This year’s fourth annual Joshua Yasay One-on-One Basketball Tournament, which commemorated York graduate Joshua Yasay who died in the 2012 Danzig Street shooting, set a new record by raising nearly $5,000 towards the Joshua Yasay Award for Excellence in Criminology and Community Service.
Family, friends, and York University community members gathered on Saturday, July 16 at the Tait McKenzie Centre on the Keele campus to celebrate Yasay’s memory and participate in the charity basketball tournament. This year’s tournament saw the largest participant turnout yet, with 89 players making up 14 teams.
James Williams, associate professor and coordinator of York’s criminology program, spoke about how the tournament carries on Yasay’s legacy. Williams taught Yasay when he was a student at York University. “The amount of enthusiasm on display was indicative of the dedication Joshua brought to his own work in mentoring and coaching at-risk youth in both academics and basketball,” said Williams.
The Joshua Yasay Award is given annually to fourth-year criminology students who have a positive impact on their communities through community engagement. Previous recipients of the award include Gillian Maharaj (BA ’13) and Carina Bastidas (BA Criminology, BEd ’14). Both recipients, through their exemplary volunteering involvement and community outreach, have continued Yasay’s legacy and advance his social justice dreams.
The Joshua Yasay Basketball Tournament was generously sponsored by Aramark, Glenn Barrett and Akran Marketing, Canadian Tire, the Ontario Basketball Association, the Toronto Fire Association and the Yasay family.
To make a donation to the Joshua Yasay Award for Excellence in Criminology and Community Service, contact the York University Division of Advancement at 416-650-8210, or contribute online at forJoshua.ca.
For more information on how to assist in next year’s Joshua Yasay Basketball Tournament, contact Mariya Yurukova, development officer, leadership giving, at 416-650-8467.