A St. Mary's player drives the net against Saskatoon St. Joseph on March 24, 2023. (Logan Lehmann/paNOW staff)

By paNOW Staff

HOOPLA

Fate of HOOPLA now up to teachers and the province says SHSAA

Mar 18, 2024 | 12:23 PM

The fate of the province’s largest high school basketball tournament is still up in the air after more teacher sanctions were announced this week.

On Monday, the Saskatchewan Teachers Federation (STF) announced a one-day, province-wide strike for Wednesday, followed by the cancellation of extracurricular activities on Thursday and Friday.

That puts it in line with the starts of the 5A HOOPLA Championships set to go this weekend in Moose Jaw.

In a media release from the Saskatchewan High School Association (SHSAA), the HOOPLA tournament will still go ahead if efforts between the two bargaining committees can result in sanctions being lifted before 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 20.

If not, the SHSAA will cancel the tournament due to a lack of teacher involvement.

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“It will be extremely disappointing if the two sides cannot come to an arrangement that will allow the sanctions to be lifted,” the release said. “Approximately 750 students plus coaches, managers and other team personnel would be impacted by the cancellation as will several other organizations and entities that are involved with SHSAA and the hosting of basketball playoffs. The negative economic impact will be vast.”

Earlier in the day, Premier Scott Moe also commented on the possibility of HOOPLA and the Optimist Band Festival in Regina being cancelled. He called out the STF, claiming they were targeting events like these.

“It’s disappointing,” he said. “They don’t have to shut down HOOPLA. They can make a decision to not shut down HOOPLA and they can make a decision to come back to the bargaining table and we respectively ask them to do so.”

Meanwhile, STF President Samantha Becotte spoke to the media Monday morning addressing the fact that their sanctions could result in the cancellation of HOOPLA. She understands this could mean losing support in the future.

“There is a concern about public perception of these actions,” she said. “Our hope is that the public recognizes the fight that our teachers are having to get the government to make long-term commitments.”

No further comments are being made by the SHSAA as they urge the two sides to come together to alleviate the situation by Wednesday afternoon.

–With files from 980 CJME

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panews@pattisonmedia.com