The K-W Titans basketball team is commencing their Black History Month celebration with a special event during their upcoming match against the Lake Erie Jackals on Sunday. Teaming up with Kitchener festival Caribana Ignite for the third consecutive year, the Titans are set to honor Black history and cultural diversity both before and during the game at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium.
Kate Schooley, the team’s chief communications officer, emphasized the significance of showcasing the background of players, coaches, and staff members. She highlighted the event as an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the heritage of the individuals within the team while conveying this value to the broader community.
The pre-game festivities, starting at 2:00 p.m., an hour before the Titans face off against the Jackals, extend beyond the team itself. Geraldine Stafford, the festival director of Caribana Ignite, emphasized the community as the primary audience, especially the excitement among young attendees to witness the players and community leaders in action.
The program aims at representation, with a focus on enabling young people to see themselves reflected in various aspects of the game. Activities include a halftime show, a free throw contest, incorporation of the Black National Anthem “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and informative content about Black History Month displayed on the arena screens.
Stafford highlighted the diverse Black identities present in the Waterloo region, encompassing individuals from the Caribbean, people of African descent, and those identifying as Black despite not being native to Africa. She also emphasized the importance of allies in advancing conversations around Black identity and culture.
Schooley emphasized that the Titans’ game experience caters to all attendees, not just basketball enthusiasts, describing it as a lively gathering intertwined with basketball action. She touted the game as offering top-tier basketball entertainment comparable to the NBA outside the professional league.
The collaboration between Caribana Ignite Kitchener and KW Titans originated three years ago, with Stafford’s involvement stemming from her role as the manager of equity, diversity, and inclusion for the Waterloo Regional Police Service. The initiative initially aimed to foster dialogue between the police and players, bridging potential negative experiences players had with law enforcement in the United States.
The decision to highlight Black History Month at a 2024 game was a joint effort between the Titan management and Stafford, leveraging her existing connections with the players. This year, Caribana Ignite is hosting various events in both Kitchener and Toronto, aligning with the Carnival season celebrated in countries like Brazil and Trinidad, making February a significant month for festivities.