FRASER VALLEY BANDITS AND I∙SPARC REVEAL INDIGENOUS BASKETBALL COLLECTIVE AND ALTERNATE TEAM LOGOS

Bandits Staff • June 15, 2022

LANGLEY, B.C., June 15, 2022 – The Fraser Valley Bandits announced in partnership with the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I∙SPARC) the reveal of two new logos designed in partnership with Kwantlen First Nation as part of this week’s BC Basketball Festival, which culminates this weekend (June 18-19) at Langley Events Centre (LEC).

The logo was designed by Kwantlen First Nation artist Jeff Dickson, who composed two variations of the logo, each sharing the same icon inspired by the Indigenous history and geography of the Fraser Valley, in particular Golden Ears Provincial Park, in conjunction with the Bandits’ original “fox” logo.

The variation between each logo is represented in each respective wordmark underneath the base of each logo. The first logo’s wordmark reads “Indigenous Basketball Collective” and the second logo’s wordmark reads “Fraser Valley Bandits.”

“As a sports fan I was excited when this opportunity presented itself. However, the true joy was working with the Bandits staff and discovering an authentic interest in taking steps towards Truth and Reconciliation. My hope was to modify the existing fox logo and incorporate subtle themes that would resonate with my Kwantlen community,” Dickson said.

“I would encourage viewers to examine the silhouette of the Golden Ears as a tribute to the land and to consider the increased prominence of the ear and eye as symbols of an awakening to our shared journey towards Truth and Reconciliation. Finally, I would point the viewer’s attention to the mask, which is beginning to be lowered as a sign of respectful humility and the potential removal of masks that create barriers,” Dickson said.

The Indigenous Basketball Collective represents the ongoing collaboration between I∙SPARC and the Bandits, which was originally detailed as a key facet of the BC Basketball Festival when the event was announced earlier this year on March 31.

The goal of the Collective is to create annual opportunities for Indigenous players, coaches and others involved in the game of basketball to participate in training camps, competition, workshops and more.

Participants in the Indigenous Basketball Collective’s activations at the Festival will receive t-shirts printed with the logo on the chest. The logo will continue to be used for future events hosted in partnership by the Bandits in tandem with I∙SPARC.

Beyond the festival, the two logos designed by Dickson will be used by I∙SPARC and the Bandits as part of ongoing and future events and initiatives planned in partnership by both organizations.

“The journey to Truth and Reconciliation will be a long trek. I hope this piece represents a visual cue that the Bandits can display as a symbol of their commitment to the First Peoples of our land and their pledge to support the development of Indigenous youth who love the game of basketball,” Dickson added.

On Saturday, June 18 as part of the BC Basketball Festival’s inaugural festivities, Indigenous coaches, players and youth will participate in an athlete combine and 3x3 basketball games hosted at LEC prior to attending the Bandits’ sold-out game versus the Scarborough Shooting Stars, which tips off at 5 p.m. PT.

“We are pleased to be partnering with the Fraser Valley Bandits to unveil the Indigenous Basketball Collective logo. We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with Kwantlen First Nation to showcase the artistry of Jeff Dickson. Jeff’s logo reflects the beauty of the region as well as the importance of building bridges in our community through sport, youth, and culture” said Rick Brant, Chief Executive Officer of I·SPARC.

The Collective’s logo was showcased for the first-time at the recent B.C. 3x3 Canada Quest Provincial Qualifiers, which were hosted at LEC on June 4-5. As one of the many components of the Bandits’ work with I∙SPARC, the Bandits entered a team in the adult women’s open division featuring prominent Indigenous players; including Jade Montgomery-Waardenburg, Madison Terbasket-Winser, Montanna Howe and Shenise Sigsworth.

Fraser Valley currently has a 3-2 record and is a quarter of the way through its fourth Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season. Fraser Valley takes on Edmonton tonight at 6 p.m. PT before returning to LEC to welcome Scarborough for its Saturday contest against BC’s professional basketball team.

“It is a privilege to work in close connection with the Kwantlen First Nation community and its artists. Jeff’s artwork and adaptation are significant reminders of our region’s history and the continued work that is required to honour the culture and impact of Indigenous communities in an effort to increase awareness and opportunities to empower Indigenous youth and to celebrate their achievements in arts, athletics and academics,” said Bandits President Dylan Kular.

Following tonight’s action against the Edmonton Stingers, Fraser Valley returns to LEC to host the Scarborough Shooting Stars for a sold-out affair on Saturday, June 18 (5 p.m. PT) as part of the BC Basketball Festival.

Games are available on CEBL+ live internationally and in Canada at cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices and the free CBC Gem streaming service. Games are also available on the CEBL’s official app, CEBL Mobile (available on iOS and Android devices), as well as TELUS Optik TV Channel 1901 Lower Mainland and via live streams on 604 Now’s Facebook and Twitter pages.

Single game tickets are available for purchase at thebandits.ca/tickets. Fans are kindly asked to call (604) 866-0529 or email tickets@thebandits.ca for any questions or ticket related inquiries.

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

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We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council and the Province of British Columbia.

For Fraser Valley Bandits media inquiries, please contact:

Andrew Savory, Vice President, (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 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 71 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 I∙SPARC:

The Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity & Recreation Council (I·SPARC) is a provincial organization established with the purpose of improving the health outcomes of Indigenous peoples by supporting and encouraging physically active individuals, families, and communities. The programs and services delivered by I·SPARC are designed to build capacity and increase access to sport, recreation, and physical activity in First Nations communities, Métis Chartered Communities, Aboriginal Friendship Centres, schools, and other delivery agencies throughout the province. As an organization, I·SPARC coordinates Team BC selection and events, supporting high performance sport right through to the North American Indigenous Games (NAIG). The I·SPARC team is always looking for new ways to bring sport and healthy living to youth and communities across the Province of BC, including through partnerships with communities, sport organizations and coaches. If you are interested in learning more, please check out https://www.isparc.ca.

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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.

FRASER VALLEY BANDITS AND I∙SPARC REVEAL INDIGENOUS BASKETBALL COLLECTIVE AND ALTERNATE TEAM LOGOS

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