“Something you remember for life:” BRIT chair shares behind the scenes look

For 52 years, the Bedford Road Invitational Tournament (BRIT) has run with on-the-court action, and a ton of work behind the scenes.

Bedford Road Collegiate in Saskatoon hosts and organizes the annual tournament, and it’s more than just the action on the hardwood that people notice when you enter the front doors of the school.

Nicole Poier is the BRIT chair, and she says around 125 student volunteers, along with 35 volunteer staff members keep the show on the road throughout the three day event.

From score-keeping, to announcing, to court upkeep and daily operations during the tournament, many students get their foot in the door, learning its ins and outs.

Some end up getting interested in their operational duties, and end up becoming the building blocks for future careers, and invaluable skills.

Poier said it all comes back to former organizer Kelly Bowers, who passed away in Sept. 2019. Poier said that was something he wanted in organizing, and putting the annual tournament together.

“It was really important actually, (to Bowers), that this tournament was a student-run tournament, that’s how it originally started. We’ve tried our best to instill that into our students that there’s lots of learning opportunities that can take place- leadership opportunities, and life skills that they can learn just by helping run this tournament.”

Poier said four BRIT hostesses are the student leaders of the tournament, with each sub-category having its own student leaders that keep the tournament rolling.

She said it’s the little things that continue to make the tournament special.

“I think there’s so many little things that our tournament does that are the behind the scene things that not everybody knows about. It gives every type of student an opportunity to be involved. They don’t have to be an athlete, they don’t even know what happens in the game of basketball,” she said.

“That’s what I love about this. It brings our school together. You see in the hallways, the pride that everybody takes of this tournament. It’s something really good for our community, and for our school, and our kids.”

Student volunteers, along with Bedford Road Collegiate alumni Eric Beck handling the webcasts during BRIT action on January 10, 2020. (Brady Lang/650 CKOM)

Poier also gave thanks to Bedford Road alumni, who continue to come back and help out during the annual BRIT.

She said one volunteer in particular, Global Edmonton’s Eric Beck, has been instrumental in keeping the technical side of the tournament running smoothly.

“He was a former student here, and got involved with tech, and that world. Because of what its done for him- and where he’s been able to go with it, he wants to teach kids. (It’s) just like he was taught by somebody himself, and give back to this school.”

It’s because of volunteers like Beck, that the tournament continues to broadcast games, now streaming on YouTube.

Volunteers do the play-by-play, along with color commentary for all games played during the tournament. Poier said it helps parents who are unable to make the trek to Saskatoon.

“We have webcasts, where teams that are travelling from Quebec, parents aren’t able to come, but they can watch every single game.”

Poier said for them, it’s all about doing “everything first class,” making the experience memorable for everyone who walks the halls at the collegiate.

“We have half-time shows, we have this concession, we have our pep rally, we’ve got the showcase. This isn’t just a basketball tournament, this is an event, and they are the show. They are our entertainment.”

Poier has seen the tournament grow for the past 14 years. Being around the day-to-day operations, she has an understanding that most don’t get to see.

She summed up the Saskatoon tradition as “something that you can’t put into words.”

“It’s a character-building tournament, where it brings our student body together. I think that not often do our students get these opportunities outside of this tournament, and it allows them to be proud of something, and buy into our school… you just have to be here to feel it.”

Handsworth takes tournament championship

BRIT ended Saturday night, with a familiar team taking home the championship.

North Vancouver’s Handsworth Secondary Royals won their fifth championship in BRIT history, 66-61, over Alberta’s Raymond High School.

The last time the Royals won the tournament was in 2018, along with a three year run from 2005 to 2007.

The team boasted nine seniors in 2020, and with the win, they capped off five tournament wins in six appearances over BRIT’s history.

Regina’s LeBoldus Golden Suns topped Calgary’s Sir Winston Churchill Bulldogs 56-45 in the bronze medal game.

Saskatoon’s Holy Cross Crusaders defeated Regina’s Winston Knoll Wolverines 68-52 in the consolation-side championship.