‍TORONTO, Ont. (February 9, 2023) – Canada Basketball Foundation™ announced Thursday the addition of Sumit Arora and Megan Pinske to its board of directors, following the organization’s Annual General Meeting.

“On behalf of the Canada Basketball Foundation and my fellow board members, I’m thrilled to welcome Sumit and Megan to our team.” said Sheron Lau, Chair, Canada Basketball Foundation Board of Directors.  “Not only are they both passionate about the game of basketball but are committed to our ongoing efforts to not only remove access barriers, but ensure inclusive and equitable opportunities for all youth.”

Currently, the Vice President, Strategy, Analytics and Esports for MLSE, Arora leads business analytics, strategy and innovation across Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s (MLSE) business operations.  Not only is he focused on supporting each of the organization’s teams, but also on driving fan experience and business growth.  Additionally, Arora also leads MLSE’s Esports programs, including business operations for the NBA 2K League Raptors Uprising, and new business ventures such as MLSE’s Future of Sport Lab incubator.

“It’s a privilege to have the opportunity to join the Canada Basketball Foundation Board of Directors,” said Arora. “The Canada Basketball Foundation is committed to unifying the Canadian basketball community and I want to be able to help ensure that every Canadian who wants to play, coach, officiate or just support and love the game, can do so in a safe, respectful and fun environment.” 

A former university standout, Canadian Women’s National Team alumni and professional athlete, Pinske is now focused on helping develop players at the grassroots level.  Following her playing career, Pinske, who represented Canada in several international tournaments, including the 2009 FIBA Americas Championship for Women, has spent the last 12 years coaching both collegiate and young athletes, including serving as 17U head coach for Basketball BC. Currently, she is the VP of Community Impact at The Vancouver Basketball Foundation.

“Joining the Canada Basketball Foundation Board of Directors is a full circle moment for me having grown up in the Canada Basketball system as both an athlete and young coach,” Pinske said. “Now, with The Vancouver Basketball Foundation™, I have the privilege of working at the grassroots level in my home province of British Columbia. To get to bring these worlds together and play a role in growing the game for all Canadians is an honour and a passion.”

Canada Basketball Foundation would like to extend their gratitude and appreciation to Mark Starkey and Jake Gilbert for their time spent as a members of the board of directors over the last several years.

The Canada Basketball Foundation Board of Directors consists of seven members, including:

- Sheron Lau, Senior Invest Advisor, Research Capital (Chair)

- Sumit Arora, Vice President, Strategy, Analytics and Esports for MLSE,

- Michael Bartlett, President & CEO, Canada Basketball

- Kevin MacDonald, Partner, Clark Wilson LLP

- Pat Sherlock, President EMEA, Canada Goose

- Megan Pinske, Vice President of Community Impact, The Vancouver Basketball Foundation™

- Rob Wright, Senior Partner, IPC Investment Corp / Co-Vice Chair Canada Basketball Board of Directors

Last year, Canada Basketball and the Canada Basketball Foundation impacted the lives of over 5,000 youth from more than 100 community groups across the country through basketball, while also distributing over $65,000 in grants to grassroots organizations and programs with a shared commitment of using basketball as a powerful tool to unify Canadians coast-to-coast-to-coast.

For more information on the Canada Basketball Foundation and to donate to help support the organization’s mission to foster safe, diverse, equitable and inclusive basketball opportunities for youth across Canada, visit basketball.ca/foundation or click here.

ABOUT CANADA BASKETBALL

Canada Basketball is the National Sporting Organization for the sport of basketball in Canada. Canada Basketball is respected worldwide and is recognized by the International Amateur Basketball Federation (FIBA) and the Government of Canada as the sole governing body of the sport of amateur basketball in Canada. Canada Basketball, a not-for-profit organization, represents all basketball interests, provides leadership, coordination and direction in all areas of the sport of basketball.

ABOUT CANADA BASKETBALL FOUNDATION™

The Canada Basketball Foundation™ is a registered charitable organization dedicated to unifying Canada as a basketball nation by supporting safe, equitable, and inclusive basketball programming. Working directly with Canada Basketball, the Canada Basketball Foundation aims to remove access barriers in community organizations who are focused on delivering programs related to coaching and officiating, leadership and skill development, and serving underrepresented or historically racialized youth across Canada.