BANDITS, FRASER HEALTH PARTNER AT TWO MORE VACCINE CLINICS, BOLSTER PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS

January 18, 2022

Bandits staff are now on-site at four COVID-19 immunization clinics throughout the Fraser Health region, including Langley Events Centre and Haney Place Mall.

LANGLEY, B.C., January 18, 2022 – The Fraser Valley Bandits announced Tuesday that the club has expanded its community partnership with Fraser Health to support non-clinical logistics at its COVID-19 immunization clinics at Langley Events Centre (LEC) and at Haney Place Mall in Maple Ridge.

Bandits staff are now on-site at four COVID-19 immunization clinics throughout the Fraser Health region, including the clinics at Abbotsford Ag Rec and Chilliwack Mall, to help streamline the process for people to receive their first, second, and booster doses of COVID-19 vaccine. Since March 2021, Bandits front office and game day staff have been working with Fraser Health, which serves more than 1.9 million people from Burnaby to Boston Bar, helping move people move through the clinics safely and efficiently.

Fraser Health recently expanded and reopened COVID-19 immunization clinics throughout the region, including the clinics at LEC and Haney Place Mall, to provide people with more opportunities to receive booster doses.

To continue encouraging vaccinations, the Bandits will further allocate digital resources as part of its joint promotional campaign with Fraser Health, known as “Get your shot so we can all get back to the game,” which was originally announced last May.

“We are proud to build upon our alignment with Fraser Health and to assist however we can with our mutual goal of achieving community immunity. The hard work exhibited by health care professionals across the province continues to inspire us and we hope this campaign can serve as one of many components in our joint fight against COVID-19,” said Bandits president Dylan Kular.

The message behind the “Get your shot so we can all get back to the game” campaign is simple:

Vaccines do more than protect the person getting immunized, they also protect everyone that person comes into contact with.
In addition to following good public health advice, such as washing our hands, wearing a mask, practicing physical distancing, and staying home when we are sick, vaccines are an additional action we can take to help protect ourselves and our loved ones against COVID-19 transmission and illness.

For a full listing of Fraser Health’s current clinics and hours of operation, please visit fraserhealth.ca/vax.

“Diverse engagement and partnerships have been pivotal to Fraser Health’s COVID-19 vaccination strategy to reach as many people as quickly as possible. I’m grateful to the dedicated teams at Fraser Health, the ongoing support of the Fraser Valley Bandits and all of our industry, community, municipal and provincial partners,” said Dr. Victoria Lee, Fraser Health president and CEO.

The campaign was originally rolled out on May 11, 2021 in an effort to promote a safe return to attending live events.

Since the debut of the campaign, the Bandits and various other professional sports teams have been able to welcome varying capacities of fans into venues thanks to increased immunity and residents across the Fraser Valley and BC who have gotten vaccinated.

As a result of British Columbians’ commitment to safety and working toward immunity, the Bandits were able to host four consecutive sell-outs last season.

Fraser Health is committed to ensuring everyone who wants additional protection against COVID-19 has access to a booster dose. Individuals can receive a booster dose when they have received an invitation to book from the Provincial Get Vaccinated system, six months after the date of their second dose. An individual must be invited to book a booster dose appointment.

Further information regarding registering for your vaccine can be found by clicking here.

The Bandits begin the club’s fourth season of Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) competition this May. With 10 teams based in six provinces across Canada, the CEBL is the largest professional sports league in Canada.

Fraser Valley’s home opener at LEC is currently scheduled for Saturday, June 4. All regular season games will be live streamed on CEBL+, the CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca and the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices.

Head to thebandits.ca for more information or follow us on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

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For media inquiries, please contact:

Andrew Savory, Vice President, (604) 217-6213, asavory@thebandits.ca

For Fraser Health, please contact:

Fraser Health media line: 604-613-0794

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 Bandits offer an 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 at Langley Events Centre (LEC). A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 75 percent of its current rosters being Canadians. Players bring experience from the NBA, NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National team program, and top NCAA programs as well as U SPORTS. The only First Division Professional League Partner of Canada Basketball, the CEBL season runs from May through August.

About Fraser Heath:

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations.

