By RON FANFAIR
Around Scotiabank Arena, which is the home of the Toronto Raptors, Vice-President John Wiggins Jr. greets Paul Jones with ‘Hello Coach’ whenever he runs into the team’s longtime broadcaster.
When employees inquire about the greeting, Wiggins quickly reminds them that ‘Jonesy’ was his Grade 7 basketball coach at Arlington Middle School.
Jones spent 22 years with the Toronto District School Board, rising to principal before taking a two-year leave of absence in 2004 and then resigning two years later to become the Raptors play-by-play voice on the Fan 590 radio broadcasts.
A high school standout at Oakwood Collegiate where he graduated at age 17 which was a year younger than the rest of the graduating class, Jones was the Most Valuable Player on York’s Ontario Universities Athletic Association championship side, a two-time Canadian representative at international tournaments and an assistant coach for three years at Western University where he acquired his Master’s in Sports Psychology.
“Because I was a late developer, I didn’t cut kids,” he said. “We ran our practices like clinics and I taught the fundamentals. I knew who the 10 best players were because they are the ones that played. Just imagine if I had cut John Wiggins. That would have left a bad taste in his mouth.”
After the George Floyd murder in May 2020, Wiggins, who was then Vice President of Raptors 905, the team’s National Basketball Association G League, suggested at a Raptors town hall meeting that the organization and Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment could do more to champion social change.
He later sent an e-mail to Raptors President Masai Ujiri indicating some of the things the organization could do to fight racism and that he could be the person to lead that.
Ujiri obliged and Wiggins was hired for a new role – Vice-President of Organizational Culture & Inclusion.
“I am so proud of what John has achieved,” said Jones at the fifth annual Golf for Hoops fundraiser on June 21 at Hidden Lake Golf Club in Burlington.
Because of basketball-related activities, the avid golfer was unable to attend the previous tournaments.
“At this time of year, I have to go to draft workouts and get ready for summer league,” said Jones. “Very early, I put this date in my calendar and committed to this event.”
Golf for Hoops is the signature event of Focused Dreams Forward (FDF) founded in 2019 by Wiggins and his sister, Tracy Wiggins, who resides in England.
“Golf is a great way to bring people of different generations together,” Jones said. “I really love what John and his team are doing to raise funds for the empowerment of young people.”
Leon Agyei has supported the charity from the inception.
“I have known John since I was 19 and I believe in his dream and vision of not only creating a bigger purpose here in Canada, but influencing young people in the Caribbean,” said the entrepreneur. “This is something easy for me to support.”
St. Lucia’s Consul General in Toronto, Henry Mangal, led a five-member team in the tournament.
Wiggins parents are immigrants from the eastern Caribbean island.
“Targeting specifically Caribbean countries, including St. Lucia, the foundation is doing good work,” said the diplomat whose brother, Tim Mangal, is a golf pro. “He encouraged me to take part and assisted me in putting together a team.”
The other team members were Charmaine Williams, Brent Celestine, John Verneuil and Ed Rock.
The annual tournament has raised over $50,000 to empower youth through sport and education.
“These funds are literally transporting us to the Caribbean through our certified Canadian coaches,” said John Wiggins. “The money is used to purchase equipment, tools and the development pieces we use when we are there. Every kid gets a ball and every coach gets a development package. We also support local businesses in the Caribbean by buying food and other supplies from them. It also allows us to take what we do best and impact both the young people and the community leaders in the region by sharing our knowledge and expertise. The funds are going directly back to every island we visit.”
He said the organization’s aim is for the Caribbean to be seen more than just a holiday destination.
“The region is populated by youth with high potential who are historically neglected and without the access and network to positively change their outlook,” Wiggins said. “Our intention is to get to every country in the Caribbean and see how we can help them.”
Wiggins and his team were in Trinidad last February, delivering camps and education programs.
“We believe that sport provides so much more than just a game,” he added. “It fosters resilience and a sense of belonging, teaching life lessons both on and off the court. Sport has the power to inspire youth and unite communities.”
Through its virtual mentorship program, GAME Plan, certified Canadian-Caribbean youth mentors with an interest in sport are matched with Caribbean youth participants.
There were nearly 120 participants at this year’s golf tournament.
For Tracy Wiggins who graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Science in Toxicology and King’s College London with a Master of Science in Pharmacology, the growth is pleasing.
From 40 participants in the inaugural year, the numbers have increased steadily and approximately 30 per cent are women.
“This shows that people want to do more and they want to be able to connect with their own culture and roots or be proper allies,” said the management consultancy firm’s associate director. “I think that is why we have such a diverse group of people.”
As of next year, the event will bear the name of the family patriarch, John Wiggins Sr.
“Our dad is a quiet king,” said his son. “He deserves to have his name embodied in that kind of legacy. He has given a lot without receiving recognition.”
John Wiggins Sr. and his wife Ruth Wiggins are big supporters of FDF and the golf fundraiser which they attended.
“From a legacy standpoint, it is important to pay forward when it comes to our culture,” said John Wiggins. “Our parents have done a lot to teach us about Caribbean culture and history, to connect us to where they came from and why they are the way they are.”
Ruth Wiggins was a York School Board and Toronto District School Board community liaison officer.
“Having mom as a role model without even knowing what that was, meant that everything was available,” said Tracy Wiggins. “If you worked hard and had an idea, you could do it; she never looked for excuses not to do something.
“Though John has my dad’s first name, I am still dad’s little girl and I cherish that. Our parents have given us a strong sense of identity and we are proud of who we are. Everything here is about family. It has always been about the four of us and that is what makes us strong.”
A donation of $55 will give a young person the ball they need to get into the game, a $100 donation will provide a youth with a mentor that increases their academic engagement and a donation of $200 will give a youth a camp to build on life skills that can develop sport.
Donors contributing $20 or more will receive an electronic tax receipt.
Donations to FDF can be made through https://www.focuseddreamsforward.org/checkout/donate?donatePageId=63658d0d2ff5e829c3167544.
