FRASER VALLEY BANDITS TO HONOUR CONTRIBUTIONS OF BLACK BRITISH COLUMBIANS AND COACHES THROUGHOUT BHM
Bandits Staff • Feb 02, 2021
ABBOTSFORD, BC, February 1, 2021
– The Fraser Valley Bandits of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced Monday that the club will be honouring the contributions of Black British Columbians and coaches throughout the month of February through a series of interviews and commemorative posts that will be made across the Bandits’ social media channels.
The editorial series will live on the Bandits’ website and will highlight coaching leaders in British Columbia and Canada’s Black communities that are making an impact on and off the basketball court.
In celebration of Black History Month and as a precedent for the editorial series, the Bandits shared a tribute graphic that honoured the below British Columbians, who made historic contributions in their respective fields and disciplines (listed in alphabetical order according to last name):
- Emery Barnes
- A force in the world of sport and politics, Barnes emigrated to Canada in 1957 where he studied at the University of British Columbia. Prior to moving to Canada, Barnes studied at the University of Oregon and excelled as a multi-sport athlete – serving as an alternate high jump member for the U.S. Olympic track team in 1952 and was later drafted by the Green Bay Packers before joining the BC Lions in 1957. Following sport, Barnes entered the world of politics and social justice. Barnes became the first Black speaker of any Canadian legislature when he was elected Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in B.C. in 1994 and in 1995 was appointed a member of the Order of B.C.
- Rosemary Brown
- Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Brown became the first Black woman elected to provincial legislature in 1972 as the New Democratic Party candidate for Vancouver-Burrard. She was re-elected three times. Brown became the first woman to run for leadership of a federal political party in 1975. Brown advocated for minority groups and helped break barriers faced by women and people of colour. In 1956 she helped establish the British Columbia Association for the Advancement of Coloured People and throughout her career as an MLA helped reduce barriers faced by women and minority groups.
- Seraphim Joseph ‘Joe’ Fortes
- Born in the British West Indies, Fortes arrived in Vancouver in 1885 and worked as a bartender at a variety of institutions but exhibited a passion for helping others, particularly when it came to swimming and teaching. He became a lifeguard in the early 20th century and in 1910 the City of Vancouver recognized him as the first English Bay lifeguard. Fortes taught several Vancouverites to swim and is credited with saving various individuals from drowning, becoming a local celebrity for his valour. For his efforts and dedication, the Vancouver Historical Society recognized Fortes as “Citizen of the Century” in 1986.
- Doug Hudlin
- A native of Victoria, B.C., Hudlin was nicknamed the “Gentleman Umpire” and was inducted into the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 1998, the Umpires Association Hall of Fame in 2011 and the Canadian Baseball Sports Hall of Fame in 2017. Hudlin was a founding member of the B.C. Black History Awareness Society and was the first non-American to be invited to umpire the 1967 and 1974 Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa.
- Harry Jerome
- Jerome represented Canada at the Rome (1960), Tokyo (1964) and Mexico City (1968) Olympic Games. Jerome captured a bronze medal in Rome and is remembered for many achievements beyond his Olympic medal and the seven world records that he set during his career. Jerome worked in the federal ministry of sport and worked to open doors for young Canadians. Today, a statue of Jerome can be found in Stanley Park, B.C.
- Ruby Sneed
- Sneed was an esteemed classical pianist and music educator. Sneed completed her Associate Diploma (ARCT) at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and broke colour barriers throughout her career by performing at public concerts, in addition to recording, performing and writing musical arrangements for CBC. Sneed later dedicated herself as an educator by teaching young musicians at her private studio in Vancouver for nearly three decades.
- Emma Stark
- Stark lived in Nanaimo, B.C. and became the first Black teacher on Vancouver Island in 1874 when at the age of 18 she was appointed the first teacher at the new North Cedar School.
The Fraser Valley Bandits obtain no rights to the intellectual property of BCBHAS other than the right to display the content as noted. Historical and textual records and accounts have kindly been provided by the © BC Black History Awareness Society (all rights reserved).
