Montreal organizations seek $18,000 in donations for youth violence prevention basketball tournament

Two Montreal organizations are reaching out to the community for donations in support of an upcoming basketball tournament at the end of the month, dedicated to promoting youth violence prevention.

The Jamaica Association of Montreal (JAM) and the Center for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR) says they need $18,000 to cover the expenses for the two-day basketball event.

“It’s everything from medals to food and accessories,” says Sharon Nelson, first vice-president of JAM.

According to the press release, the groups will need around 1,000 bottles of water, 300 to 400 soda cans and juice bottles, 100 pizzas, 400 sandwiches, 300 to 400 fruits, and up to 200 bags of chips and crackers, not to mention paper plates and cups.

“We’re anticipating over 600 participants in this one event. The event we had in August had over 200 and that was with five teams,” said Nelson.

After the success of their first tournament in August 2023, Nelson says this upcoming tournament will have more organizations involved with 22 teams participating in the tournament.

According to the press release, the Montreal Police Service and the Cadets will also participate in the tournament. Urgences-santé, the STM and the RCMP will participate with volunteers to help with the event and develop strong ties with youths and their families, within the perspective of fostering partnerships against violence.

“Just being a part of a team, you have to implement some form of discipline and it’s a way to be healthy as well because you’re moving, you’re being active, and it will give youths a purpose because they will have to play a part into this,” says Omaire Morgan, chair of the youth committee at JAM.

Veronica Galavis the community mobilization officer at CRARR says the they’re hoping to address knife violence during the tournament, an issue Galavis says they see more of.

“We’re seeing more violence as the days go by, in the West Island, in the east end, in places that we didn’t know how to track before and we didn’t see a pattern and now we’re becoming increasingly aware,” said Galavis.

The event will also pay tribute to several homegrown basketball stars from the Black community. Their names will be unveiled as the event date approaches. Representatives from all three levels of government, including Montreal’s Police Chief, sports organizations such as Montréal Alliance and Montreal Toundra and the diplomatic community, will also attend the event.

“The goal is to build a secure network among non-profit organizations in the city. Networks that are connected with institutions that work with victims and that work with at-risk youth,” said Galavis.

The tournament will be held on Feb. 24 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Feb. 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun. It’s going to be a lot of competition. There’s going to be a lot of sweating on the basketball court. But it’s all under the theme of coming together,” said Nelson.