A Day for the History Books: Halifax Hoopers Honoured at Province House
Hoopers-i-the-House
On Tuesday, March 25, 2025, the Halifax Hoopers weren’t just making plays—they were making history.
Before hitting the road again for their next game, the team was honoured in the Nova Scotia Legislature, marking a proud and powerful moment not only for the franchise, but for Canadian sports as a whole.
As members of the team took their seats in the Speaker’s Gallery—Brandon Beloti from Brooklyn, Antonio Davis from Flint, Lansana Nwosu from Scarborough, and Josiah Tynes, a proud native of North Preston—it was clear this was more than a courtesy visit. It was a celebration of a new chapter.
The Legislature formally recognized Geoffrey Clyke, owner of the Halifax Hoopers, for an incredible milestone: he is the first professional sports franchise owner of African Canadian descent in the history of Canada. The gravity of that moment wasn’t lost on anyone in the chamber—or watching from home.
“Being here today is about more than basketball. It’s about honouring those who came before me, and creating a path for those who will come after”, Clyke reflected on the moment. “I want every young African Nova Scotian to know this space belongs to them too—whether it’s the court, the boardroom, or the Legislature.”
The moment was all the more meaningful because of Clyke’s deep Nova Scotian roots. He is the great-great-grandson of William Hall, the first Black person—and the first Nova Scotian—to receive the Victoria Cross. He is also the nephew of Viola Desmond, the civil rights icon whose story helped reshape Canadian history. With a family legacy rooted in resilience and justice, Clyke is continuing that story through sport, leadership, and community impact.
Halifax Hoopers – a love affair with the game
MLA Paul Wozney praised the team’s contribution to the province’s vibrant basketball culture, noting Nova Scotia’s long-standing love affair with the game—from the legendary provincial Black basketball tournament to national-calibre coaching and playing talent. “Our love affair continues through the Halifax Hoopers,” he said, “a locally owned and managed pro franchise that is showing African Nova Scotian youth that hoop dreams can include franchise ownership.”
The visit wasn’t just symbolic. It was transformational—a living example of representation, possibility, and pride. The Halifax Hoopers are proving that professional sport can be about more than wins and losses. It can be about rewriting narratives, lifting communities, and building legacies.
From the House to the hardwood, the Hoopers are making history—and they’re just getting started.