A revitalized outdoor basketball facility is among the important legacies benefiting young people created through the partnership between George Brown College, Giants of Africa, and the Toronto Raptors.
George Brown President Dr. Gervan Fearon joined Raptors President and Giants of Africa Co-Founder Masai Ujiri, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and Councillor Anthony Perruzza (Humber River-Black Creek) on October 22 to celebrate the official opening of two new and improved basketball courts at Firgrove Park in the Jane Street and Finch Avenue West community in north Toronto.
"Our partnership with Giants of Africa enables us to transform lives and inspires the next generation to dream big," Dr. Fearon said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
"Through sports, we can unlock new learning opportunities and nurture the immense talent of our youth in the Jane and Finch community aligning with our college's commitment to accessible education and community development. The combination of sports and education supports on and off-court success, which is the foundation of our shared efforts and partnership in support of the next generation of leaders."
The Giants of Africa organization aims to empower and inspire youth through sport on and off the court. The organization has opened courts across Africa, and the Toronto facility marks the group's second Canadian project.
Eye-catching courts
Thanks to the GBC-Raptors-Giants of Africa partnership, and with support from the City of Toronto, the Jane and Finch community now has a full-size FIBA court and two modified high school courts, each outfitted with City Hoops Basketball Hoops.
These courts are a great place to play, and they also look amazing with bright and fun green and yellow tones. Giants of Africa believes a court is more than a court itself - it has the power to uplift communities and unite individuals as one team.
Connecting sport and education
Dr. Fearon said the courts provide a "direct link" between sports and education over the past three years, more than 1,000 George Brown students have hailed from the Jane and Finch community. The sports facility, sponsored by the college, allows George Brown to support current and future students in their community with great recreational activities.
Chow said the project is about much more than basketball.
"We are thrilled to open the basketball courts at Firgrove Park, creating a safe and vibrant space for our youth to play, learn and grow," she said. "This is not just about basketball; it's about building a community where dreams can take flight."
Giants of Africa aims to develop more than basketball players. It aims to create a place where future leaders are built who feel inspired and motivated to dream big.
The official college of the Toronto Raptors
George Brown College is the official partner of the Toronto Raptors. Together, we are working to highlight the critical role of post-secondary education in changing lives and empowering communities. Learn more at georgebrown.ca/toronto-raptors-partnership.
