FRASER VALLEY BANDITS LAUNCH #IAMVALLEY MOVEMENT AHEAD OF 2021 CEBL SEASON
Bandits Staff • May 4, 2021
Cinematic hype video introduces new slogan, branding and spotlights region’s diversity and history.
ABBOTSFORD, BC, May 4, 2021 – The Fraser Valley Bandits
launched the #IAmValley movement Tuesday with the release of a cinematic hype video that uses a diverse cast of 35 athletes, artists and business leaders filmed across more than 16 locations in the Fraser Valley to celebrate the voices, histories, identities and industries of the region.
The cast includes past, present and current amateur, Olympic and professional athletes, as well as local artists and entrepreneurs who participated in a robust shooting schedule earlier this year.
The goal of the video and overall campaign is to showcase the Fraser Valley as a dynamic region that is defined by the various cultures that occupy its rich landscape and to spotlight the accomplishments and bright futures of the artists, athletes and leaders who are writing an exciting chapter in Fraser Valley and Canadian history. A full list of cast members and scene locations can be found below.
“The #IAmValley movement was built on the premise of celebrating our community and encouraging youth and adults alike to take pride in where they are from. The Fraser Valley is a special place because it is enriched by individuals and families who have lived here for generations or are new to British Columbia and chose this region as their home,” said Bandits vice president Dylan Kular. “Whether it be on the court or in the community, we are an organization that is committed to honouring the heritage and numerous cultures of the Fraser Valley and we invite everyone to be part of what we are building together as a team.”
To produce the video, the Bandits collaborated with esteemed Abbotsford-based videography company Colla Films. The voiceover for the video was performed by local hip hop artist Saint Soldier(Amrit Saggu). By blending a combination of off and on-court Bandits highlights with an array of cinematography, the #IAmValley campaign video serves as an important recognition of the region’s status as a basketball hotbed and an inclusive home for everyone.
The campaign also stands as a rallying cry ahead of the upcoming Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) season, which begins on June 24 with a rematch of last year’s championship that saw the Fraser Valley Bandits fall to the Edmonton Stingers in the final. The launch of the campaign is accompanied by the grand reveal of two new branded elements, an #IAmValley slogan wordmark and an “FV” monogram secondary logo, which will be introduced to fans and a global audience on social media through the Bandits’ respective Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube pages throughout this week.
Fraser Valley fans can rep the new branding (see below) thanks to a fresh line of New Era Cap merchandise by visiting the Bandits online team store or in-person at the TELUS Bandits Athletic Centre (located at West Oaks Mall in Abbotsford).
Cast: In alphabetical order, listed from left to right
Adam Paige
- Player, Alberta Golden Bears
- U SPORTS & Canada West all-rookie team, 2018-19
Arata Nakanishi
- Youth cast member
Boseko Lokombo
- Linebacker, BC Lions
Charley Ball
- Player, GW Graham Secondary
Dalton Silver
- Chief, Sumas First Nation
Daniel Adediran
- Player, TWU Spartans
Ebony Bracewell
- Youth cast member
Felix Flowers
- Adult cast member
Gibi Saini
- Fraser Valley-based photographer
Harshaan Dhaliwal
- Youth cast member
Jag Alamwala
- CEO, PNP Packers
- Berry industry
Ja’Qualyn Gilbreath
- Player, TWU Spartans
Jeremy Hamilton
- Fraser Valley-based artist
Jessica Zawada
- Former player, UFV Cascades, 2016-20
Jonas Dower
- Adult cast member
Julia Tuchscherer
- Class of 2021 (committed), UFV Cascades
- 2A provincial runner-up 2018, ’19 with GW Graham
Levon Kendall
- 12+ years with Canada’s senior men’s national team
- Player, Fraser Valley Bandits, 2019
Matthias Klim
- Player, UFV Cascades
- 2020 3A provincial champion with GW Graham
Navjot Bains
- Former player, UFV Cascades, 2014-19
Parminder Singh
- Adult cast member
- Berry industry
Parmvir Bains
- Canada West first team all-star, 2019- ’20
- Former player, UFV Cascades, 2017-20
Ransford Brempong
- 8+ years, Canada’s senior men’s national team
- Player, Fraser Valley Bandits, 2019
Ray Kaufman
- Herdsman, Bakerview
Ray Nickel
- Chicken farming industry
Riley Braich
- Player, TWU Spartans
Sahana Kanagasabay
- Player, BC United & Fleetwood Park Secondary
Scott Johnson
- Manager, EcoDairy
Sukhjot Bains
- Canada West third team all-star, 2019-20
- Former player, UFV Cascades, 2018-20
Surinder Sarowa
- 1983 provincial champion and second team all-star with Abbotsford Senior Secondary
Takuo Nakanishi
- Adult cast member
- Lumber industry
Taylor Claggett
- All-time leading scorer, UFV Cascades women’s basketball
- Former player, UFV Cascades, 2015-20
Teresa Gabriele
- Former player, Canada’s senior women’s national team & SFU Clan
- Player, Sydney 2000 & London 2012 Olympic Games
- U SPORTS’ Top 100 After 100’
Tianna Page-Willox
- Player and 2020 3A provincial champion with Abbotsford Senior
Ella Bohn
- Youth cast member
Zachary Klim
- Player, UFV Cascades
- 2020 3A provincial champion with GW Graham
| Abbotsford | Chilliwack | Maple Ridge | Mission | Surrey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotsford Centre | Cultus Lake | Imperial Shake Co. | École Heritage Park Middle School | BC Prep |
| Abbotsford Senior Secondary | G.W. Graham Secondary | Mission Bridge | ||
| EcoDairy | ||||
| Gur Sikh Temple | ||||
| Matsqui Trail Regional Park | ||||
| Nickel Family Farm | ||||
| PNP Packers | ||||
| Salton Pedestrian Bridge | ||||
| Southern Park | ||||
| Sumas Mountain |
The Bandits open the 2021 season on the road at Edmonton on Thursday, June 24. The Bandits welcome Saskatchewan for Fraser Valley’s home opener on Saturday, June 26. All regular season games will be live streamed on the free CBC Gem streaming service, cbcsports.ca, the CBC Sports app for iOS and Android devices and on a new OTT streaming platform that the CEBL will unveil this spring.
A league created by Canadians for Canadians, the CEBL has the highest percentage of Canadian players of any professional league in the country, with 80 percent of its 2020 rosters being Canadians. Players come from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian national team program, and top NCAA and U SPORTS programs.
More information about the Bandits is available at thebandits.ca.
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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
Today, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) announced the winners of the 2026 CEBL Awards and the All-CEBL Teams via the league's digital and social media channels. Bandits forward Tyrese Samuel captured Canadian Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season. He was also named to the All-CEBL First Team and earned his second straight CEBL All-Canadian Team selection. Additionally, longtime international basketball official and Lower Mainland resident Mike Thomson was named a recipient of the Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award in recognition of continued contributions to the CEBL officiating program. The full list of award winners is as follows: 2026 CEBL Award Winners Most Valuable Player: Myles Powell (Scarborough Shooting Stars) Canadian Player of the Year: Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits) Coach of the Year: Tyrell Vernon (Scarborough Shooting Stars) Sixth Man of the Year: Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars) CDIC Defensive Player of the Year: Kellen Tynes (Scarborough Shooting Stars) Developmental Player of the Year: Easton Thimm (Saskatchewan Mamba) Clutch Player of the Year: Myles Powell (Scarborough Shooting Stars) Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award: Mike Thomson All-CEBL First Team: Myles Powell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Teddy Allen (Winnipeg Sea Bears), Javonte Smart (Ottawa BlackJacks), Sean East II (Brampton Honey Badgers), Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits) All-CEBL Second Team: Tavian Dunn-Martin (Saskatoon Mamba), Khalil Ahmad (Niagara River Lions), Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Nick Hornsby (Edmonton Stingers), Matthew Cleveland (Ottawa BlackJacks) CEBL All-Canadian Team: Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits), Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Quincy Guerrier (Montréal Alliance), Sean Miller-Moore (Calgary Surge), Jaden Bediako (Saskatoon Mamba) Samuel returns as the reigning Canadian Player of the Year, repeating as this year's winner after finishing third in the CEBL in rebounding at 8.7 per game. The Montreal, Que., native led Vancouver in rebounds (8.7), blocked shots (1.1) and field goal percentage (53.5 per cent), while finishing second on the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game. Samuel’s standout performances and accolades across his two seasons with the Bandits helped accelerate his career progression. Following the 2025 CEBL season, he signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the NBA’s Phoenix Suns joining the team on its training camp roster. He is now preparing for his first overseas opportunity, signing with French club Cosea JL Bourg for the 2026-27 season who compete in the prestigious EuroCup league and the Ligue Nationale de Basket. A resident of New Westminster, Mike Thomson was honoured with the Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award for his continued contributions to the CEBL officiating program. A FIBA-licensed Referee Instructor with nearly 50 years of basketball officiating involvement, Thomson’s resume includes officiating the 2000 Summer Olympic Games and serving as a Referee Instructor at the 2024 Summer Olympics and both the 2019 and 2023 FIBA Men’s World Cups. A longtime contributor to the CEBL, he served as both a Referee Coach and member of the Referee Advisory Committee this past season, drawing on his extensive experience in Canadian and international basketball to provide steady guidance and leadership throughout the season. Award winners and All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian Teams are determined by votes cast by the CEBL's team head coaches, general managers, assistant coaches, select league broadcasters, and internal media personnel, based on regular season performance. Team representatives are prohibited from voting for a player or head coach from their own team. All CEBL award winners will receive a customized ring from Jostens, the Official Supplier of Award Rings of the CEBL, as well as a special gift from Foot Locker, the official sportswear retailer of the CEBL and its 10 teams. Details on tickets for the 2027 season can be found via CEBL.ca/tickets .
The Vancouver Bandits, in conjunction with the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), announced Tuesday that forward Tyrese Samuel is among the nominees for Canadian Player of the Year at the 2026 CEBL Awards. Most Valuable Player finalists Myles Powell of the Scarborough Shooting Stars and Teddy Allen of the Winnipeg Sea Bears headline the list of nominees revealed across five player award categories. 2026 CEBL Award Finalists Most Valuable Player: Myles Powell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Teddy Allen (Winnipeg Sea Bears) Canadian Player of the Year: Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Tyrese Samuel (Vancouver Bandits) Sixth Man of the Year: Frank Mitchell (Scarborough Shooting Stars), Stanley Davis Jr. (Edmonton Stingers) Defensive Player of the Year: Alex Fudge (Ottawa BlackJacks), Kellen Tynes (Scarborough Shooting Stars) Developmental Player of the Year: Easton Thimm (Saskatchewan Mamba), Mohamed Mahadhi (Saskatchewan Mamba) Additional 2026 CEBL Awards, including Coach of the Year, Clutch Player of the Year, the Fox 40 Officiating Recognition Award, and the All-CEBL First, Second, and All-Canadian teams, will also be announced next week following the conclusion of the CEBL Finals. Samuel returns as the reigning Canadian Player of the Year, up for the award for a second consecutive season. The Montreal, Quebec native ranked third in the CEBL in rebounding at 8.7 per game and led Vancouver in rebounds (8.7), blocked shots (1.1) and field goal percentage (53.5%), while finishing second on the team in scoring at 17.1 points per game. Award nominees and winners are determined by votes cast by the league's head coaches, general managers, assistant coaches, select league broadcasters, and media personnel. Team representatives are prohibited from voting for a player or head coach from their own team.
