Anyone strolling past the bright basketball court in Rivertowne late this summer could assume neighbourhood kids were playing a casual game of pick up. What was really happening on the court was much more powerful, thanks to a WoodGreen initiative connecting kids and communities through sport.
Joel Weeks Park was alive with the sounds of dribbling basketballs and sizzling barbecues over Labour Day weekend. It was home to the free Rivertowne Community BBQ and basketball tournament. Hosted in part by WoodGreen the event gathered residents of all ages for a little food and a lot of fun.
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"We really wanted to make sure that we ended off the year showing our collective impact and our connection in the community," says Erik Wexler, Manager of Youth Programs and Supports at WoodGreen.
Youth Sports Program Builds on Success
After running a successful pilot program in 2023, WoodGreen launched an expanded youth sports program called Activate Elevate Empower (AEE). The idea is to help build strong communities through sport. The focus is on encouraging and empowering young people to forge healthy relationships with themselves and their neighbours.
The free sports program attracted 148 young people four days a week. They gathered at three Toronto locations: Rivertowne Don Mount basketball court, Waterfront Neighborhood Centre in the Central West End and Thorncliffe/Flemingdon Park.
The program involved both basketball and soccer leagues throughout the months of July and August. There was also a newly-developed youth leadership program. It focused on building relationships, establishing employable skills, cultivating leadership skills, as well as encouraging self-discipline and goal setting.
Breaking Down Barriers
A key goal of WoodGreen’s push towards youth sports programming is dismantling barriers to success for Toronto’s young people.
“We think it is important for youth of all backgrounds, regardless of sex/gender, race or socio-economic status to have access to quality sports offerings,” states the AEE program report.
WoodGreen stressed co-ed sports and looked for places that highlighted women in sports, such as the newly-revitalized Don Mount basketball court in Rivertowne. A magnet for area youth, the brightly-coloured court is the first WNBA-themed outdoor court in Canada.
Initially designed for teens, the basketball program may need to add a younger age bracket.
“One of the things that I found so uniquely interesting about working in the Rivertowne area in the summer,” says Wexler, “was how many young girls, ages eight to 11, were hovering around the entrance every single day wanting to play.”
"The girls aren’t concerned that boys are on the court. They're going to take them to town and go toe-to-toe with the boys."
The AEE program also tackled barriers like food security issues. WoodGreen offered healthy snacks and dinner programs four times a week this summer. Anyone who wanted to play could, thanks to a stockpile of sports gear.
Celebrating Community Spirit
Capping off the season was the Rivertowne Community BBQ. Twelve teams of basketball players ages 15 to 20 registered to compete.
WoodGreen worked alongside the City of Toronto, Jimmy Simpson/Rivertowne Youth Steering Committee, Top Gun 4 Life, Rivertowne Ballers, Riverside BIA, and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation to make the event a huge success.
Local community officers from the Toronto Police’s 51st and 55th divisions also joined in the fun.
"Bringing these communities together and sort of saying we're here as a group... had a huge impact on trying to rebuild some of the trust that may have been fractured," said Wexler. He noted the area has had its share of challenges over the years.
There were two local barbers on site giving free hair cuts and a BBQ supported by Blessed Love Caribbean Market .
‘No one wanted to leave’
Another popular addition was the backpack giveaway. Former Toronto Raptor NBA star Jamaal Magloire donated 100 backpacks filled with school supplies. WoodGreen donated another 60 backpacks to help support local youth.
Wexler says WoodGreen plans to make the BBQ a yearly event.
"No one wanted to leave!” he says. “I had a lot of people, particularly women (mothers, aunts, grandmothers) thanking me and saying, ‘This was fantastic, thank you for bringing this here for our kids’.”
To learn more about the youth programs offered at WoodGreen, visit our website and follow our youth program on Instagram.
See more from the Rivertowne Community BBQ below:
