APD City Basketball Organization Committee Receives the 2025 Community Matters Award

The Abbotsford School District has a longstanding tradition of community partnerships, with numerous individuals and organizations dedicating countless hours to support student success. To formally acknowledge these contributions, the Board established the Community Matters Award, presented annually to those who have significantly exceeded their community service mandate and positively impacted Abbotsford School District students.

The Abbotsford Board of Education is proud to recognize the APD City Basketball Organization Committee for its significant, deliberate contribution to Abbotsford School District students by awarding them the 2025 Community Matters Award. 

Each year, this passionate group of organizers delivers one of the district’s most anticipated sporting events—the Abbotsford Police City Basketball Tournament. Founded on the belief that sport empowers youth to make positive choices, the tournament has become a cornerstone event in #AbbySchools, engaging more than 750 student-athletes, coaches, and volunteers, and drawing crowds of over 1,000 community supporters annually.

Led by Chair Paula Thompson (VP at Yale) and supported by a dedicated team of school and community members—including Jennie Bell (Principal, Abby Senior), Dylan Kular, Matt Thiessen, Danny Horner, Amanda Thompson, Paul Nivins, Alicia Pastro (APD representative), and Trustee Stan Petersen—the committee works year-round to organize, promote, and fundraise for the tournament.

The tournament doesn’t just celebrate athletic skill, it invests in students’ futures. Each year, the committee awards over $10,000 in scholarships to graduating student-athletes, presented at school convocations across the district. These scholarships recognize both athletic excellence and community-minded leadership. This year, fourteen $1,000 were awarded. 

With the Abbotsford Police Department actively supporting the event through consistent presence and positive engagement, the tournament strengthens bonds between students and law enforcement. Columbia Bible College generously hosts the final games, often in front of sold-out crowds—a testament to the enduring legacy of this initiative, which dates back to the 1980s.

The APD City Basketball Committee continues to model excellence in community partnership, youth mentorship, and school spirit, making a lasting impact on the culture of sport and belonging in Abbotsford.

Congratulations!