How a new school court in Calgary is bringing community together through basketball

Down the road from where he grew up, Andy Brar wanted to build a basketball court. 

There were many reasons to do so. Beyond developing a sense of fulfilment for the community, it would also give students a place to connect and, through playing the sport, teach them lessons they could use between the hoops and beyond.

"Being one of these kids growing up and now being able to give back to the next generation is absolutely instrumental," said Brar, who went to Lester B. Pearson High School and spent his school-aged days in the neighbourhood.

Brar now teaches at Dr. Gordon Higgins School — minutes away from Pearson — where the basketball court he and other teachers envisioned is now available for students and stands as a point of pride for the community of Rundle. 

But why basketball?

"It's the easiest point of entry in terms of equipment needed, you just need a ball and a dream," Brar said. 

Brar notes that beyond just the students, the broader community of Rundle is expanding, with many new immigrants joining the neighbourhood.

"You want to make sure it's there for them to use. Whether you're high-level or recreational, it's there for everybody."

The court opened in June after four years of planning and execution. It was a passion project for Brar and others involved, including community groups, school administration, a parent council and current and former teachers.

A bulletin posted by the school states that courts like this don't exist in the communities of Rundle and Temple, calling it a "big deal."

"To see this now, and to see what these people have brought to the community ... it gives an escape for kids to come and have a home, right?" said Moose Haymour, a former student at the school.

"And have a good, brand new space to play basketball."

Funding came from the Alberta government as well as through fundraising efforts from school staff. 

"The biggest thing for me that I learned teaching here was about the importance of the community, and then we recognized the importance of basketball," said former Dr. Gordon Higgins teacher Jace Richards, who helped spearhead the project.

"We had a space like this to offer and we wanted to find a way to use it." 

Dr. Gordon Higgins School principal Colin McCraken wasn't a part of the project from its inception, but said the necessity of the court in the community and for the school itself is clear. 

"Kids are not wandering off. We probably have 100 to 150 kids on this court every lunch hour," McCracken said.

"It's wonderful, because in this day and age, education is a complex matter. But this is what brings us together, these projects."