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My Legacy Tour · British Columbia

The Communities
That Carried
the Tour.

In summer 2025, our first My Legacy Tour reached nine communities. Local people helped make each stop possible.

By Legacy North AcademySummer 2025Story + Community Acknowledgments

Coach Eby sharing a moment with young athletes during the My Legacy Tour.In Williams Lake, local basketball leaders helped create a place for young people to learn, connect and feel welcome. Their care helped turn a visiting camp into a community experience.

It was one stop on the first My Legacy Tour. It also showed how much of the tour’s story would be written by the people welcoming it.

In summer 2025, Legacy North travelled to nine British Columbia communities, bringing basketball development together with conversations about mental wellness, confidence and leadership. Behind those visits were families, coaches, community organizations and businesses who found ways to help.

Nine Communities. Many Contributions.

The tour reached Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Williams Lake, Revelstoke, Enderby, Penticton, Salmon Arm, Vernon and Kamloops. Each place contributed to a shared effort to create something meaningful for young people.

  • Chilliwack

  • Abbotsford

  • Williams Lake

  • Revelstoke

  • Enderby

  • Penticton

  • Salmon Arm

  • Vernon

  • Kamloops

Williams Lake Basketball Association helped the coaching team get fed, find places to stay and access the gym. Local support helped the tour keep moving. At the Enderby stop, Gardom Lake Bible Camp opened its facilities to the program.Hanoi36, Browns Transport, Dream Vacation Rentals and Oak Valley Homes also helped the tour reach young people. Local contributions took many forms, each part of creating a welcoming experience.

The People Who Made the Introductions.

In Williams Lake, Travis Nystoruk, Maricor and the WLBA team turned a short planning window into a welcome. Williams Lake First Nation supported eight young people’s participation, with Chief Willie Sellars and Kim Swanson part of the local connection.

In Enderby, Chad Comer helped build the relationship with Lucas and the Gardom Lake Bible Camp team. Red Tomato Pies provided pizza for the athletes in Williams Lake. In Chilliwack and Abbotsford, Marcel Gauthier and the Papa Johns teams coordinated pizza support for the young people.

Some contributions began with a simple introduction. Derek Ripel connected us with Carolynn Boomer and PacificSport Interior BC, whose team helped share the opportunity. Kyle at Chilliwack Basketball sent the information to his teams. Launa Payne and RiseUp helped families hear about the Salmon Arm stop, and young people connected through RiseUp joined us there.

Those connections carry trust. They help a family decide to try something unfamiliar, and they remind a visiting team to build alongside the people already showing up for local youth.

Williams Lake, Through a Local Lens.

The Williams Lake Tribune’s report describes about 50 young people taking part at Thompson Rivers University’s Williams Lake campus, including visitors from Bella Coola and Prince George. When another tour venue fell through, Travis Nystoruk helped make the Williams Lake stop possible.

Monica Lamb-Yorski’s story also featured coaches Al Venegas and Chris Hyppa alongside Coach Eby, and captured the focus on mental wellness and personal growth alongside the game.

Independent Coverage · July 31, 2025

High-calibre basketball camp draws 50 youth

By Monica Lamb-Yorski · Williams Lake Tribune · Page A23

Read the Original Article ↗Watch the Tribune’s Video Coverage ↗

A Game, and a Conversation.

Coach Eby’s reason for building Legacy North is personal. Basketball was a sanctuary during difficult years growing up. Coaching became a way to give time, guidance and opportunity to the next generation.

That purpose shaped the tour. Alongside basketball development, the aim was to encourage young people to think about confidence, leadership and the people they can turn to when life is difficult.A message carried through the tour: find supportive people, make a plan, and pay attention to the voices that shape how you see yourself. We want young people to know they can ask for help and take a next step.

The hope was for something from the visit to stay with a young person after the coaches left.

Recognizing More Than the Score.

Court Candy supported Legacy Builder Awards at every stop. Foundry BC supported Bravery to Be Awards, recognizing courage on and off the court. Stigma Free Mental Health helped amplify the tour’s message.

These contributions made room to notice qualities beyond basketball performance. They reflected the wider purpose of the tour: developing the person alongside the player.

What We Carry Forward.

The first My Legacy Tour gave us experience to build on and relationships to keep nurturing. It showed how a local organization, a meal, a gym booking or a place to stay can help an opportunity reach young people.

As we develop future programs, that remains our starting point: listening to local people, understanding what would be useful, and building it together.

▶ Watch the Legacy North Docu Series Trailer1 Minute 54 Seconds · Opens on YouTube

The People Behind the Opportunity

Thank You for Carrying the Tour.

To the local hosts, supporters, coaches, families and volunteers: these nine visits were shared work. The contributions below helped the tour reach young people and make room for connection.

Local Hosts, Access & Practical SupportView Names & Contributions

  • Williams Lake Basketball AssociationTravis Nystoruk, Maricor and the WLBA team helped arrange gym access, meals and accommodation on a short timeline.

  • Williams Lake First NationSupport for eight young people to participate, with thanks to Chief Willie Sellars and Kim Swanson for their part in the local connection.

  • Gardom Lake Bible CampHosted the Enderby stop. Thank you to Lucas and the camp team, and to local coach Chad Comer for helping build the relationship.

  • Papa Johns — Chilliwack & AbbotsfordPizza support for young people, coordinated with Marcel Gauthier and the local teams.

  • Hanoi36Meals for the travelling coaching team.

  • Browns TransportHelping the tour reach young people across British Columbia.

  • Dream Vacation RentalsAccommodation for tour staff in Vernon.

  • Oak Valley HomesSupport for the first My Legacy Tour.

  • Red Tomato Pies — Williams LakePizza for the athletes at the Williams Lake stop.

Recognition, Outreach & Community ConnectionsView Names & Contributions

  • Court CandyLegacy Builder Awards at every tour stop.

  • Foundry BCBravery to Be Awards recognizing courage on and off the court.

  • Stigma-Free Mental HealthJillian Boyd and the team shared the tour through their BC email network and social channels.

  • PacificSport Interior BCCarolynn Boomer and the team helped promote the tour in their region. Derek Ripel made the introduction.

  • RiseUp — Salmon ArmLauna Payne and the RiseUp team shared the opportunity with families; young people connected through RiseUp attended the Salmon Arm stop.

  • Chilliwack BasketballKyle and the club shared the tour information with their teams.

  • Tour Graphics and CommunicationsAden Vu supplied a coach-graphic template, and Kiara Ambersley prepared the coach graphics. Their work helped us introduce the people behind the tour.

  • Local Coaches, Families, Volunteers and Community MediaIntroductions, encouragement, shared information and time given across nine communities helped young people find the opportunity.

Help Create the Next Opportunity ↗

The First Tour.

When

Summer 2025

Where

British Columbia

Reach

Nine Communities

Purpose

Basketball, Mental Wellness, Confidence & Leadership

An original Legacy North story, looking back at the relationships behind the tour.

Start a Local Conversation ↗

The Next Story Starts With a Conversation

What Could We Build
in Your Community?

Every place has people who know what their community needs. If you have a gym, a local relationship or an idea for young people, tell us about it. We’ll start by listening.

Bring a Program to Your Community ↗

Help Make the Next
Opportunity Possible.

Sponsorship can help with coaching, gym access, meals and the practical costs of bringing people together.

Explore Sponsorship ↗

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Keep ReadingPacific Youth Basketball & Wellness Summit: Three Days. Built Together. →

Basketball brings us together.
What we build together goes beyond the game.

ben@legacynorthacademy.com

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