‍HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (September 6, 2024) — Canada Basketball, in partnership with Buckets & Borders and the Halifax Regional Municipality, unveiled three revitalized outdoor basketball courts at George Dixon Park in Halifax’s North End on Friday.

“Being a historically known African Nova Scotian community, close-knit bonds and deep basketball roots is what the community surrounding Uniacke Square is known for,” said Halifax Regional Municipality Councillor Lindell Smith. “With organizations like the Community YMCA, and Africville Lakers, basketball has long unified the community, bringing everyone together and reinforcing our rich history.”

“The Square,” as it is commonly referred to, is the latest collaboration between Buckets & Borders and Canada Basketball, which are continuing to revitalize outdoor basketball spaces across the country. 

The refurbished courts were unveiled during a community basketball event at George Dixon Park. The event included free youth basketball programming featuring Canada Basketball players, alumni and coaches, a local 3-point competition, a 3x3 clinic hosted by Basketball Nova Scotia, and a local co-ed all-star game featuring local basketball stars and guest coaches.

“Buckets and Borders continues to make a tremendous impact on Canadian communities by completely transforming basketball courts across our county, and we’re excited to work with them on this latest project at George Dixon Park,” said Michael Bartlett, President & CEO of Canada Basketball. “Canada Basketball has a special connection to Halifax and Nova Scotia, with several players, coaches, and staff members from our national team programs with having ties to the community.”

The three revitalized basketball courts at “The Square” feature new asphalt, standards, rims, and backboards, as well as vibrant on-court murals designed by Duane Jones, a local artist, and in consultation with a community youth group.

Born in Bermuda, Jones moved to Halifax where he initially lived in the North End of Halifax on Brunswick Street,  playing basketball at George Dixon Park, and at the community YMCA. Now, as a father and coach, he coaches his daughter's teams at the local community centre and has sponsored one of the teams that play annually in The Crown Basketball Tournament, an annual staple at the George Dixon community courts. Away from the court, Jones is a successful local graphic designer who has led multiple community collaboration activities and also sits on numerous boards related to anti-racism, art and community.

The Squaretown Courts design was created to celebrate the African Nova Scotian community and the history of Uniacke Square by incorporating colours associated with global Pan-African unity. The court celebrates the roots of the historically Black neighbourhood and the people within it through West African Adinkra symbols and their meanings, as well as words and names representing basketball culture within the community.

The revitalized courts will serve as a platform to further the growth of basketball in Halifax and Nova Scotia.

“The Square” project is the third in a series of court refurbishment initiatives between Canada Basketball and Buckets & Borders, a non-profit organization that uses basketball to improve communities and bring people together through basketball. 

 Earlier this summer, in collaboration with Senior Men’s National Team player, Luguentz Dort, Maizon Dort Foundation and the Montréal-Nord borough, the two organizations unveiled two revitalized basketball courts at Parc Saint-Laurent. The court was designed by local artist Olivier Lwambwa, a Congolese-Canadian multi-disciplinary artist and celebrates Dort as a local hero, his Haitian francophone roots, and serves as “a place to dream” for the youth of Montréal-Nord.  

 Last year, Buckets & Borders revitalized St. John's Park in Winnipeg, including new backboards, nets, and resurfacing of the asphalt hardtop. The court features the work of Jordan Stranger, a local Indigenous artist who designed and painted the court surface.

 Buckets & Borders is one of six UNIFIED Partnerships that Canada Basketball has established with community not-for-profit basketball organizations across the country.  The program supports community organizations with a long-term and ongoing affiliation with Canada Basketball and shared values, objectives and priorities to help further grow the game and remove access barriers for equity-deserving youth through collaborative basketball programming in Canada.

For additional information on Canada Basketball and the UNIFIED Partnerships program, visit basketball.ca.