Just For The Fun Of It

Don Petersen’s family has asked that we give you this reminder about applications for the Don “Pete” Petersen Spirit Memorial Award. Details of the award, and how to apply are below.

Please remember that this is an award sponsored by Don Petersen’s family and not the league.

https://www.facebook.com/share/198mNPurZW/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Last month we reported to you that former league player and longtime volunteer Miles Brackenbury has qualified to represent Canada at the FISU World University Games in Germany in July. He will be competing in the half marathon event.

The World University Games are second only to the Olympics in terms of scope and number of athletes participating, and Miles is looking forward to representing Canada and fulfilling his dream of wearing the red and white colours in international competition.

The team is totally self funded so Miles must raise $5000 to cover his expenses. To do that, he has set up a GoFundMe page that I have included a link to below. Here is part of what Miles said, a reason for our league family to get behind his fund raising efforts.

“Additionally, as a thank you to the sports organization that shaped me into the Athlete I am today, I will be donating 50% of funds raised to the Pete Petersen Basketball League which provides access to sport for all and promotes an atmosphere where players come together “Just for the fun of it”. As a former player and volunteer with this league, I have seen the power of community and it has made me a better competitor and better person. Thanks to this league, youth who otherwise may miss opportunities in organized sport build skills, community, and memories that they take with them the rest of their lives.”

“For the Pete Petersen Basketball league, it is an investment into the next generation of athletes who will hopefully be in my shoes in the coming decades so I too can support them on this journey.”
I hope you can find it in your hearts to help this young man fulfill his dreams. It is typical of Miles character to want to help us out too, as he has done since he was 13 and started volunteering. Thank you Miles for believing in what we do , and for wanting to make a difference in our player’s lives.

Here is a link to the GoFundMe page.

https://gofund.me/dd00160c

We are thrilled to announce that Gino’s Pisano Old School Pizza on Division Street is partnering with us for a new initiative being launched for the upcoming season! Each week, in each division during the season we will be recognizing a Volunteer of the Week, sponsored by Gino’s Pisano’s Old School Pizza. The volunteer recognized will be given a gift card for a free small pizza or $20 off a larger size pizza.

We want to thank the ownership at the restaurant for their support, and for believing in what we do for the children in our community. Be sure to check out the menu and sample the product the next time you feel like a special treat!

Attention all parents and players. My apologies for not reminding you sooner about this. The rules of basketball state that no player may participate while wearing jewellery of any kind. Published directives state that new piercings must be left in place for 6 to 8 weeks before they can be removed. With organized practices set to begin September 22, that means the 8 week deadline for getting piercings that must be removed before practices is July 27th and the 6 week deadline is August 10th.

That means that if you are planning on getting any new piercings you need to get them done in the next 7 to 9 weeks or delay having them done until after the season ends in March 2026.

This is a basketball rule, and not a Pete Petersen Basketball League rule. The risk is real and I personally know of injuries where an earring was caught by a hand or uniform and the ear ripped. The no jewellery ban also applies to rings and bracelets as well as piercings. They also must be removed before a player can participate, and this rule will be enforced.

As officials we are often asked if the earring can be taped over and the answer is simple. No.

There is still lots of time in Piercing Season but don’t be caught missing the deadline and having to explain to your player they can’t play until the piercing can safely come out and the chain, ring or bracelet can come off. The only exception to this is Medic Alert Identification and there are methods to allow that identification to still be available if needed.

The results of the McDougall Insurance Community Contest were announced yesterday and I am sorry to announce that our submission did not finish in the top three at the end of the day. Our thanks to everyone that supported the effort to get us into the top three. Here are the three winning submissions.

Today is the last day to vote in the McDougall Insurance Community Contest and make your voices heard in support of our video submission for a chance to win one of the top three prizes. We are up against 141 other organizations in the contest so we need your support one more time. Today is the day to share this post amongst your social networks, your friends and your family members. Voting ends at Midnight tonight and the contest results will be announced on Monday, so I will let you know then if your support made us recognized by McDougall Insurance. The whole voting process only takes a few seconds of your time when you use the link below.

