Funds raised support grassroots wheelchair basketball and the Ottawa 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships
OTTAWA, ONT. – Hoopfest 2025 presented by TD Bank Group tipped off in Ottawa and Toronto, Ont., raising nearly $50,000 in support of grassroots wheelchair basketball and the Ottawa 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships.
“On behalf of Wheelchair Basketball Canada, I would like to sincerely thank all the participants at Hoopfest presented by TD Bank Group, along with our partners and sponsors, for their incredible support,” said Wendy Gittens, CEO of WBC. “The funds raised will make a meaningful impact—helping ensure the successful delivery of the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships while creating more opportunities for Canadians to experience the life-changing benefits of wheelchair basketball.”
TD Bank Group knocked off defending champions Tangible Words to capture the top spot at Hoopfest Ottawa on Dec. 4 at Algonquin College. In Toronto, Titan Consulting battled to an overtime win over defending champions TPASC on Dec. 11 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.
“This event is amazing, it’s well done. Great teams, great companies that were part of it,” said Luke Melymick, Founder and CEO of Titan Consulting. “It was an event we’d been looking forward to all year when my brother, National Team athlete Lee Melymick, told me about it. To register a team, put a good group of people together and come out on top is exciting.”
WBC would like to thank event sponsors TD Bank Group and Toyota Canada for their generous support, as well as Bridgehead Coffee, Canada Basketball, GoodLife Fitness, The Keg, Merry Dairy, The Senate Tavern, the Senators Community Foundation, Sweat + Tonic and The Westin Ottawa/Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre for their contributions to prizing at the half-day 3×3 tournaments.
WBC also extends its sincere thanks to City of Ottawa Councillor Laine Johnson and our National Team athletes Lee Melymick, Tyler Miller and Thai Milton for attending and supporting our Hoopfest events.
Money raised through Hoopfest Toronto will support grassroots programming, including WBC’s domestic calendar, which provides inclusive competition opportunities for athletes nationwide at the club and provincial levels.
Funds will also be directed to the Ottawa 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships. This landmark event will gather the world’s best wheelchair basketball athletes to compete in the heart of Canada’s capital from Sept. 9-19, 2026, inspiring the next generation of athletes and advocates.
Want to help grow the game? You can support the life-changing impact of wheelchair basketball by donating at Hoopfest.ca.
About Hoopfest
Hoopfest has raised more than $180,000 in support of the 2026 IWBF Wheelchair Basketball World Championships and grassroots wheelchair basketball programming. The half-day challenge features a fully inclusive 3×3 wheelchair basketball tournament that brings together corporate and community teams. For more information, visit Hoopfest.ca.