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7 Bandits Players Named to 2026 NBA G League Training Camp Rosters

By Bandits Staff • October 27, 2026

Seven players who have previously suited up for the Vancouver Bandits, including five from the 2026 Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season, have been named to NBA G League training camp rosters ahead of the start of the 2026-27 season on November 6, 2026. The NBA G League serves as the NBA’s official minor league and features 31 teams, with 30 clubs having one-to-one affiliations with NBA franchises. Surrey, B.C.’s James Karnik will join the Portland Trail Blazers’ affiliate, Rip City Remix. Karnik has participated in 36 regular season games across four seasons dating back to 2022, including four games in 2026. This marks the first time that he has been named to an NBA G League training camp squad. Jaelen House, a former NBA G League All-Star who played in 10 games for the Bandits during the 2026 season, will be competing for a roster spot on the Utah Jazz’s affiliate, Salt Lake City Stars. He set the Bandits’ single-game scoring record, recording 42 points against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on June 18, 2026. The Charlotte Hornets’ affiliate and defending NBA G League champion, Greensboro Swarm, will feature Jarkel Joiner. Joiner played 21 games for the Bandits in 2026, leading the team in points per game (17.8), before being named to the Hornets’ training camp roster and logging minutes in four NBA preseason games. Joining Joiner on the Swarm is Kyle Mangas, who appeared in 16 games with 14 starts for the Bandits during the 2025 season. John Knight III, who logged 18 games for the Bandits in 2026, joins the Houston Rockets’ affiliate, Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a club he has played for since 2023. D’Andre Davis, who appeared in three games for the Bandits in 2026, looks to secure a roster spot with the Boston Celtics’ affiliate, Maine Celtics. A member of the 2023 Bandits roster, Georgian-born forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili will take the court with the Atlanta Hawks’ affiliate, College Park Skyhawks. The opening night rosters for all 32 NBA G League teams must be submitted by Sunday, November 5.

Former Bandits Forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili Signs Exhibit 10 Contract With Atlanta Hawks

By Bandits Staff • October 15, 2026

Former Vancouver Bandits forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili has signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Atlanta Hawks. The news was announced by the Hawks via social media on Wednesday. Introduced in the NBA’s 2017 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Exhibit 10 contracts are one-year deals. They can include a potential bonus if the player spends time with the team’s G League affiliate.

Vancouver Bandits & I SPARC Host Youth Basketball Camps in Haida Gwaii

By Bandits Staff • October 7, 2026

HAIDA GWAII, BC - October 6, 2026 - This past weekend, Vancouver Bandits, BC’s professional basketball team, and the Bandits Community Foundation hosted a series of youth basketball clinics on Haida Gwaii, continuing its ongoing series of community visits across the province in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC). The community visits and youth camps on Haida Gwaii were also made possible through the generous support of Langara Island Lodge and Skidegate Band Council. Led by Bandits Team President Dylan Kular and Community Manager Pavan Kalair, local youth athletes aged 10 to 17 from across Haida Gwaii participated in free-of-charge workshops and basketball camps, furthering the Bandits Community Foundation’s goal of bringing more basketball to more people across the province. "Haida Gwaii has an incredible passion for basketball, and it was an honour for our staff to spend time on the court with so many talented young athletes," said Vancouver Bandits Team President Dylan Kular. "Our partnership with I·SPARC through the Indigenous Basketball Collective is about building lasting relationships with communities across the province and making sure every young player has access to the game. We are grateful to Langara Island Lodge, the Skidegate Band Council and everyone in Old Massett, Masset and Skidegate who welcomed us, and we cannot wait to come back." “Programs like this show what is possible when partners come together for Indigenous youth,” said I·SPARC’s Chief Executive Officer Rick Brant. “We are proud to work with the Vancouver Bandits to bring high-quality basketball coaching to Haida Gwaii, where the game is so deeply loved." Bandits staff led PHE classes with students at Chief Matthews School in Old Massett, and ran skill development clinics for local youth athletes aged 13 to 17 across three communities at Kwiiyaans Community Hall (Old Massett), Daaxiigan Sk’adáa Née School (Masset) and George Brown Recreation Centre (Skidegate). “We are grateful for the opportunity for the Vancouver Bandits and I·SPARC to come in and work with our youth,” said Trevor Russ, head coach of the Old Massett Raiders boys basketball team. “Basketball plays a big role for our youth in Masset, and the Bandits coming to town provides an opportunity for them to work with some high-level coaches at the professional level. Our youth are very happy to have this opportunity.” “To be able to have the Vancouver Bandits come to Skidegate and Haida Gwaii is very important,” said Desi Collinson, Recreation Coordinator and elected representative to the Council of the Haida Nation. “Basketball means a lot to Haida Gwaii; it brings excitement, hope and inspiration to our communities. Organizations like the Bandits and I·SPARC give us different insights and outlooks that our young athletes have not experienced before, and we are happy to have them here to uplift our youth.” The camps are part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits. Established in 2023, previous community visits hosted through the Collective since its inception include Ahousaht, Bella Coola (Nuxalk First Nation), Kitimat (Haisla Nation), Nanaimo (Snuneymuxw First Nation), Victoria, West Vancouver and Williams Lake with future youth camps and coaching seminars currently being planned for 2027.

