Bennedict Mathurin Montreal Camp: Back in North

About a kilometer from his adelarly-design primary school, Benédict Mathurin and his sister Jennifer have been welcoming their young basketball camps for young people in Montreal-North each year.

This tradition has not changed. Ben Mathurin either. Final of the NBA Or not, the young basketball player, who once stood his shot on these same terrains, never misses this meeting in his original neighborhood.

I love to come here. I love to help these children. We were very successful with this camp. So, we try to do it every year and enlarge it a little more each timesays Mathurin, after refereing a few games.

My biggest message is to inspire young people. Give them hope, prove to them that anything is possibleajoute Bennedict Mathurin. What we are doing today is an opportunity that I did not have growing up.

It is important to have stories of success that come out of Montreal-Nord and return, to restore these childrenalso underlines Jennifer Mathurin, founder and president of Mathurin Family Foundation, who supervises this camp.

What that says to young people is: ‘you are capable’ ‘.

This year is particularly special for the Mathurin family camp.

Bennedict Mathurin and his childhood friend Luguentz Dort realized the dream to which all the young basketball players gathered in Henri-Bourassa high school can now aspire: this summer they have become the first two Quebecers this summer compete in the final of the NBA.

During these final, the sleeping and mathurin foundations united their forces to organize a collective viewing evening in Montreal-Nord. This event, thought of as a symbol of unity rather than rivalry, brought together families and members of the community to celebrate these two locally trained talents.

It was something positive for the city of Montreal, from the basketball point of view. For me and for you, it was beautiful to see people gather to watch the matches. It was really goodexplains Bennedict Mathurin on this subject.

A meeting that is growing

The craze is also reflected in the number of participants in the camp. The 120 young people present this year represent more than double the previous edition, a record for this event, confirmed Jennifer Mathurin.

The most notable change came on the side of young girls, she added. During the previous edition, 25 girls registered, while 57 presented themselves this year.

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Me, when I played basketball ten years ago, I had no one to call to ask questions or ask for adviceexplains Jennifer Mathurin.

Today, in this camp, all the coaches here played or trained at a very high level, and they are able to give advice and guide young people.

Because the Mathurin family foundation is not limited to basketball. Last August, Jennifer Mathurin led an initiative called Women in Sports (Women in sport), a summit aimed at celebrating and empowering women in the sports environment. The event brought together several of the most influential figures on the Montreal sports scene.

Much more than a camp for Jennifer Mathurin, the organization aims to be a vector of hope for those who have not benefited from the same chances as the others.

We are there to give access and opportunities through sport and studiesshe explains. Something that motivated my brother and I was sport. It helped us a lot. Sport has given us access to other resources and other opportunities.

For the rest, no doubt about the Mathurin camp: it will continue to grow. And young people already count on days before returning next summer.