On a crisp September weekend in Winnipeg, something extraordinary happened in the North End. The kind of moment that makes you stop, look around, and realize you’re witnessing change in real time. The kind of moment that reminds us why sports—especially for kids, youths, and young adults—are more than just games.
The organization at the heart of this transformation is Buckets & Borders, a nonprofit with a powerful mission: to make basketball accessible to everyone, no matter where they live or what their circumstances may be. Led by CEO Justin Lee, who co-founded the initiative with his brother, Buckets & Borders has been shaped by their personal history with the game. Basketball played a critical role in their own lives, and they’ve carried that truth into their mission. They understand how something as simple as a hoop and a court can be a lifeline, a teacher, and a source of joy. That belief guided them to RB Russell Vocational School in Winnipeg’s North End, where they worked side by side with students to design the new court and partnered with local artists connected to the community to bring it to life.
Buckets & Borders began in 2015 as a project to document basketball culture around the world. Over the years, they traveled to more than 50 countries, playing, observing, and telling stories about the role basketball plays in uniting people. In 2020, the project evolved into a nonprofit organization with a broader vision: to use basketball as a means to improve communities and bring people together. Since then, they have committed to restoring outdoor basketball courts, telling impactful stories, and working collaboratively with communities to make a difference. Their home court is Canada, but their impact is global. At RB Russell, that global mission became local reality.
The North End of Winnipeg has long carried a reputation as a place with challenges—poverty, crime, and social neglect. Yet it’s also an area that has produced some of the city’s most brilliant scholars, leaders, and athletes. Greatness can come from anywhere. What people need is a chance, a place to belong, and a community that believes in them. Buckets & Borders saw the neglected courts of RB Russell not as relics, but as possibilities. They arrived with paint, tools, and a vision of what could be. In just a short span, what was once faded and forgotten became something bold, bright, and welcoming. The cracked pavement was transformed into a work of art. The hoops stood tall again, ready for kids to play, dream, and compete. Walking onto that court after the transformation, you could feel it—this wasn’t just paint and mesh. It was possibility. It was dignity. It was proof that someone cared enough to invest time and energy into a community often left behind.
Why does this matter so much? Because sports save lives. That’s not an exaggeration. Jill, a young woman who attended the event, shared a story that shook me. She told me that if it hadn’t been for the opportunity to play rugby at her school, her life could have taken a much darker path. Sports gave her structure, a team, accountability, and self-worth. It gave her belonging. It gave her hope. Her story is not unique. Across communities, countless young people find in sports the difference between drifting into despair and discovering purpose. They learn discipline, teamwork, and resilience. They learn how to win with humility and lose with dignity. They find mentors and role models in their coaches, teammates, and community leaders. As I’ve always said, we need more sports in our communities. We need them not just for exercise or competition, but for survival. A ball, a net, and a painted court can be lifelines.
Buckets & Borders is not just about basketball. It’s about belief. Justin Lee and his team understand something that too many overlook: when you create safe, beautiful spaces for kids to play, you are telling them that they matter. That they are worth investing in. That they belong. This matters deeply in communities like the North End, where young people are often told, directly or indirectly, that their lives don’t count as much as others. But when a kid steps onto a freshly painted court, with a ball in their hands and their friends beside them, they feel something different. They feel seen. They feel valued. Buckets & Borders doesn’t just fix courts—they fix perspectives. They remind us that greatness isn’t reserved for certain postal codes. It’s everywhere, waiting to be nurtured.
The court unveiling at RB Russell wasn’t just about basketball. It was a community celebration. Kids ran across the vibrant new surface with laughter in their voices. Parents watched with pride, knowing their children now had a safe, healthy place to spend their energy. Adding to the excitement were representatives from the Winnipeg Sea Bears, the city’s first-ever national pro basketball team. Their presence mattered. The players, mascots, and staff weren’t there for publicity; they were there to show kids that the dream of professional basketball isn’t far-fetched. It’s happening right here in their city, with hometown heroes leading the charge. Since their inception, the Sea Bears have been a pivotal force in the basketball community. Their success proves that Winnipeg has the talent, the passion, and the audience for basketball. Their support of initiatives like Buckets & Borders only strengthens the bond between grassroots and professional sports. And for the kids at RB Russell, seeing role models from their own community succeed at the highest level was nothing short of inspirational.
The impact of what Buckets & Borders does cannot be measured only in paint or equipment. Its true value is in the ripple effect. A kid plays on a safe court instead of wandering into trouble. A teenager discovers the confidence to lead their peers. A young adult finds mentorship that propels them toward higher education or a career. Every dribble, every shot, every high-five on that court is a thread in a larger story—the story of community resilience, opportunity, and transformation. And it’s not just about the game itself. The act of giving kids basketballs, gear, and goodies at the event was symbolic. It said: you belong here. You deserve joy. Take this, play, smile, dream. Sometimes, the simplest gestures make the biggest difference.
I have always said, “Youth are our future. If we invest in them the right way, we will reduce the amount of crime in the city. Buckets & Borders is helping to fulfill that mandate of keeping the kids engaged. It was a beautiful day at R.B. Russell School. Seeing kids as young as two or three years old coming out to be a part of this beautiful event to introduce the court, basketball, and playing on something that is truly inspiring. More sports, less crime.”
It is no accident that Buckets & Borders chose Winnipeg, and specifically the North End, for this project. Manitoba has a deep history with sports, and Winnipeg is a city with a proud tradition of producing athletes who punch far above their weight on the national stage. This investment shows that the organization believes in Winnipeg’s young people. They see the potential that others overlook. And they are proving that when you invest in a place that has been neglected, the returns are immeasurable. For the kids who got to play on that brand-new court, who walked away with a basketball in hand and a smile on their face, the message was loud and clear: you matter. Your dreams matter. Your community matters.
The work of Buckets & Borders is far from done. Justin Lee and his team have already promised to come back next year to do more, building on what they started at RB Russell. Courts across Canada—and indeed around the world—still sit in disrepair. But if what happened in Winnipeg is any indication, this movement is just getting started. Because at the end of the day, this isn’t just about sports. It’s about life. It’s about giving young people a safe place to grow, to dream, to learn, and to believe in themselves. As I reflect on what I witnessed, I return to the same thought: a basketball court is more than lines and hoops. It is a stage where greatness can be born. And thanks to organizations like Buckets & Borders, that stage is being rebuilt for the kids who need it most.
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