Winnipeg Sea Bears, in Partnership with Buckets & Borders, Open Outdoor Court in Killarney, Manitoba

WINNIPEG, MB - August 20, 2026 – The Winnipeg Sea Bears and Buckets & Borders are heading to Killarney, Manitoba, opening a new outdoor basketball court with a grand opening celebration on Friday, August 21 at Killarney School. The event runs from 4:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and is free and open to the community.

The court is a project of the Winnipeg Sea Bears Foundation, the team’s charitable arm dedicated to removing barriers to sport and investing in public basketball spaces across Manitoba. Killarney is one of the Foundation’s first court refurbishments, with a second court at Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg to follow this fall.

“Killarney wanted this court, and the people here did the work to make it happen,” said David Asper, Owner and Chair of the Winnipeg Sea Bears. “Basketball asks almost nothing of a kid except that they show up, and now there is a place in this town where they can. Churchill is going to stand beside that court for a long time, and I hope every kid who walks past him knows the Sea Bears are cheering for them.”

The Killarney court marks the latest chapter in the Sea Bears’ ongoing commitment to growing the game of basketball beyond Winnipeg and into communities across Manitoba. A special thank you is extended to Assiniboine Credit Union (ACU), sponsors of the Killarney Foundation, and HyLife, whose support was instrumental in raising the funds that made this project possible, and to the Killarney Community Committee for helping bring it to life.

A new landmark will stand alongside the court. An eight-foot statue of Churchill, the Sea Bears mascot, holding a basketball and a plaque, will be unveiled during the opening ceremony and will remain next to the court as a permanent fixture in the community. The Sea Bears Tundra Buggy, the team’s custom-built electric vehicle inspired by the working buggies that roam the tundra outside Churchill, Manitoba, will also be on site for the celebration.

“Killarney has shown up for this project, and we’re proud to show up for them,” added Justin Lee, CEO and Founder of Buckets & Borders. “This is what Buckets & Borders is built for.”

In total, the Sea Bears have now partnered with Buckets & Borders to open seven outdoor courts in the province, part of a growing effort to remove barriers to the game and create lasting grassroots impact across Manitoba.

Media are invited to attend the opening remarks, statue unveiling and official ribbon cutting at 4:00 p.m.

GRAND OPENING SCHEDULE

4:00 p.m. – Opening Remarks, Churchill Statue Unveiling & Official Ribbon Cutting

4:30 p.m. – Free Youth Programming / Mini Camp (led by Buckets & Borders and Head Coach Mike Raimbault)

5:30 p.m. – Community BBQ, Three-Point Competition, Giveaways

6:30 p.m. – Local All-Star Game

7:30 p.m. – Event Wrap-Up

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About the Winnipeg Sea Bears

The Winnipeg Sea Bears are Manitoba’s professional basketball team and reigning Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) champions. Named for the polar bear (Ursus maritimus, the “Sea Bear”), the franchise is rooted in the fierce spirit of the north and the vibrant, multicultural heart of Winnipeg. Home court: Canada Life Centre.

About the Winnipeg Sea Bears Foundation

The Winnipeg Sea Bears Foundation is a Manitoba charitable initiative focused on youth health, opportunity, and access to basketball. Its mission is to reduce financial barriers to sport and to create, refurbish, and maintain public basketball courts that serve communities across Manitoba.



About Buckets & Borders

Buckets & Borders (B&B) is a non-profit organization that uses basketball as a means to improve communities and bring people together. A core part of B&B’s mandate is to restore basketball courts with full-scale art pieces completed across the surface of the court. The objective is to create inclusive spaces that celebrate multiculturalism and tell the stories of the communities in which the courts are being restored. More information can be found at bucketsandborders.com.