World's Oldest Basketball Court

World's Oldest Basketball Court Lyman Archibald introduced the game of basketball to Saint Stephen near the turn of the century. The first game was played on October 17, 1893.

The original basketball court floor still exists in the former St. Stephen YMCA building on King Street.

A born basketball legend who captained and was a point guard of 's first-ever women's basketball team at Montreal 1...
06/03/2026

A born basketball legend who captained and was a point guard of 's first-ever women's basketball team at Montreal 1976 sounds like a pretty outstanding board member for the . Her decades of dedication to the sport and her sharing of knowledge as a lecturer and coach are why we're so excited to have Joyce Slipp on our board.

"The World's Oldest Basketball Court is located in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Let that sink in. As a proud New Brunswicker who has spent practically my entire life in the basketball world, this just makes so much sense to be involved any way I can. I feel it's incredibly important to preserve the history of the game."

It's time to register for Summer '26, a featured event happening during . We're working in partnership with Southwest...
06/02/2026

It's time to register for Summer '26, a featured event happening during . We're working in partnership with Southwest Regional Basketball Association and Basketball New Brunswick to bring a basketball-packed day for all ages. No matter what clinic you register for, you're invited to the Celebrity Q&A lunch featuring some of our celebrity legends. Make sure to secure your spot now!

Registration links and more information can be found on our website:
https://worldsoldestbasketballcourt.com/legends-jam/

All of our work on the would not be possible without ongoing support from countless individuals and organizations. One...
05/29/2026

All of our work on the would not be possible without ongoing support from countless individuals and organizations. One of our early supporters in our Founders Circle is the Isles Foundation.

Their goal of supporting projects that drive sustainable, positive change in communities aligns with what we believe the can do. With education, history, and culture amongst their key areas of focus, we know that sharing the stories ingrained in our floorboards is the best way to keep showing our appreciation for their support.

Thank you to the Isles Foundation!
https://islesfoundation.ca/

Fundraising and building connections have been the primary focus of the current phase of the project, which is why havin...
05/26/2026

Fundraising and building connections have been the primary focus of the current phase of the project, which is why having a dedicated and invested Chair of Fundraising on our board has been key to our early successes. Enter Tom Liston, whose excitement for this project continues to drive fundraising initiatives and who continually finds more individuals in the community and beyond to share his love .

"When I first stepped foot on the , I had chills. From that moment, I knew I would do whatever it took to preserve this Canadian cultural landmark - protecting the court where the game's earliest evolution can still be felt in the floorboards. I am very proud to be part of the passionate team of volunteers who are bringing this incredible project to life.

We are beyond excited to bring together sport, history, and community this summer by hosting the Canada Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony during this year's . It's going to be the event of the summer honouring basketball, the people who love it, and a historic court that is so very significant to us all."

A project like the needs passion and belief in the dream of creating an amazing experience. We also need support at al...
05/22/2026

A project like the needs passion and belief in the dream of creating an amazing experience. We also need support at all levels of government, and during his previous term as town councillor, David Hyslop has shown everyone what advocacy can do. We send a big thank you to David for his work as a town councillor, and we're grateful for the advocacy he brings to our team.

"Having played basketball through high school and university, and seeing the deep history of the game in our community, getting involved in this project was an easy decision—this is something that matters for our Town, our Province, and our Country."

The project has brought together people from so many different backgrounds through their love of . Kendall Kadatz's p...
05/20/2026

The project has brought together people from so many different backgrounds through their love of . Kendall Kadatz's passion for connecting people and his infectious enthusiasm have made him a valuable board member supporting everything we're working towards.

"I grew up on a farm outside a small village in and had the opportunity to play basketball throughout my high school and college years. My belief in the power and value of small communities, and in the benefits that the sport of basketball brings to people and communities, drew me to be part of this amazing project."

With the years of artistic experience he brings to our board, including being a recipient of the Order of New Brunswick,...
05/15/2026

With the years of artistic experience he brings to our board, including being a recipient of the Order of New Brunswick, we appreciate the dedication of our next board member, John Leroux.

"I've been involved with the through my interest and professional experience in and heritage preservation. As a passionate advocate for and Canadian history, I feel this is a critically important project and a jewel in the international sports legacy."

We're excited to share that, in partnership with Southwest Regional Basketball Association and Basketball New Brunswick,...
05/14/2026

We're excited to share that, in partnership with Southwest Regional Basketball Association and Basketball New Brunswick, we will once again be hosting a special full-day event for our youth players & coaches during the weekend. This year, it's getting its own name: Legends Jam.

We're bringing together leaders from our local communities and across the country to deliver instruction on skills & drills to support your game and conversations to drive your passion. Wrapping it all up with a half court 3x3 tournament so everyone can show off their legendary status. Are you ready for Legends Jam Summer '26?

Registration will open on June 1st!

Find out more:
https://worldsoldestbasketballcourt.com/legends-jam/

05/13/2026

We are forever grateful for the support we receive, and the monetary donations from early funders were key in building momentum. Sharing the special connections those funders share with the sport of is a great honour for us.

Today, we say thank you to Fran McHugh, who was amongst our early supporters and who is nationally and internationally recognized for his work as a basketball official. He has conducted more than 550 clinics for officials throughout Atlantic Canada, sharing his experience at six CIAU championships. He was inducted into the NB Sports Hall of Fame in 1997. Thank you, Fran for all you've done for the sport and for your generous support!

Read more about Fran
https://www.nbsportshalloffame.com/honoured-members/francis-fran-mchugh

Pulling together everything you see put out about the , including managing everyone who works to make the marketing hap...
04/29/2026

Pulling together everything you see put out about the , including managing everyone who works to make the marketing happen, we have our next board member and Director of Communications, Louise Sumner.

" has always been a passion of mine, and I'm fascinated by the history of the game. Being part of a project that highlights Municipal District of St. Stephen's role in basketball's early story is exciting, and it feels good to give back to the community in a meaningful way."

Address

6 King Street
Saint Stephen, NB

Telephone

+15068970256

Website

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