Giants of Africa, in partnership with the Toronto Raptors, opened a new basketball court in Edmonton Thursday, the first court opened by the organization in Canada.
The court is located at Londonderry School and “will serve as a development hub, offering a safe space for youth to hone their skills and develop values like teamwork, leadership, and resilience,” according to a press release.
Giants of Africa, co-founded by Raptors president Masai Ujiri, works to empower youth through the sport of basketball. Since launching in 2003, the group has helped launch 29 new courts in nine African countries with the goal to ultimately build 100 courts.
“Our commitment has always been to harness the power of basketball to empower African youth and inspire positive change,” said Ujiri in a statement. “By introducing our first Canadian court in Edmonton’s Londonderry neighbourhood, we aim to create a space that nurtures talent, leadership, well-being and unity, in a community that serves the youth of the African diaspora and beyond, right here in our own backyard.”
“We are grateful for the revitalized basketball court at Londonderry School. Spaces, like basketball courts, are integral parts of a school community, where students gather to stay active, promote teamwork, improve skills and connect with one another,” Edmonton Public Schools superintendent Darrel Robertson said in a statement. “This vibrant new court will make a difference in the lives of Londonderry School students for years to come.”