Vancouver Bandits to Host Free-of-Charge Youth Basketball Camps in Haida Gwaii

By Bandits Staff • October 2, 2026

This weekend, youth across Haida Gwaii will have the opportunity to learn and sharpen their basketball skills from British Columbia’s professional basketball team. Through the generous support of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) and Langara Island Lodge, the Vancouver Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation will be hosting free-of-charge youth basketball camps across Haida Gwaii, marking the organization’s first community visit to the North Coast region. “Haida Gwaii means a great deal to us, and we know how much basketball means to these communities. The game gives young people a place to grow, brings families together, and creates opportunities for teams to proudly represent where they come from,” said Yos Gladstone, Sales Coordinator, Langara Island Lodge. “The young players, coaches, families, and teams here deserve every opportunity we can help bring their way. We are grateful to the Vancouver Bandits, I∙SPARC and the Bandits Community Foundation for their commitment to make this program happen, and especially to those in Haida Gwaii who give so much of their time, energy, and efforts to basketball year-round.” “For us, supporting this program is personal. We care about the communities and the people who make them so special. If this visit from the Vancouver Bandits gives local players more time on the court, encouragement to keep going, and a chance to connect through the game, that is something we are proud to be part of.” The camps are hosted in collaboration with I∙SPARC, Bandits Community Foundation, Haida Gwaii Recreation and School District 50 Haida Gwaii. Across three days, over 200 youth athletes aged 10 to 17 and their families will gather in gymnasiums across Haida Gwaii for camps and workshops led by Bandits and Bandits Community Foundation staff members. Youth participants will also receive complimentary Vancouver Bandits merchandise. "Haida Gwaii holds a legendary place in this province and Indigenous basketball culture and being on the ground in Masset and Skidegate truly showcases how powerful this sport is," said Vancouver Bandits team president Dylan Kular. "The competitive drive and skill level of these youth are incredible, but what is even more inspiring is how basketball acts as a heartbeat for the entire region. Seeing the immediate connection between the youth, the coaching staff, and the local fans highlights exactly why we wanted to bring the Bandits to Haida Gwaii.” “We want to extend our deepest thanks to the Haida Nation and our partners at I∙SPARC and Langara Island Lodge for hosting us and sharing their incredible hospitality. This visit marks an exciting milestone for our organization, and we look forward to building on this relationship for years to come." The camp schedule for this weekend is as follows: Friday, October 2 Kwiiyaans Community Hall, Old Massett 12:45 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Daaxiigan Sk’adáa Née School, Masset 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, October 3 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sunday, October 4 George Brown Recreation Centre, Skidegate 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The forthcoming camps are part of the Indigenous Basketball Collective, representing the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Vancouver Bandits, and build upon recent previous community visits to Williams Lake and Bella Coola earlier this year. Established in 2023, ongoing and past projects through the Collective include camps and clinics for Indigenous youth and coaches, building new basketball courts in Indigenous communities, and hosting the 2026 Junior All Native Basketball Tournament.

BANDITS, FRASER HEALTH PARTNER AT TWO MORE VACCINE CLINICS, BOLSTER PROMOTIONAL EFFORTS

Bandits staff are now on-site at four COVID-19 immunization clinics throughout the Fraser Health region, including Langley Events Centre and Haney Place Mall.

7 Bandits Players Named to 2026 NBA G League Training Camp Rosters

Former Bandits Forward Giorgi Bezhanishvili Signs Exhibit 10 Contract With Atlanta Hawks

Vancouver Bandits & I SPARC Host Youth Basketball Camps in Haida Gwaii

Vancouver Bandits to Host Free-of-Charge Youth Basketball Camps in Haida Gwaii

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