Etobicoke, Ontario, September 17, 2026 — Canada Basketball today celebrated a landmark moment for the sport in this country, as a new federal investment in Humber Polytechnic's North Campus paves the way for the organization's first-ever National Training Centre and Headquarters.

Through the Build Communities Strong Fund, the Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport), and the Honourable John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour) and Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North, announced a federal investment of $76 million to construct a state-of-the-art community and recreation centre at Humber Polytechnic's North Campus.  The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, announced that the provincial government would contribute an additional $24 million to the project. They were joined by Michael Bartlett, President and CEO of Canada Basketball, Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, President of Humber Polytechnic, and athletes from both organizations including Canada Basketball National Team athletes and Olympians, RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk, and Michelle Plouffe.

The new Athletic and Community Recreation Hub (The Hub) at Humber will also serve as the official home of basketball in Canada— a National Training Centre and Headquarters for Canada Basketball.

Built on a partnership between Canada Basketball and Humber Polytechnic spanning more than 40 years, the facility will serve as a flagship centre for high-performance training and competition, while also opening its doors to Humber students, faculty, and the surrounding community.

Once complete, the facility will feature six gymnasiums capable of hosting provincial, national, and international basketball competitions, along with a high-performance training centre, a domed playing field, and expanded space for essential facilities.

Available programming at the site is expected to double, with local community members and grassroots organizations gaining substantially increased access to recreation, a commitment to host local clubs and tournaments, and more than 32,000 hours of community use annually— all within a space where every coach, official, and volunteer is mandated to adhere to Canada Basketball's values-based policies, certification requirements, and safe sport protocols.

The new home gives Canada Basketball a platform to deliver on both halves of its mission set out in 2024, to be Best IN the world, through elite training, competition, and athlete development at the highest international level; and Best FOR Canada, through a connected basketball system that reaches every community and reflects the values of the nation it represents— from grassroots participation to the podium.

Construction is set to break ground in early 2027.

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“Sport has the power to shape lives and connect people in ways that very few things can. As we continue our nation’s monumental year of sport, the Government of Canada is investing to establish the new home of Canadian basketball at Humber. The Hub will strengthen Canada’s sport system, help athletes at every level pursue excellence, expand participation and create more opportunities to host major sporting events here at home, proving once again that Canada is the best sport-hosting nation in the world. We’re building Canada Strong, from playground to podium.”

• The Honourable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport)

“This new Athletic and Community Recreation Hub at Humber Polytechnic will give young people across our community - including Rexdale, Jamestown, Mount Olive-Silverstone-Jamestown, Humber Summit, Smithfield, West Humber-Clairville, and surrounding communities - greater access to year-round sport and recreation, while helping athletes pursue their goals. From playground to podium, this facility will strengthen Etobicoke for years to come.”

• The Honourable John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour) and Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North

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“For more than forty years, Humber Polytechnic has given Canada Basketball's athletes a place to train, today, we lay the permanent foundation for basketball in Canada. 

It is our objective to be Best in the world, when our teams take to the court, and Best for Canada, in how our sport represents our nation's values. With this historic investment and partnership, we will soon have a home to ensure both of those promises are kept. 

We are grateful to the Government of Canada for recognizing basketball as a sport of national importance, and to Humber Polytechnic for continuing to help make the game accessible."

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• Michael Bartlett, President and CEO, Canada Basketball

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“Humber has a long and storied history of athletics excellence, and we are proud to have been selected as partner and new home to Canada Basketball. We look forward to deepening our partnership with them as we shape the next chapter of that legacy on the national stage. The new facility will provide increased access to health and recreation for current students, and significant academic opportunities for Humber learners. As a living laboratory, it will bring academic learning to life through hands‑on training, applied research, and cross faculty collaboration, helping all Humber students hone their edge.”

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• Ann Marie Vaughan, president and CEO, Humber Polytechnic.

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“As a teen, I trained at Humber,, proudly wearing Canada on my jersey, and years later, I now see our athletes from elementary school to the NBA training here. Our athletes have never had a true home; a permanent, world-class training centre, this changes that. Our program can now build the way the best in the world do— with consistency and a facility that matches our athletes' ambition and talent. The next generation won't just follow today's stars, they'll build on a foundation built to last, in the same place my own journey began."

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• Rowan Barrett, General Manager & Executive Vice-President, Men’s High Performance, Canada Basketball

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“Women's basketball in this country is growing faster than it ever has, and our athletes deserve a training environment that reflects their talent, ambitions, and that growth. This facility will give our program the infrastructure to compete with the world— and it sends a clear message to the next generation of Canadian players that there is a real path, and a real home, waiting for them.

We're so grateful to the Government of Canada and Humber Polytechnic for recognizing the significance of basketball in this country and investing in it's growth with a permanent home."

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• Steve Baur, General Manager, Women’s High-Performance, Canada Basketball

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“A national training centre is only as strong as a healthy development pathway that surrounds and feeds it. This facility will be much more than a home for our national teams— it will be a place where athletes, coaches and officials can develop, where clubs and grassroots programs can connect to the national system, and where the next generation can see a pathway for themselves. Our vision is for this to become a true home for basketball in Canada, one that strengthens the game at every level and helps us develop and grow the sport across the country.”

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• Ron Yeung, Vice-President, Domestic Programs & Strategy, Canada Basketball

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“If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together, and it is so clear that this has been a team effort from so many of you.”

“To bring such a momentous step towards having a facility, having a home, for basketball, for athletes, for Humber varsity athletes. This is a seed that has been watered throughout the years.”

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• Michelle Plouffe, 3x3 National Team Athlete and Olympian, Canada Basketball

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Media Contacts:

Abby Albino

Head of Brand and Fan Engagement

aalbino@basketball.ca