The North of 60 Classic concluded its final day on Sunday during the Thanksgiving long weekend, marking the end of a significant three-day event held at École St. Patrick High School and Weledeh Catholic School in Yellowknife. The tournament featured six Canadian women’s university basketball teams, bringing around 120 athletes to the Northwest Territories for a series of nine games.
Janet Enge, one of the organizers, mentioned that the tournament successfully raised approximately $350,000 to introduce national post-secondary competition to the region, thanks to the support of sponsors and local businesses. Teams like Mount Saint Vincent University (MSVU) and Wilfrid Laurier University participated in the event, alongside five players who had previously played for Yellowknife’s Eagles team, a local girls’ basketball club.
In addition to the on-court action, the weekend included halftime exhibition games run by Yellowknife’s GO Ball youth program and a development clinic organized by the university teams on Monday. Tournament volunteer Nicole Bonnell described the enthusiastic atmosphere inside the packed gym during the final matches, highlighting the positive energy of the event.
Local spectators also expressed their excitement, viewing the tournament as a significant milestone for women’s sports in the region and expressing their desire for similar events to return to the North in the future.