Editor's note: Thorsten Gohl, director of Physical Literacy NWT and 黑料吃瓜网 columnist, got the chance to travel to Whati recently and speak with RCMP Cpl. Wesley Neal about his passion for promoting basketball in the community.

Originally from London, Ont., Wesley has made it his mission to foster a sense of community and physical activity through the sport he loves.

鈥淚鈥檓 trying to focus on getting a bit of a basketball movement here in town,鈥� he said. 

He's actively engaging with various local organizations, including the community's government, the Tlicho Government, Mezi Community School and the Whati Family Centre to gather support and resources for this initiative. His commitment is evident, as he has personally invested in a basketball shooting machine to spark interest in the sport.

鈥淚 purchased that with my own funds and brought it up as my commitment to basketball,鈥� he said, highlighting his dedication to the community. 

With the shooting machine already generating excitement, Wesley hopes to expand participation from the current group of seven to eight interested individuals to form a competitive team.

He envisions hosting three-on-three and five-on-five tournaments not just in Whati, but also in neighbouring communities like Behchoko and Yellowknife. 

鈥淭o me, we are all Team NT,鈥� he stated, emphasizing the importance of community engagement in sports. 

He believes that providing youth with the opportunity to represent their home community fosters pride and connection.

For Wesley, basketball is more than just a game - it serves as a therapeutic outlet and a way to build relationships. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 exercise, it鈥檚 community, it鈥檚 everything coming together,鈥� he explained. 

He sees sports as a vital tool for community policing, allowing officers to engage with residents on a personal level. 

鈥淚f police aren鈥檛 really engaging with the community, they鈥檙e not getting a sense of what鈥檚 going on,鈥� he noted.

Wesley鈥檚 approach to community policing emphasizes prevention over intervention. By building relationships with community members, he aims to create an environment where individuals feel comfortable seeking help and discussing their challenges. 

鈥淚f I can work towards preventing anything through the relationships that I build, it鈥檚 perfect,鈥� he said.

The impact of community sports extends beyond the court as Wesley shared a recent experience where he encouraged a young resident to run home for lunch, demonstrating how community engagement can inspire healthy habits. 

鈥淚t was awesome to see that he was thinking, 鈥業 should exercise',鈥� he recalled.

Looking ahead, Wesley is optimistic about the future of basketball in Whati. He is collaborating with people in the community to ensure the sustainability of the program, even as personnel changes. 

鈥淚鈥檓 hoping that these guys continue doing what they鈥檙e doing,鈥� he said, expressing his desire for the program to thrive beyond his tenure.

Wesley's dedication to basketball and community engagement exemplifies the positive impact that sports can have in small communities. By fostering connections and promoting physical activity, he is not only building a basketball program, he's helping to strengthen the fabric of the community.