-8. The second visit will take place in the community of Igloolik March 5-8.
“This is the first time Canada Basketball has been to Nunavut, and it’s groundbreaking,” said Yeung. “It’s a chance to bring basketball north, train coaches, and give the children in these communities a chance to play basketball at an organized level with qualified coaches.”
Canada Basketball continuously collaborates with its provincial and territorial sport organizations across the country to grow the sport. This particular journey is the result of months of organizing and a newly formed partnership between Canada Basketball and Sport Nunavut.
The overarching vision is to engage the community through Canada Basketball’s national grassroots program, Steve Nash Youth Basketball (SNYB). This initiative brings together children ages 5-13 years of age in an organized program designed to develop fundamental skills, sportsmanship and the love of basketball.
“Basketball is such a powerful resource not only as a sport, but also as a tool to unite cultures together from diverse backgrounds around the world,” added Parrish. “Right here in our own country we have a chance to introduce basketball to a new community and make it a thriving part of the Nunavut culture.”
Yeung’s primary purpose will be to work with the stakeholders in the community to develop programs that give the children of Nunavut a chance to play basketball. He will spend time working with coaches to reach certification levels, preparing to launch a Steve Nash Youth Basketball program in the communities and hosting clinics for players while experiencing Nunavut culture.
The goal of the youth clinics is to encourage participation of both children and parents while helping the coaches to develop a sustainable model to establish their own SNYB programs. Sport Nunavut and Canada Basketball have set a target of having 200 players taking part in the SNYB programs.
“I have the opportunity to bring basketball to these children and their families, but I also have a chance to see what a unique culture there is in Nunavut,” said Yeung. “It’s a chance of a lifetime for me, and to do it while bringing basketball to these kids is very rewarding.”
Baker Lake is on the Canadian mainland and is located over 1,600 kilometres north of Winnipeg and has a population of nearly 1,800 residents. Igloolik, located near Baffin Island, is over 2,800 kilometres north of Toronto and is home to nearly 1,600 residents.
Established as a national program in 2007, Steve Nash Youth Basketball has 17,000 active participants across Canada.
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