Photos kindly provided courtesy of:
- Emery Barnes
- Photo provided by the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame
- Rosemary Brown
- Photo provided by The Province (Postmedia)
- Seraphim Joseph ‘Joe’ Fortes
- Photo provided by Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House
- Doug Hudlin
- Photo provided by Barbara Hudlin
- Harry Jerome
- Photo provided by University of Oregon Athletics
- Ruby Sneed
- Photo provided by Theresa (née Sneed) Lewis
- Emma Stark
- Photo provided by Barbara Hudlin
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For media inquiries, please contact:
Andrew Savory, Director of Operations, (604) 217-6213, asavory@thebandits.ca
About the Fraser Valley Bandits:
The Fraser Valley Bandits are British Columbia’s professional basketball team. As the westernmost club in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), the club is proud to call Abbotsford Centre home. The Bandits offer a riveting entertainment experience that combines a fast-paced game day atmosphere with a presentation of some of Canada’s top professional athletes within a world-class venue. PerfectLens, a Vancouver-based contact lens supplier, is the official presenting partner of the Bandits’ 2021 season. Head to thebandits.ca for more information.
LATEST NEWS
The Vancouver Bandits announced Tuesday that the province’s largest energy provider, FortisBC Energy Inc. (FortisBC) , has renewed its dedication to supporting Canadian professional basketball by extending its community and marketing partnership with the Bandits for the 2024 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. The focus of FortisBC’s partnership with British Columbia’s professional basketball team is to contribute to the game day experience at Vancouver’s home venue of the Langley Events Centre (LEC) and to support basketball communities throughout British Columbia through the Indigenous Basketball Collective program’s youth clinics, officiating clinics and coaching clinics. Through Indigenous Basketball Collective, FortisBC and Vancouver Bandits previously built outdoor basketball courts that now serve as new recreational hubs for local youth in four Indigenous communities across the province and have hosted youth basketball clinics for Indigenous youth. “Our support for the Vancouver Bandits is an example of FortisBC’s commitment to the communities where we live and work,” said Doug Slater, vice-president of Indigenous relations and regulatory affairs at FortisBC. “We have made great strides with the Bandits in building safe basketball facilities for Indigenous youth across the province and look forward to our continued work together.” FortisBC believes strongly in being an active partner with communities and supports many community-based initiatives and organizations throughout British Columbia each year. Since 2022, the goal of the Indigenous Basketball Collective has been to create increased opportunities for Indigenous players, coaches and others involved in basketball to participate in training camps, competitions, workshops and more. “According to I∙SPARC, basketball is the most popular sport amongst Indigenous youth in this province and through the Indigenous Basketball Collective we can support the basketball ecosystem in British Columbia. FortisBC has been a pillar partner for the Collective since 2022 and their support of the Collective has seen hundreds of youth attend camps and dozens of new coaches and officials added into the basketball ecosystem. Their support of basketball goes beyond supporting the professional basketball club in this province and we are grateful for their support.” Bandits team president Dylan Kular said. More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok , as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter .
The Vancouver Bandits announced Tuesday that internationally celebrated vocalist and actor Sharry Mann will perform at Langley Events Centre (LEC) on Saturday, June 1 when the Bandits host the visiting Calgary Surge for the club’s first-ever South Asian Heritage Game. Exclusive to ticketholders for the Bandits’ game day, Mann will delight Bandits fans in attendance with two performances on June 1st; including a pre-game concert in the arena bowl and a half-time show during the intermission between the second and third quarters of gameplay. Fans in attendance are kindly encouraged to arrive prior to 7 p.m. PT to ensure that they have time to find parking (free on-site at LEC) and locate their seats before Mann’s performance, which will be shortly after the top of the hour before the Bandits and Surge tip-off at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for Mann’s highly anticipated concert; which is included in the cost of a Bandits game ticket, are on sale now at this link . Admission to the concert and game are combined and start at $27.50 per ticket. All ticket prices are inclusive of taxes and fees. A world-renowned artist famous for his appearances and chart-topping hits in Punjabi music and film, Mann has amassed hundreds of millions of plays on YouTube and Spotify ; including tracks such as ‘3 Peg’ (800+ million plays on YouTube, 50+ million Spotify streams) and Hostel (250+ million plays on YouTube, 13+ million Spotify streams). Mann’s success has paved the way for the talented artist to be recognized globally. Recent recognition includes winning best music video at the Brit Asia TV Music Awards for ‘Yaar Chadeya’ in 2019, as well as having various tracks appear in the Top 40 of the Britain’s Official Charts . The June 1st Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) match-up between Vancouver and Calgary will be the first time that the Western Conference foes have met since Calgary inched past Vancouver in last year’s Western Conference Finals. Adding to the game’s excitement is the debut of the Bandits’ South Asian Heritage jersey, designed by Sandeep Johal to be worn by Vancouver at the game to honour and celebrate the culture and artistry of South Asia. “I am thrilled to welcome Sharry Mann and his management to Langley Events Centre for what will surely be one of the most exciting games of the 2024 CEBL season. Fans in attendance will be treated to two awesome musical performances courtesy of Sharry as well as a must-watch rematch against our rivals from Calgary,” said Bandits team president Dylan Kular. Vancouver will play a total of 10 regular season home games in 2024 between Thursday, May 23 and Thursday, July 18. The Bandits wrap up regular season action on the road against Montréal on Sunday, July 28 at 1 p.m. PT. All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on TSN+, as well as the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ , and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices). Individuals interested in ticket flexibility or purchasing a bundle of tickets are invited to consider a flex pack or season tickets . More information can be found at thebandits.ca/tickets or by speaking with a Bandits representative by calling (604) 455-8881 or emailing tickets@thebandits.ca . A complete regular season schedule can be found by clicking here . More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok , as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter .
