ManitobaA stunning new basketball court in Winnipeg’s north end is already bringing new life and inspiring hoop dreams, with its opening a slam dunk for the area.‘This is the type of thing we wanted growing up’: Sea Bears player Tre ScottCBC News · Posted: Aug 17, 2025 12:14 PM EDT | Last Updated: 3 hours agoThe Winnipeg Sea Bears hosted a youth training camp at the newly-unveiled basketball court court and renewed playground at the Northwood Community Centre at 1415 Burrows Ave. on Saturday. (Dominique Gauthier/Radio-Canada)A stunning new basketball court in Winnipeg’s North End is already bringing new life and inspiring hoop dreams, with its opening a slam dunk for the area.On Saturday, officials with the city of Winnipeg, the province, and the federal government celebrated the grand opening of the new court and renewed playground at the Northwood Community Centre at 1415 Burrows Ave. in Winnipeg’s Burrows Central neighbourhood. “The court now tells a story of imagination, where every brushstroke reflects teamwork and a shared vision that makes our communities stronger,” said Point Douglas Coun. Vivian Santos, who campaigned on revitalizing the space in 2018 after consulting with people in the area.Point Douglas Coun. Vivian Santos says the new basketball court at the Northwood Community Centre in Winnipeg’s Burrows Central neighbourhood will offer area residents safe, affordable access to recreation. (Dominique Gauthier/Radio-Canada) “This court and this playground will give our kids a safe place to run, laugh and learn. For families, this is a welcoming place to gather, and for everyone, it’s an affordable option that is so deeply needed in the city of Winnipeg.”The court also has new backboards, rims and regulation game lines, contributed by the non-profit Buckets & Borders, which works to revitalize communities through basketball, in collaboration with the Winnipeg Sea Bears and TelPay.”We’re the blueprint. They want to get to where we are, so we want to be here to support them … to get guys and girls where we are today,” said Sea Bears centre Simi Shittu who, along with some of his teammates, shot hoops with dozens of kids on Saturday. “Growing up with dreams of being a professional athlete, this is the type of thing we wanted growing up,” said teammate Tre Scott. With ideas from art students at Sisler High School, designer Jonato Dalayoan created a mural to represent the cultures that make up the community and ‘support an inclusive environment where everyone is welcomed to shoot some hoops.’ (Jonato Dalayoan/Instagram)The court was built as part of what the city says is major park improvements at the community centre, which also includes new playground equipment, new seating areas throughout the park and around the wading pool, and new asphalt pathways.The total budget for the project was approximately $604,000, with $149,000 coming from the federal government, $230,000 from the province and $225,000 from the city.The mural artwork was done in collaboration with students and alumni of Sisler High School and local artist Jonato Dalayoan, who also attended Sisler.”To be able to create a piece in the area I grew up in, made this piece mean that much more,” Scott wrote in a social media post.The court features the word “welcome” at centre court in Ojibwe (Aaniin), Cree (Tânsi), Dakota (Iyuskin), and Michif (Peehtikway) to honour the land the court is located on, the city said. Lora Meseman, the executive director of the General Council of Winnipeg Community Centres, said Wednesday that creating more recreational opportunities like basketball in the city is important, and specifically for youth. The grand opening of the new basketball court at the Northwood Community Centre at 1415 Burrows Ave. in Winnipeg was celebrated in Winnipeg on Saturday. (Dominique Gauthier/CBC News )”We’ve seen more and more basketball courts going up at community centres, and the kids love it,” she said. “Youth love it, adults love it and they take care of it, and play is so important for our community.”It helps the youth get involved in positive play and positive activity, rather than getting involved in things that they shouldn’t be.” Buckets & Borders has helped build two other basketball courts in Winnipeg since 2023 — one at St. Johns Park in the North End that features a mural by Jordan Stranger, and another painted with Dalayoan’s artwork at the Mayfair Recreation Centre in River-Osborne. WATCH | Artist scores points in the paint with mural on Winnipeg basketball court:Artist scores points in the paint with mural on Winnipeg basketball courtCBC’s Indigenous Unit checks out Fly Like an Eagle, the project that transformed a basketball court in Winnipeg’s St. John’s Park into a work of art.Outside the Northwood Community Centre on Saturday, Buckets & Borders CEO and co-founder Justin Lee said “there is an incredible pedigree and culture of basketball that exists in this end of the city,” giving a shoutout to the Burrows Central neighbourhood for embracing the project. AJ and Kat Staniscia, who were standing courtside while their twins played in the Sea Bears youth training camp, said their children plan to be running around the Northwood court regularly now that it’s open to the public. “It’s an incredible resource to have in this area because it brings the community together and it allows children to get out and have more fun outside,” said AJ Staniscia.
Winnipeg’s North End gets brand new basketball court, upgraded playground
