TORONTO (Canada) - Canada Basketball is celebrating the countdown to the opening of its first-ever national training center and headquarters after plans were revealed showing it will form part of a new federal investment in Humber Polytechnic's North Campus in Etobicoke, Toronto. The new Athletic and Community Recreation Hub (The Hub) at Humber will serve as the official home of basketball in Canada, and is being built on a partnership between both organizations that spans more than 40 years. With construction set to break ground early in 2027, the new facility will serve as a flagship centre for high-performance training and competition. The project will be supported by a combined $100 million investment, including $76 million in federal funding for the construction of a state-of-the-art community and recreation centre, complemented by an additional $24 million contribution from the Province of Ontario.
Once complete, the facility will feature six gymnasiums capable of hosting provincial, national, and international basketball competitions, along with a high-performance training center, a domed playing field, and expanded space for other essential facilities.
The new home gives Canada Basketball a platform to deliver on both halves of its mission set out two years ago. This was to be best in the world, through elite training, competition, and athlete development at the highest international level; and secondly best for Canada, through a connected basketball system that reaches every community and reflects the values of the nation it represents, from grassroots participation to the podium. Alongside the opportunities that will be afforded to elite athletes, the local community and grassroots organizations will gain substantially increased access to recreation, with a commitment to host local clubs and tournaments and more than 32,000 hours of community use annually.
This will take place within a space where every coach, official, and volunteer is mandated to adhere to Canada Basketball's values-based policies, certification requirements, and safe sport protocols.
A number of notable figures were present at the unveiling of the plans, including Honorable Adam van Koeverden, Secretary of State (Sport); Honorable John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour) and Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North; Honorable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario; President and CEO of Canada Basketball, Michael Bartlett; Dr. Ann Marie Vaughan, President of Humber Polytechnic; and athletes from both organizations, including Canada Basketball National Team Players and Olympians, RJ Barrett, Kelly Olynyk, and Michelle Plouffe.
"For more than forty years, Humber Polytechnic has given Canada Basketball's athletes a place to train, and today we lay the permanent foundation for basketball in Canada," reflected Michael Bartlett, President and CEO, Canada Basketball. "It is our objective to be 'Best in the world, when our teams take to the court, and Best for Canada, in how our sport represents our nation's values. With this historic investment and partnership, we will soon have a home to ensure both of those promises are kept. We are grateful to the Government of Canada for recognizing basketball as a sport of national importance, and to Humber Polytechnic for continuing to help make the game accessible."
Andreas Zagklis, FIBA Secretary General, said:
This is an exciting and pivotal moment for Canada Basketball and an opportunity that will help our member Federation deliver against their stated ambitions during the coming years.
"Having such a world-class facility will be a driving factor for Canada Basketball in shaping these next chapters and building an even stronger legacy on the FIBA international stage, as it will meet the ambitions and talents of their players. It is an inspiring step forward for this next generation." FIBA