The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday that the club has signed 6-foot-4 guard and former Winnipeg Sea Bear Glen Yang for its upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season at Langley Events Centre (LEC). Yang was born in Burnaby and moved to Hong Kong when he was five before moving back to Canada. He spent his high school and university years in Calgary, attending Sir Winston Churchill High School before starring at Mount Royal University from 2014-2019. “I can’t wait to get back to Vancouver and embrace the culture of the Bandits franchise. I was born in Burnaby, so to come back and play professional basketball is a full circle moment and a dream come true. I am excited to join the team and to get to work!” Yang said. Yang will report to Bandits’ training camp this May, which precedes Vancouver’s highly anticipated home opener on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. PT against the Montréal Alliance. Single game tickets for the home opener and all regular season games are on sale now at this link . 2024 will be Yang’s second season in the CEBL after starting all 20 games with the Sea Bears last year. He averaged six points, three assists and 2.6 rebounds per game over the course of 20 regular season games with the Sea Bears, who finished in a three-way tie for the second best record in the CEBL last year (12-8). Yang scored in double figures five times throughout the 2023 CEBL season; including a season-high 15 points versus Calgary on July 16 and Vancouver on July 23. His July 23rd scoring outburst was complemented by an all-around performance that saw Yang tally nine rebounds, five assists and three steals in nearly 35 minutes of action. “Glen is a proven winner who plays with toughness and a high IQ. I am really looking forward to working with Glen and having him enhance our culture,” said Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. Yang is in the midst of his fourth season of professional basketball; spending two seasons in Spain before taking his talents to Asia where he has suited up with the Bay Area Dragons (2022-23) and the Kaohsiung Steelers (2023-24). During his time in the East Asia Super League, Yang helped the Bay Area Dragons advance to a Philippine Basketball Association Commissioner’s Cup finals appearance in 2023. This past season in Taiwan with the Steelers, Yang played in 11 games and recorded season-highs in points (18), rebounds (7) and assists (6) in his first game with the club on Dec. 3, 2023. Vancouver will play a total of 10 regular season home games in 2024 between Thursday, May 23 and Thursday, July 18. The Bandits wrap up regular season action on the road against Montréal on Sunday, July 28 at 1 p.m. PT. All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on TSN+, as well as the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ , and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices). Individuals interested in ticket flexibility or purchasing a bundle of tickets are invited to consider a flex pack or season tickets . More information can be found at thebandits.ca/tickets or by speaking with a Bandits representative by calling (604) 455-8881 or emailing tickets@thebandits.ca . A complete regular season schedule can be found by clicking here . More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok , as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter .
