With their victory over Kitsilano Blue Demons last week in the Vancouver senior girls championship, the Britannia Bruins did more that establish their prowess in basketball. They proved that big things do indeed come in small packages.

Britannia, a smallish AA school on Vancouver’s East Side, knocked off the larger (in both school size and the physical size of players) West Side AAA Blue Demons, a feat not even accomplished by the Britannia senior boys who were provincial AA Champions in 2008 and 2010. But the significance of the victory goes well beyond the execution of well taught basketball skills. It illustrates how a Downtown Eastside community can use basketball as a way to keep kids in school, to keep them engaged and off the streets, and to offer leadership back into their community.

Basketball in the DTES begins at the Strathcona Community Centre in weekend and after school programs under the tireless and watchful eyes of Ron Suzuki, the coordinator and 36-year parks board employee who regularly puts in 80-hour weeks. He had a vision that through basketball he could provide a physical outlet and re-establish and fortify Downtown Eastside pride.

He believed that the kids in his community could be champion basketball players and excellent students—he dreamed of the student-athlete that had goals of post-secondary educational opportunities that would allow them to establish successful and viable careers. He wanted to develop well-rounded citizens and he also wanted these kids to return to his community centre to coach, mentor and be role models for younger, often at-risk athletes and they have done so in droves.

His student athlete leaders have made great contributions to local schools, their own high school, and the local community. For Ron Suzuki, the sport of basketball has created opportunities for students to display success in all areas of their lives. The senior girls coach at Britannia, Mike Evans, also sees basketball as a way to make his student-athletes believe in themselves and to believe in possibilities.

Mike Evans has been at Britannia for 31 years and has been both coach and mentor to so many students that have come through his school. Mike has spent countless hours and logged thousands of miles exploring post-secondary programs for Britannia basketball players. As an ex-counsellor Mike has the experience and knowledge as to how many doors of opportunity can open for the successful student-athlete.

But this cannot be done alone. Mike and all of the staff at Britannia secondary have taken on the responsibility of educating these students and with the compassion, dedication and commitment that define this institution, have nurtured these athletes into amazing young people, not just champion players.

The Britannia senior girls now embark on the challenge of Lower Mainland playoffs which in turn lead to the provincial championships.

Do you believe? Two local heroes—Ron Suzuki and Mike Evans—believe and their players do now as well. But the belief that is the strongest is their belief in themselves, as athletes, as citizens and as lifelong learners.

***

Jim Ion is the principal of Norquay elementary school.

Send Reader Soapbox submissions (maximum 600 words) to editor@vancourier.com.