Today, the City of Toronto, in collaboration with the National Basketball Association (NBA), Dairy Farmers of Ontario (DFO) and the Canadian non-profit organization Buckets & Borders unveiled the newly restored Don Mount basketball court in Toronto’s Rivertowne community at Joel Weeks Park.
News Release:
City of Toronto and partners unveil revitalized Don Mount Court as Canada’s first official WNBA-themed outdoor basketball court
Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth) was joined by representatives from the NBA, DFO and Buckets & Borders to make the announcement.
Designated as the first official Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) themed court in Canada, the court’s surface design features the logos of the WNBA and DFO’s youth lifestyle brand MilkUP. It was created by local Toronto illustrator Fiorella Granda, a former University of Toronto Varsity Women’s Basketball Team member, to celebrate women’s basketball in Canada and around the world.
To celebrate the collaboration and court unveiling today, Buckets & Borders hosted an event for fans that featured a basketball clinic for youth in the community, live music from a local DJ and a basketball competition featuring Hoop Queens, a network for Canadian female basketball players.
The revitalization of the Don Mount basketball court has involved the installation of new asphalt, backboards and rims, in addition to the artistically rendered surface. The partners’ generous donation for the public court upgrades was accepted by Toronto City Council in March 2023.
Quotes:
“We are delighted that the first WNBA-themed outdoor court in Canada is here in Toronto. I would like to thank Councillor Paula Fletcher and team, as well as the team from the City and the partners for their work in bringing this breathtaking design to life. It celebrates women’s basketball across the country and reminds us of the pivotal role a Canadian – Dr. James Naismith – had in the invention of basketball.”
– Mayor Olivia Chow
“The amazing upgrade to this popular basketball court provides an exciting new space for Rivertowne community youth and others to enjoy playing the game, while encouraging young girls and women to join the game and to be proud of their ongoing contributions to the sport.”
– Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth)
“DFO is committed to supporting local communities across Ontario through MilkUP, our youth lifestyle brand, and together with the NBA we have proudly created the first WNBA-themed outdoor court in the country. We hope the Riverdale neighbourhood and all communities are able to enjoy the court that visually celebrates women’s basketball and provides an inclusive space for young girls who want to learn and play the game.”
– Cheryl Smith, Chief Executive Officer at the Dairy Farmers of Ontario
“We couldn’t have asked for a better reception to the first WNBA game in Canada from local fans, partners and the larger basketball community and we’re thrilled to team up with the Dairy Farmers of Ontario on this legacy project in celebration of women’s basketball in the country. This court symbolizes the passion and enthusiasm for the basketball across Canada and we can’t wait to see Rivertowne’s community members utilize this court for years to come.”
– Leah MacNab, Senior Vice-President, NBA Canada
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