TORONTO, ON (March 8, 2017) – Today Canada Basketball recognizes International Women’s Day (IWD), a global celebration of the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women and a call for gender parity.

“Canada Basketball is proudly committed to the values promoted by International Women’s Day,” said Michele O’Keefe, President & CEO of Canada Basketball. “As a national organization, we strive to be leaders and champions for all women and girls.”

Canada Basketball prides itself on promoting IWD values, including equality, collaboration, tenacity, and respect. Equal opportunities are offered throughout men’s and women’s programs, from development levels to the senior national programs. In FIBA’s latest rankings, Canada’s senior women’s program is 6th in the world while the youth women’s program resides in 4th place.

BASKETBALL WITHOUT BORDERS

One initiative that exemplifies the values of IWD and Canada Basketball is Basketball Without Borders (BWB), a collaboration between FIBA and the NBA. BWB Global Camp brings top young basketball talent together not only to improve basketball skills, but to promote leadership, education, sportsmanship and healthy living.

After BWB Global Camp was piloted in Toronto at the 2016 NBA All-Star Weekend, 25 girls from around the globe participated at this year’s camp in New Orleans. Among the invitees were Canadians Hailey Brown (Hamilton, ON), Roxane Makolo (St-Hubert, QC) and Shaina Pellington (Pickering, ON). The impact of the camp on its participants is evident.

“My experience at the camp was awesome. It was a pleasure to represent our country at an international camp and to compete against other girls from different countries,” said Makolo. “I will never forget this camp and the friendships we developed.”

“I could not have imagined a better camp to participate in,” added Brown. “I'm really grateful that I had the opportunity to represent Canada at an event like that.”

Brown, Makolo and Pellington have all represented Canada at the national level, and each girl was named a 2017 BWB Global Camp All-Star.

Dawn Smyth, Canada Basketball’s Manager - Coach Education and Development, believes it is essential for female athletes to participate in BWB Global Camp going forward. Smyth sees a connection between initiatives like BWB Global Camp and the goals of IWD.

“The camp was really created from one girl's voice, who spoke up during a BWB Africa press conference when the boys’ Global Camp was announced,” Smyth recalled. “The brave girl raised her hand and truly showed how one woman's voice can make a difference. With her question about the girls also having the chance to represent and connect on a global stage, the girls’ Global Camp was born.”

Now two years into the existence of its girls’ camp, BWB provides world-class opportunities to its participants from around the world.

“The NBA, FIBA and Nike bring in some of the most amazing WNBA athletes as role models for the young players,” Smyth said. “These are women who have achieved high levels of education and great success in their playing careers. They have spent multiple years in different countries, representing their country on national teams and have transitioned into having families and successful careers. Being around a group of powerful role models like that even for a few days is life-changing and influential.”

While these successes are significant, there are aspects of women’s sport that Smyth hopes will continue to grow going forward.

“I would love to see equal respect and exposure for the talented women that dedicate themselves to the game, an easier pathway for women to continue their involvement in sport and build families, and an expansion of educated respectful coaches as well as more female coaches in the women's game.”

Thanks to initiatives like IWD and BWB, this growth is more attainable than ever.

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This year’s IWD theme is #BeBoldForChange. Supported by organizations and individuals around the world, IWD-related contributions help women and girls achieve their ambitions; challenge conscious and unconscious bias; call for gender-balanced leadership; value women and men’s contributions equally; and create inclusive flexible cultures.

For more information on how to contribute to women’s initiatives today and every day, visit the IWD website.

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