Edmonton, AB – As part of their multi-year partnership, Canada Basketball and Sun Life teamed up this past weekend through a youth basketball activation with Alberta Basketball.

The event was held Saturday, October 25, 2025, at Crystal Kids Centre, launching Sun Life’s community basketball court donation in Edmonton. The 3x3 court, combined with a $15,000 contribution to Alberta Basketball, will provide the opportunity for athletes to have year-round access to grassroots basketball programming, clinics, and community events.

\Led by 2024 Paris Olympians Paige Crozon and Katherine and Michelle Plouffe – members of Canada Basketball’s Senior Women’s 3x3 National Team, with Michelle now part of the organization’s staff – young athletes from Crystal Kids and Free Play participated in skill-building sessions and games at Crystal Kids facility. The activation highlighted the power of collaboration between national, provincial, and corporate partners in creating meaningful opportunities for youth in deserving communities to get active through basketball.

“Basketball continues to experience tremendous growth across Canada, and we remain deeply committed to ensuring that young people in every community have access to safe and inclusive spaces to play,” said Michael Bartlett, President & CEO of Canada Basketball. “At Canada Basketball, we take great pride in striving to be the best in the world and the best for Canada. Through our partnership with Sun Life and Alberta Basketball, this court donation represents another meaningful step in creating opportunities for youth and communities nationwide to connect, develop, and thrive through the game.”

Sun Life and Canada Basketball announced the partnership in 2023 with Sun Life being named Official Health and Wellness partner and front of jersey sponsor of the senior men’s and women’s teams. This court donation is the latest in the sponsorship which focuses on helping Canadians live healthier lives.

“Our partnership with Canada Basketball and Alberta Basketball is about more than sport, it’s about creating positive, lasting impact in communities across Canada,” said Paul Joliat, Vice-President, Global Partnerships and Marketing Planning at Sun Life. “Together, we’re helping to make basketball more accessible while inspiring youth to lead active, healthy lives. Through initiatives like this court donation, we’re advancing Sun Life’s commitment to supporting healthier communities and empowering the next generation to build confidence and connection through the game.”

This Edmonton donation is the second in a series of community basketball spaces to be created through the Canada Basketball and Sun Life partnership. The first was unveiled in Montréal this past September, in partnership with Basketball Quebec.

"Alberta Basketball extends its sincere appreciation to our dedicated partners, Sun Life and Canada Basketball, for their commitment to growing the game across the province. This new court represents more than a playing surface—it symbolizes opportunity, connection, and the continued expansion of basketball in Alberta. We look forward to using this space to inspire participation and foster community through the sport we love."

For more information about Alberta Basketball and their plans for the court, please visit https://www.abbasketball.ca/

Media Contacts:

Abby Albino, Canada Basketball, aalbino@basketball.ca

Sun Life Media Relations, media.relations@sunlife.com

Alberta Basketball media relations, brianswane@albertabasketball.ca

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About Canada Basketball

Canada Basketball is the national governing body for the sport, recognized by the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Government of Canada. A not-for-profit organization, Canada Basketball leads the growth and development of the game at all levels, from grassroots participation to high performance international competition, including the development of athletes, coaches, and officials across the country, in alignment with its provincial and territorial sport organizations. The organization strives for excellence on the world stage while serving the best interests of Canada by making basketball safer, more accessible, more equitable, and more impactful in communities coast-to-coast-to-coast. Canada’s Senior Women’s, Men’s, and 3x3 National Teams, along with its age-group programs, proudly represent the nation in international play, competing with the best in the world.

About Sun Life

Sun Life is a leading international financial services organization providing asset management, wealth, insurance and health solutions to individual and institutional Clients. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the U.S., the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda. As of June 30, 2025, Sun Life had total assets under management of $1.54 trillion. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com.

Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE) and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF.