Vancouver Bandits & Bandits Community Foundation Conclude Transformative Bandits School Tour with 77 Team Visits Across 16 Cities

Bandits Staff • February 21, 2025

The Vancouver Bandits & Bandits Community Foundation have successfully wrapped up the 2024-25 Bandits School Tour, leaving a lasting impact on young basketball players and coaches across British Columbia. Led by Bandits’ Head Coach Kyle Julius, the tour featured visits to 77 teams, 12 coaching clinics, and stops in 16 cities, reinforcing the club’s commitment to grassroots basketball development.


Powered by the support of Bandits Community Foundation, University Canada West (UCW) and Preston Chevrolet, the tour provided an unparalleled opportunity for student-athletes to learn from a professional coach while equipping high school coaches with insights to elevate their programs. Each stop focused on skill development, leadership, and fostering a championship mindset—values that have become synonymous with the Bandits’ culture.


“Our goal was to inspire young athletes and empower high school coaches with tools to develop the next generation of basketball talent,” said Dylan Kular, Vancouver Bandits team president. “The response from schools and communities has been incredible, and we are excited to continue growing the game throughout British Columbia, reaching all corners of British Columbia in the years to come.”


Beyond on-court development, the tour also emphasized mentorship, determination, dignity and the importance of education. Bandits players and staff engaged in meaningful conversations with students about balancing academics with athletics, helping to shape well-rounded individuals both on and off the court. Content from the Bandits School Tour reached over a million unique people on social media, including important messaging from Bandits head coach Kyle Julius on the importance of having a growth mindset.


As a key partner in the initiative, UCW’s involvement underscored the connection between sports and education, while also providing stainless steel water bottles for students on the tour.


“We are thrilled to support the 2024-25 Bandits School Tour, which provides an incredible opportunity for high school students to connect with a role model who embodies hard work, dedication and perseverance,” said Dr. Bashir Makhoul, UCW President. “At University Canada West, we believe in the power of education and athletics to shape our future leaders, and we are proud to support this effort to inspire and uplift local youth in the community.”


Preston Chevrolet involvement was integral for Bandits head coach Kyle Julius, providing transportation to the 16 cities part of the 2024-25 Bandits School Tour.


“We are thrilled to have partnered with the Bandits in such a comprehensive effort to the development of the sport in B.C. In particular, our heartfelt thanks to head coach Kyle Julius for his personal dedication and commitment to the success of this endeavour,” said Peter Heppner, president, Preston Chevrolet.


With the success of this year’s tour, the Bandits remain committed to expanding their outreach and continuing to grow the sport of basketball across the province.

More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.

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The Vancouver Bandits announced today a two-year partnership extension with Sentinel Storage that expands on the companies’ long-standing relationship and reinforces a shared commitment to youth, sport, and community in British Columbia. This renewed partnership builds on a foundation that dates back to 2020 with the Bandits Athletic Centre in Abbotsford, where Sentinel Storage played a key role in supporting multiple sport organizations at the grassroots level during the pandemic. Sentinel Storage and the Bandits are deepening their impact through two major initiatives: co-presenting the Bandits' annual School Day Game, and serving as the founding and presenting partner of the First Buckets program by the Bandits Community Foundation. The School Day Game, set to be held at Langley Events Centre during the Bandits’ 2025 season on May 8th, is a high-energy morning basketball game that invites thousands of elementary and middle school students for an unforgettable field trip experience. The event is designed to inspire youth through sport, while providing educators and students with a unique opportunity to engage with professional basketball in a fun and educational setting. "At Sentinel Storage, we believe in the power of community and the importance of supporting youth development through sport,” said Jenn Johnson, Director of Operations, Western Canada, Sentinel Storage. “We’re excited to be expanding our partnership with the Bandits to help make basketball more accessible to youth across British Columbia, while also fostering important life skills like teamwork, resilience, and leadership. We’re proud to be a part of this journey and look forward to seeing how we can continue to make a difference in the lives of young athletes in B.C.” Sentinel Storage has also committed to leading the launch of First Buckets, a flagship initiative of the Bandits Community Foundation. This program delivers basketball starter kits to schools across British Columbia, helping introduce the game to new communities. Each kit includes basketballs, jerseys, and coaching materials, along with life skills curriculum and the potential for a visit from Berry the Bandit, the team’s beloved mascot. The program makes the sport accessible while championing important lessons in teamwork, resilience, and leadership. “We’re grateful to be partnered with a community-minded organization like Sentinel Storage who also took a chance on us in 2020 when we launched the Bandits Athletic Centre. Since day one with Sentinel Storage it has been evident that they passionately care about the power sport has on supporting youth in British Columbia,” said Dylan Kular, President of the Vancouver Bandits. “Together, through the Bandits Community Foundation, we are going to provide more basketball for more people across British Columbia with the First Buckets program and impact youth across all four corners of the province.”  The partnership between Sentinel Storage and the Vancouver Bandits is a testament to the impact that strong community-focused collaborations can have. With shared values at the core, this partnership is poised to make a lasting difference—on the court and beyond.

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By Bandits Staff • April 24, 2025
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