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As part of a global education community spanning roughly 2,500 schools, the Waldorf education curriculum is one of the fastest-growing educational approaches in the word.  Rooted in over 90 years of history, the Waldorf model focuses on creative problem solving, the development of personal connections and aiding their students in becoming centred, giving them the necessary confidence to succeed in life.

The Toronto Waldorf School officially opened its doors in the fall of 1968 with 19 children enrolled in Grades 1 and 2.  The rest, as they say, is history.  Today the institution educates children of all ages with programming running from early childhood programs all the way to the school’s Grade 8 curriculum, focusing on developing lifelong learners from within its walls.

They may not be the backboards many of us grew up on, but there is no denying the quality, durability and the aesthetics of a glass backboard.  A standard in the professional basketball world, glass backboards are used by the National Basketball Association, the International Basketball Federation and NCAA collegiate athletics.

Over the years, the sight of these transparent backstops has become more common as recreation centres, leagues and high schools across Canada and the United States have upgraded their facilities with the very same glass backboards the professionals use.

If your facility is in need of an upgrade just beyond the baseline, here are three stellar choices that are competitively priced to stay within your budget.

Operating 119 fitness and lifestyle centres across the United States and Canada, the Life Time Fitness and Life Time Athletic brands are well on their way to establishing themselves as leaders in the health and wellness field.

As part of the organization’s expansion into Canada, we have been with them every step of the way.  Our team provided them with assistance and products for their Mississauga location back in 2012 and for their Ajax location just last year.

As the organization was ready to unveil yet another state-of-the-art fitness and health facility, we were right there to provide them with everything they needed once again.  The site of their most recently established Life Time Athletic location is located in the Vaughan region just north of the City of Toronto.  The facility offers members the benefits of a full-service spa, cafe, indoor cycling studio, indoor turf field, basketball courts and much more.

We all love the roar of the crowd while taking in a football game, or the rush we get while watching players blaze down a basketball court.  The sensations that sports illicit in both spectators and participants can sometimes make us forget about everything that went into the design and production of the courts, bleachers and other athletic products used on a daily basis.

Before these products hit the floor of any gymnasium or grace the sidelines of any football field or soccer pitch, they oftentimes have gone through years of research and development.  While technological and design elements are forever changing, making our lives easier, safety is still the top priority for equipment and infrastructure manufacturers like us and the customers we serve.

Selecting a basketball rim for your organization might seem like a simple enough task and for most purchasers, it definitely can be a painless process.  In some cases however, there are definite challenges and factors to take into consideration when you begin shopping for the right rim, including the many configurations to choose from.

The expected use and location are perhaps the two biggest factors to consider and can literally make or break your basketball program, whether it is academic, recreational or professional.

The only true constant factor with regards to basketball rims is their size.  They all measure 18” in diameter and measure consistently from all point-to-point measurements that cross the exact centre of the hoop.  In addition to the diameter of the hoop, there should be 6 inches of separation from the ring to the basket and when attached to a backboard, should have no separation.

In an effort to bring more excitement to the game of basketball in the 1940’s and 1950’s, the National Basketball Association (NBA) introduced a shot clock in 1954.  Prior to the shot clock’s inception, the league had various problems attracting fans; perhaps the biggest being low-scoring games with far too many fouls.  These rules crippled the game with bored fans in the stands.

In an effort to revitalize the game, the team in possession was given 24 seconds to attempt a shot or lose possession of the ball. The league also added a rule limiting the number of fouls in a quarter;  both changes complimenting the shot clock perfectly.  Each foul outside of the allowable limit became a shooting foul, permanently changing the game for the better.

With the growing number of multi-use facilities in schools, community centres, colleges and other organizations, owners and operators are always looking for ways to maximize their available space.

Many gymnasiums today are used for a variety of athletic activities such as volleyball, basketball, gymnastics and badminton as well as other activities such as assemblies, pep rallies and theatrical performances. In light of the growing need to do more with an allotted space, manufacturers and suppliers of athletic equipment and infrastructure are required to constantly innovate and create customized products to meet the need of the fast-paced athletic industry.

Here are five products that do a fantastic job of adding a great deal of versatility to any gymnasium.

Narrated by Almonte’s Jeff Mills of Mills Community support, the NBA’s Canadian division released a special video depicting life in the hometown of basketball’s inventor and the redevelopment of a local park.

In October 2015, our team was extremely proud to have been a part of the revitalization of Augusta St. Park in our hometown of Almonte, Ontario. Following the wishes of a special young lady named Sarah, NBA Canada, Bell Canada and local organizations such as Mills Community Support and the Almonte Civitan pitched in to grant the young lady’s wish of a safe outdoor basketball court she could enjoy with her friends.

The contribution came on the heels of the game of basketball’s 125^th anniversary and we were happy to have supplied and installed the outdoor basketball systems now utilized in the park. The upgrades to the park also included a freshly-paved, raised playing surface complete with professionally painted centre-court, free throw lines and circles.

The roots of basketball history go all the way back to 1891, when Dr. James Naismith, a native of our hometown of Almonte, Ontario, first invented the game. This is not to say that there has not been a fair amount of innovation in both the way the game is played as well as with the equipment that is used in today’s game.

One of those innovations is the invention of the breakaway rim, which today is the most common configuration of basketball goals in the world. While in the early days of the sport, the act of dunking the basketball on the goal was considered to be “ungentlemanly”, the game has evolved to not only accept dunking as a common form of scoring, but it has morphed into somewhat of an art form, as players participate in slam dunk competitions regularly.

Founded nearly 50 years ago, Sheridan College has transformed into one of Ontario’s leading postsecondary institutions and shows no signs of slowing down. The college’s 110,000+ alumni power workforces across North America and around the world with specialties in the fields of arts, business, community service, health, technology and the skilled trades.

Today, the institution is spread across unique campuses spanning the Greater Toronto Area with locations in Brampton, Mississauga and two campuses in Oakville, Ontario. Much the same as the academic side of the college, Sheridan’s athletics have blossomed over the years as well. With the goal of enhancing student life by striving to provide gender-balanced varsity representation, the Sheridan Athletics programs have every student athlete accounted for. The Sheridan Bruins are represented proudly in the sports of basketball, soccer, volleyball, rugby, and cross country with each sport having both women’s and men’s teams.