Quinn's Court: Queen Mary Elementary School

Brought to cheers: official opening of Quinn's Court celebrated at Queen Mary Community School

The official opening of the new Quinn’s Court at Queen Mary Community School on Thursday, May 22nd, 2014 was the culmination of celebrations this Spring for the rebuilt Queen Mary. Held as the highlight of the school’s volunteer tea, the court opening combined a ribbon-cutting with a an exciting game of scrimmage that brought the entire school population to cheers.

“We are so grateful to Jan and Jamie Keast, and the Quinn Keast Foundation, for their work to bring Quinn’s Courts to schoolgrounds,” said Board of Education Chair Franci Stratton. “Because of their generosity, both of our heritage schools, Queen Mary and Ridgeway, have these special signature basketball courts. Both schools are central to their neighborhoods so Quinn’s Courts are not only an enhancement for our schools, they are also good for our communities.”

Jan Keast shared with everyone some of her son Quinn’s special qualities as a student and an athlete, including his personal motto, to live each day with “no regrets”. Quinn died in a tragic accident in 2006 but his legacy lives on in scholarships and funding for Quinn’s Courts—Queen Mary’s being the newest. Even though the paint is barely dry on its lines, the court is already a popular spot to play and practice basketball in North Vancouver.

The entire school community sat courtside to watch the Grade 7 girls vs. Grade 7 boys game, and cheered at every jump shot. At the end of the few minutes of exciting demo play the score was an even eight points each. A win-win for all the players!