I want to thank everyone that has supported us during this campaign. Just one more vote each can help make a difference in the lives of our players and their families. Isn’t that worth a few seconds of your time?

Here are the contest rules and how to cast your vote:

In order to vote you need to use Google Chrome or Fire Fox. Internet Explorer and Safari are not compatible with the platform.

There will be a limit of one vote per person, per day. Evidence of fraudulent voting will result in the immediate elimination of the community group.

To vote you would visit our contest website

https://platform.votigo.com/fbcontests/profiletab/McDougallCommunityContest2025

Click View Entries

Select the video you would like to vote for (Our video is titled McDougall Insurance by Roland B.)

The website will ask for either a Facebook login or an email

Each person is limited to one vote per day

Thank you!!

Roland

The Pete Petersen Basketball League has entered a submission in the McDougall Insurance Community Contest and we need your help to have a chance to win one of the prizes being awarded this year.

The top three video vote getters will receive a $5000 prize for the highest number of votes, $3000 for second place and $2000 for third place.

Voting starts at 12:00 am Eastern Time May 23rd and goes until 11:59pm Eastern Time on May 31st. The winners will be announced on Monday June 2nd.

Our Video in the submissions is titled McDougall Insurance by Roland B. A copy of the video submitted is below.

Please share this post on your own networks if you believe in supporting this initiative to give us the broadest exposure we can to generate votes.

Here are the voting rules:

1) In order to vote you need to use Google Chrome or Fire Fox. Internet Explorer and Safari are not compatible with the platform.

2) During the public voting round, there will be a limit of one vote per person, per day. Evidence of fraudulent voting will result in the immediate elimination of the community group in the final round.

3) The monetary prizes will be awarded to the top 3 community projects at the conclusion of the public voting round in the form of a cheque.

Here is the link that you will need to use to cast votes and remember – votes can only be cast using Google Chrome or Firefox.

so remember, after midnight tonight, to vote you would visit the contest website https://platform.votigo.com/…/McDougallCommunityContest…

. Click View Entries

. Select the video you would like to vote for

. The website will ask for either a Facebook login or an email

. Each person is limited to one vote per day

Thanks

Roland

Yesterday we received a very significant, unsolicited, donation from Colleen Earle and John Sutton in support of what we do. Both Colleen and John, as well as their family, have been members of the league family for many years as players and coaches, helping our players learn the joy of being on a team and learning the game we love. In their message with the donation they said “Thanks to you and all the volunteers that make this league run!.” Our heartfelt thanks to them for believing in what we do for the children in the community. You are difference makers and you should be proud of that!

We also want to take this opportunity to thank all of you that have made in memoriam donations, and that have reached out with condolence messages to both Charlie Mignault and the Mignault family, as well as to me and my family on the losses of Charlie’s mother Morrie Anne and my brother George. It means a lot to know you care. You too are all difference makers.

One of my favourite quotes is from the legendary coach of UCLA, John Wooden. He said “You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” Our thanks to Colleen and John, and everyone from the league family that have reached out. You live that quote.

With two consecutive sunny days no doubt our golfing members of the league family are getting ready to go. Save the date of June 27th for another exciting day of golf food and friendship at the annual Don “Pete” Petersen Memorial Golf Tournament to be held again this year at the Amherstview Golf and Country Club. Details of the event and how to enter are below.

Today kicks off National Volunteer Week, a week to celebrate the volunteers in our community that do so much to keep organizations like ours alive. We are so blessed to have the strong group of committed people that believe in the dream that Don Petersen had 70 years ago to give the children in his community a safe and affordable place to learn the game we have grown to love. Whether you volunteer with us, now or in the past, or if you commit time to volunteer elsewhere, thank you for what you do to make a difference in the lives of those around you.
This week we will celebrate our army of volunteers by sharing some photos on Facebook of the many hundreds of volunteers that have coached, been referees, scored, timed, set up, cleaned up, served at the banquet, crewed the canteen, sold shirts and tickets for us in the last seven decades. Our thanks to you all!