Capilano University is honoured to host the opening ceremony of the Junior All Native Basketball Tournament
NORTH VANCOUVER B.C. – Elders, grand chiefs, dancers, basketball players and their fans will converge on Capilano University, March 19, 2018, for the opening ceremony of the Junior All Native Basketball Tournament.
Now in its 42nd year, the annual tournament will draw more than 80 teams of 800 youth aged 10 to 17 to the Lower Mainland to compete in four divisions from March 19 to 23, 2018. In addition to the opening ceremony, CapU will host the closing ceremony and premier games.
The tournament aims to inspire Aboriginal youth to pursue their goals and make the most of their potential, while improving their fitness and skill levels. The tournament’s 2018 theme is UNITY through basketball with a focus on promoting reconciliation province-wide, as well as within Nations.
“Capilano University is proud to host this event that showcases some of the best Aboriginal high school athletes at a provincial level, while using the game of basketball to inspire the pursuit of higher education,” says Paul Dangerfield, president of Capilano University.
This is the first time that Capilano University has hosted the tournament. Games will also be played at venues that include Britannia, Templeton, Van Tech and Gladstone secondary schools in Vancouver.
The opening ceremony on March 19 starts at 6 p.m. Reporters and photographers are welcome to attend alongside the athletes, their family members and dignitaries.
Games are free to Capilano University students, elders 65+ and children 12 and under. Admission is $10 a day and a week pass is $40. For more information, see unitybasketball.com.
About Capilano University
Capilano University is a teaching-focused university based in North Vancouver, with programming serving the Sunshine Coast and the Sea-to-Sky corridor. The University offers 99 programs, including bachelor’s degrees in areas as diverse as film, jazz, early childhood education and tourism management. Capilano University enrols approximately 10,500 students each year, 8,200 in for-credit programs and 2,300 in non-credit courses. Capilano University is named after Chief Joe Capilano, an important leader of the Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) Nation of the Coast Salish people. Our campuses are located on the territories of the Lil’wat, Musqueam, Sechelt (shíshálh), Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
About the Junior All Native Basketball Tournament
The Junior All Native Basketball Tournament has been running annually since 1977. Each year, communities across the province bid to run the event. This year’s organizers are the North Shore Wolves Basketball Club, the Vancity Sons basketball team, Basketball BC, the Vancouver School Board, the North Vancouver School District, the Musqueam Indian Band and CapU Blues.
For more information, or to schedule interviews, please contact:
Cheryl Rossi
Senior Communications Advisor
Capilano University
t: 604 983 7596
c: 778 879 7119
e: cherylrossi@capilanou.ca
www.capilanou.ca
Submitted by: Cheryl Rossi