The Vancouver Bandits’ championship aspirations ended in the Western Final. The visiting Winnipeg Sea Bears never trailed after the first quarter, defeating the Bandits 107-96 on Saturday afternoon on Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre in the Canadian Elite Basketball League’s Western Conference Final. Winnipeg advances to face the Brampton Honey Badgers in the best-of-three CEBL Finals. “We had a couple of defensive assignment game plan pieces that I thought we just did not ever execute,” said Vancouver head coach Kyle Julius. “They jumped on us right from the start and had more energy.” Vancouver had won the season series 3-1, including a crucial 114-90 victory less than a week ago that clinched home-court advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs. “This group (today) is way better than the Winnipeg we played the other day because of him,” Julius said of Sea Bears guard Trey McGowens, who finished with 18 points, six rebounds and seven assists. “I thought he was the X factor — the way he plays, the toughness he has, the athleticism,” Julius added. “He gave them a lot of life. The way he played, created a lot of opportunities.” Winnipeg’s Simon Hildebrandt also proved too much for the Bandits, finishing with 24 points to tie Xavier Moon for the team lead. “You have to give him a lot of credit … he absolutely killed us. He dominated his matchup all night,” Julius said. Shamar Givance led the Bandits with 21 points and 11 assists, while Mitch Creek and Tevin Brown finished with 19 points apiece.
At this stage of the season, style points don’t matter. “Just win the day. I said after the game, it wasn’t pretty, but this time of year, it’s survive and advance,” said Vancouver Bandits General Manager Kyle Julius, who returned to coaching duties on Thursday night. Julius had stepped away from coaching duties earlier in the season after accepting a coaching position in China but retained his role as the Bandits’ general manager. With Vancouver entering the Canadian Elite Basketball League playoffs, Julius returned to the sidelines Thursday night after consulting with interim head coach Rans Brempong, who had previously served as his lead assistant. The result was a 92-83 victory over the visiting Edmonton Stingers in the Western Conference semi-final on Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre. Edmonton raced out to a 9-0 lead before Vancouver settled into its game and took a 52-42 lead into halftime. The Stingers responded with a strong third quarter, outscoring the Bandits 25-13, and led by five points in the fourth quarter before Vancouver battled back with an 11-1 run heading into Target Score Time. The game ended on a Mychal Mulder three-pointer from the corner. “I was spaced properly … and Shamar (Givance) made the right read and kicked it out to me, and I was able to knock it down,” Mulder said. “Our entire fourth quarter is a testament to how we fight and how you pull a win out.” Mulder scored 15 points off the bench and was one of five Vancouver players in double figures, with Givance leading the way with 20 points, seven assists and four rebounds. Mitch Creek (16 points, 10 rebounds) and Tyrese Samuel (13 points, 10 rebounds) each recorded double-doubles, while Tevin Brown added 19 points and connected on five three-pointers. Nick Hornsby led the Stingers with 22 points, but he was the only Edmonton player to score more than 11. A big factor in the late-game turnaround was the sold-out crowd cheering on the home side. “The crowd really got into it in the fourth quarter and they really boosted us,” Julius said. “I cannot say enough about our fans, they have been tremendous.” It was a sentiment echoed by Mulder. “They are incredible. They pack it out every game. (Coach) was saying in the locker room, it’s like all of a sudden, it turns into six-on-five,” Mulder said. “They are great for our energy and that’s what we fought for, to have home-court advantage.” Vancouver will look to capitalize on that home-court advantage once again when the Bandits host the Winnipeg Sea Bears on Saturday (August 8) at 12:30 p.m. at Envision Financial Court at Langley Events Centre in the Western Conference Final, with a spot in the CEBL Championship Finals on the line.
LATEST VIDEO
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Mamba on May 14, 2026.
A message from Vancouver Bandits head coach and general manager Kyle Julius on the 2025 season and thoughts on the CEBL Western Conference Semifinal.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Calgary Surge on August 16th, 2025.
Highlights of the Vancouver Bandits against the Winnipeg Sea Bears on August 3rd, 2025.