Vancouver Bandits and FortisBC Extend Partnership for 2025 Season, Expanding Commitment to Youth Basketball Across British Columbia
Apr 10, 2025
LANGLEY B.C.—April 10, 2025: The Vancouver Bandits are proud to announce the renewal of their collaboration with FortisBC Energy Inc. (FortisBC) for the 2025 season, continuing a shared commitment to empowering youth through basketball development. This marks the fourth consecutive year of collaboration between the Bandits and FortisBC, reinforcing a strong community-driven initiative that provides coaching and mentorship opportunities for aspiring young athletes across British Columbia.
As part of this renewed sponsorship, FortisBC will once again be the official co-presenter of the coaching and youth clinics hosted by the Indigenous Basketball Collective (IBC). These clinics, designed to foster skill development and leadership among Indigenous youth, will continue to offer a structured environment where young players can learn from experienced coaches while also building confidence and teamwork skills through the game of basketball across British Columbia.
“We’re proud to continue our work with the Vancouver Bandits as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting local community initiatives where we live, work and play,” said Doug Slater, vice president, Indigenous relations and regulatory affairs at FortisBC. “This collaboration will help empower Indigenous youth to thrive through basketball. By promoting sports, we’re fostering meaningful connections, investing in the next generation, and building stronger, more inclusive communities.”
New to this year, FortisBC will expand its impact by becoming a co-presenter of the BC Basketball Festival, one of the province’s premier youth basketball tournaments and one of the only youth basketball tournaments in British Columbia that does not charge spectators to watch games. This addition marks a significant milestone in the collaboration, strengthening FortisBC’s presence in the basketball community while providing young athletes with more opportunities to showcase their talent on a larger stage.
“FortisBC has been an incredible partner in our mission to grow the game of basketball and make it more accessible to youth in British Columbia,” said Dylan Kular, President of the Vancouver Bandits. “By extending our collaboration and adding the BC Basketball Festival as a new initiative, we are creating even more opportunities for young athletes to develop their skills, engage with the sport, and benefit from the positive impact of mentorship.”
The extension of this partnership aligns with both organizations’ ongoing efforts to foster community engagement, youth development, and the overall growth of basketball in British Columbia.
More information is available at thebandits.ca and @vancouverbandits on Instagram and TikTok, as well as @vancitybandits on Facebook and Twitter.
Media contact
For Vancouver Bandits media inquiries, please contact:
Justin Sulpico
Senior Manager, Brand & Communications
Email: [email protected]
About Vancouver Bandits
The Vancouver Bandits are a professional basketball team in the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL), committed to growing the game of basketball while fostering meaningful community connections through youth programming, events, and partnerships.
About FortisBC Energy Inc.
FortisBC Energy Inc. is a regulated utility focused on providing safe, reliable and affordable energy, including natural gas, Renewable Natural Gas and propane. FortisBC Energy Inc. employs around 2,143 British Columbians and serves approximately 1,086,500 customers across British Columbia. FortisBC Energy Inc. owns and operates two liquefied natural gas storage facilities and approximately 51,600 kilometres of gas transmission and distribution lines. FortisBC Energy Inc. is a subsidiary of Fortis Inc., a leader in the North American regulated electricity and gas utility industry. FortisBC Energy Inc. uses the FortisBC name and logo under license from Fortis Inc. For further information on FortisBC Energy Inc., visit fortisbc.com. For further information on Fortis Inc., visit fortisinc.com.
About the CEBL
A league created by Canadians for Canadians with a mission to develop Canadian players, coaches, sports executives, and referees, the CEBL boasts the highest percentage of Canadian players of any pro league in the country with 75% of its rosters being Canadian and a record 12 players with NBA experience in 2024. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international pro leagues, the Canadian National team program, NCAA programs, as well as U SPORTS and CCAA. More than 20 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and numerous CEBL players attend NBA G League training camps every year. The CEBL season runs from May through August with games broadcast live on CEBL+, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+ and Next Level Sports & Entertainment. More information about the CEBL is available at CEBL.ca and @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.