The Vancouver Bandits announced Thursday that the club has signed Portland Trail Blazers and Rip City Remix experienced guard Taze Moore for the club’s upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season at Langley Events Centre (LEC). Taze Moore appeared in four games for the Trail Blazers this past 2023-24 NBA season, most recently suiting up in Portland’s regular season finale against the Sacramento Kings where he scored an NBA career-high 12 points, eight rebounds (four offensive) and four assists in 30 minutes of action. Prior to being called up to the NBA, Moore played 22 games for Portland’s G League affiliate, the Rip City Remix, where he averaged 15.6 points, 7.2 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game on 49.8 per cent shooting from field goal range over 22 games played. “I am excited to be part of the Vancouver Bandits family and to work relentlessly toward winning a CEBL championship,” Moore said. A native of Southaven, Miss., Moore becomes the second member of the Bandits to play in the NBA, joining MJ Walker who played for Vancouver last summer and suited up for the Phoenix Suns in 2021-22. When Vancouver tips off its highly anticipated home opener against Montréal on Thursday, May 23 at 7 p.m. PT, Moore will cement himself as the latest addition to a growing list of players–19 in total once Moore takes the hardwood at LEC–that have played in at least one CEBL and NBA game. Tickets for the home opener and all regular season games are on sale now at this link . Moore turned pro in 2022 after playing five seasons of NCAA Division I basketball at the University of Houston (2021-22) and California State University, Bakersfield (2016-21). He averaged 10.4 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.6 steals in 30.1 minutes per game for a Houston Cougars squad that advanced to the Elite Eight at the 2022 March Madness tournament. To cap off his impressive collegiate career, Moore showcased his high-flying skillset by winning the 2022 NCAA slam dunk contest . In addition to his athleticism, Moore is a two-way player that impacts the game on both sides of the basketball. He was named to the All-American Athletic Conference (AAC) tournament team in 2022 and ranked in the conference’s top 10 leaders in the categories of assists, minutes played, defensive and offensive rating, offensive rebounds, steals, two-point field goal percentage and win shares. “We are all incredibly excited to work with Taze and for the Bandits to be a part of his development. He is one of the best athletes I have ever seen and his overall skillset and feel for the game is even better. We think he is the perfect addition to our already strong roster because he will also have the opportunity to be a leader and push us towards competitive greatness,” said Bandits’ head coach and general manager Kyle Julius. Prior to Portland, Moore also spent time as a member of the Brooklyn Nets and Dallas Mavericks’ NBA Summer League rosters in 2022 and 2023, respectively. Vancouver will play a total of 10 regular season home games in 2024 between Thursday, May 23 and Thursday, July 18. The Bandits wrap up regular season action on the road against Montréal on Sunday, July 28 at 1 p.m. PT. All CEBL regular season games including playoffs will be live-streamed on TSN+, as well as the CEBL’s OTT platform, CEBL+ , and on CEBL Mobile, the official app of the CEBL (available on Android and iOS devices). Individuals interested in ticket flexibility or purchasing a bundle of tickets are invited to consider a flex pack or season tickets . More information can be found at thebandits.ca/tickets or by speaking with a Bandits representative by calling (604) 455-8881 or emailing tickets@thebandits.ca . A complete regular season schedule can be found by clicking here . More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok , as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter . 
LATEST VIDEO
A provincial coaches clinic co-hosted by the Vancouver Bandits and Basketball BC featuring Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius and Canada Basketball coaching alumni Allison and Mike McNeill. Please watch a full video recap of the event by clicking above or scroll to the desired chapter by hovering your cursor over the video timeline. A breakdown of chapters from the coaching clinic has been included below for reference. 0:00:00 - Allison McNeill and Mike McNeill Introductions 0:01:56 - Warmup 0:11:38 - Individual Shooting Drills 0:26:49 - Inside/Outside Drill 0:39:20 - Post Drill 0:42:42 - Perimeter Iso Drill 0:55:05 - Passing Drill 0:59:54 - 2x2x2 Drill 1:06:09 - 1-on-1 building up to 4-on-4 drills 1:18:57 - Spacing Drills 1:23:45 - Allison McNeill and Mike McNeill Closing Remarks 1:26:43 - Kyle Julius Introduction 1:43:31 - Power Spots/Spacing Drills 1:52:15 - Transition Drills 1:59:27 - Offence Drills 2:02:14 - Flair Slip Offence 2:11:25 - Motion Pin Offence 2:17:33 - Late Clock Offence 2:22:49 - Kyle Julius Closing Remarks
Inside the life of a CEBL U SPORTS Development Athlete and Canada West men's basketball star. Follow along as we join Diego Maffia for a "Day in the Life" of a U SPORTS athlete during a road game between the University of Victoria Vikes and the University of the Fraser Valley Cascades. Directed and edited by Simrit Saini.
A provincial education seminar co-hosted by Basketball BC and Vancouver Bandits professional basketball club. Vancouver Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius and Trinity Western Spartans women’s basketball head coach Cheryl Jean-Paul provide their insights on the question, “How does knowledge of who your officials will be affect your pregame planning?” Click here to watch question 2 .
A provincial education seminar co-hosted by Basketball BC and Vancouver Bandits professional basketball club. Vancouver Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius, Trinity Western Spartans women’s basketball head coach Cheryl Jean-Paul and U SPORTS/CEBL official Trevor West provide their insights on the question, “How does your familiarity with an official affect how you interact with officials during the game?” Click here to watch question 3 .
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