Amanda Alexander watched from the sidelines Sunday as her 11-year-old son Conan tested the bounce on a newly restored pair of basketball courts in the River — Osborne neighbourhood.
A day of youth programming marked the grand opening of the outdoor courts at the Mayfair Recreation Centre, where a slate of Winnipeg Sea Bears basketball players helped Conan and dozens of other kids practice their jump shots, footwork and dribbling skills.
Alexander hoped it might mark the beginning of a new passion for her son, who uses sports as a positive outlet in his life.
“It means a lot because if I can get him involved, even if he doesn’t take part but wants to volunteer or do something positive, I’ve done my job. I’d rather have him involved than be inside playing a video game,” said the single mother.
“It’s inspiring for the kids to see what can happen if they work hard and put their minds to it.”
Buckets and Borders, a non-profit organization based in Regina, led the charge to restore the courts located at 40 Mayfair Place (near the intersection of River Avenue and Donald Street) — transforming the drab, grey asphalt into a mosaic of teal, orange, yellow and blue.
The recreation centre now features two basketball courts and a tennis court, each with a fully restored playing surface. It also includes new stanchions, backboards and rims adorned with the Sea Bears logo.
“It’s a place of pride for people to not only play the game but to come and just be in a safe space, to enjoy the vibrancy of the court and hopefully fall in love with the game that we all love, which is basketball,” said Buckets and Borders CEO and co-founder Justin Lee.
“I think basketball, and sport really, is such a great avenue for kids to learn an incredible amount of life skills that go far beyond the basketball court.”
Lee met with Sea Bears owner David Asper more than a year ago to discuss a potential partnership in the restoration project. The City of Winnipeg was quickly on board and the non-profit found additional support from locally-based payroll management company, Payworks.
The restoration was officially announced in April and is the second project completed by Buckets and Boarders in Winnipeg. Last September, the group put the finishing touches on a colourful transformation of the outdoor community court at St. John’s Park.
The Sea Bears organization was involved in that restoration as well.
“It’s a crucial partnership. The art they create, the beauty they create in formerly dilapidated areas to make them cool exciting places — and places where people can play the sport of basketball — has an exponential effect in community impact,” Asper said, adding that the groups are in discussions for similar projects elsewhere in Winnipeg.
“Every time we do something like this, it’s a point of joy… We see a very long road ahead for continuing to extend basketball and have community impact and social impact.”
Sea Bears centre Chad Posthumus was among the roster players who attended the grand opening on Sunday.
Posthumus, who lives within walking distance of the outdoor courts, said he witnessed dozens of children utilizing the space Saturday night.
A born-and-bred Winnipeger, Posthumus spoke of the value of such spaces in inspiring young players and connecting them to their communities.
“You never know who is going to show up, who is going to be playing. You meet new people, new friends — relationships that extend beyond basketball into everyday life. I think this is great,” he said.
Sunday’s event included music, food, giveaways and a slate of basketball competitions including a local all-star game.
tyler.searle@freepress.mb.ca
Tyler Searle
Reporter
Tyler Searle is a multimedia producer who writes for the Free Press‘s city desk. A graduate of Red River College Polytechnic’s creative communications program, he wrote for the Stonewall Teulon Tribune, Selkirk Record and Express Weekly News before joining the paper in 2022. Read more about Tyler.
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