RJ Barrett was visibly excited as he took the stage at Humber Polytechnic to unveil a new hub for Canadian basketball. Surrounded by fellow national team player Michelle Plouffe, Canada’s sports secretary Adam Van Koeverden, Ontario Premier Doug Ford, and others, Barrett reminisced about his childhood experiences at the venue.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a little kid. I’ve had practices, games. So many of my friends, we kind of grew up here. This place has always felt like home for Canada Basketball,” Barrett shared enthusiastically.
In a significant development, the federal government has allocated $76 million towards a new national basketball facility, with an additional $24 million coming from the province of Ontario, totaling a $100 million investment. Situated in Etobicoke, Ontario, at Humber’s North Campus, the state-of-the-art community center will serve as the central hub for basketball in Canada. It will feature six gyms for provincial, national, and international competitions, along with a high-performance training center. Groundbreaking is set for next year, with the facility also housing Canada Basketball’s national operations.
“This is the largest investment in basketball ever made in this country,” remarked Van Koeverden.
The federal government has committed to 32,000 hours of community use annually at the facility, dubbed “The Hub.” The usage will be overseen by Humber. Canada Basketball, in partnership with Humber, will launch a private donor campaign for additional funding opportunities, including naming rights. Contributions from Humber Capital and student fee allocations will further support the project.
Expressing his excitement, Van Koeverden stated, “I’m absolutely ecstatic and I’m a huge basketball fan. Today marks a new era for Canada Basketball, as RJ Barrett aptly put it, showcasing our country’s commitment to basketball.”
With 23 NBA players hailing from Canada, including RJ Barrett and MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the country ranks second only to the U.S in NBA representation. The investment in the new facility aims to bolster Canada’s presence on the global basketball stage.
Kelly Olynyk, captain of the men’s national team, emphasized the significance of having a centralized training facility for athletes across the country to come together and enhance their skills collectively.
Apart from the facility funding, Canada Basketball received an additional $1.8 million in supplemental funding as part of a core funding increase for national sport organizations. The federal government’s investment in the basketball facility falls under the Build Communities Strong Fund initiative aimed at enhancing Canadian infrastructure.
Van Koeverden highlighted ongoing discussions with national sport organizations like Football Canada and Athletics Canada, indicating potential future funding allocations. He emphasized the popularity and accessibility of basketball, making it an attractive avenue for investment to promote physical activity and sports engagement across the country.
While the hub will be located in Etobicoke, efforts will be made to ensure accessibility and engagement in basketball at both community and national levels across Canada.
In line with the Future of Sport Commission report’s focus on safe sport initiatives, Canada Basketball has emerged as a leader in implementing safety measures at national and provincial levels.
The announcement event also saw the presence of key figures including Ontario Premier Doug Ford, Ontario Minister of Sport Brian Saunderson, and national team basketball player Yvonne Ejim. Together, they exemplified a collaborative model for other national sport organizations to follow as Canada’s sports investment landscape continues to evolve.
“I don’t know if you all know this, but Canadian basketball is getting serious,” Barrett concluded, underscoring the country’s growing commitment to the sport.
