Painting the Court, Building Community: Sandbox Teams Up with Buckets & Borders
At Sandbox Mutual Insurance, we believe community is everything. Whether it's protecting homes or restoring hope, we’re committed to supporting the people and places that shape our communities. This summer, that belief came to life in a vibrant and very tangible way: in the middle of a basketball court in Saskatoon.
We’re proud to have partnered with Buckets & Borders on one of their latest projects: the restoration of the Buena Vista Park basketball court, which officially wrapped up in August 2025. Alongside a $10,000 donation, 17 Sandbox team members pitched in to help paint and bring the court back to life.
For us, it wasn’t just about giving back. It was about showing up, with paint rollers, teamwork, and a shared goal of creating a space for connection, creativity, and community.
About Buckets & Borders: Hoops with a Purpose
Buckets & Borders is a Canadian non-profit organization with a powerful mission: to improve communities and bring people together through basketball. They do this by restoring and redesigning outdoor courts, transforming them into safe, inclusive, and inspiring public spaces.
These are more than basketball courts. They’re platforms for art, culture, and belonging. Each project is thoughtfully designed to reflect the local community and spark pride in the places people call home.
“Buckets & Borders’ mandate is to improve communities and bring people together through basketball,” says Justin Lee, Co-founder and CEO of Buckets and Borders. “As a non-profit organization, sponsors are critical to fulfilling our mandate and creating community spaces that make long-term impact."
Sandbox has been an incredible support both on and off the court. From volunteer paint hours to financial support, Sandbox has led with impact in mind and been a key role in bringing a beautiful new basketball court to Saskatoon.
A Day of Paint, Passion, and Purpose
As part of our company’s volunteer policy, every Sandbox employee receives two paid days per year to volunteer for causes they care about. 17 staff used that time to get hands-on with the Buena Vista court transformation, filling in the lines with bold colours and witnessing a tired court come back to life with every brushstroke.
It was a day filled with teamwork, laughter, and a lot of paint-speckled clothing. But more than that, it was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people come together.
Lisa Mazurin is an Accountant at Sandbox who volunteered to help with the Buena Vista court restoration. “This project was super close to my heart! I used to play on this court with my brother all the time, so getting to be part of this transformation was such a fun and rewarding experience,” says Mazurin.
Thanks to Sandbox’s volunteer days, I got to give back to a place that holds so many memories for me, and with the best team! I’m so grateful I get to work somewhere that makes moments like this possible.
Why This Matters to Us
At Sandbox, we often say our job is to protect what matters most, but that doesn't stop at insurance. It extends to our values, our people, and our commitment to community.
We’re deeply proud to support organizations like Buckets & Borders, whose work reflects the same values we hold dear: connection, inclusion, and making things simply, better.
“Sandbox is incredibly proud to support Buckets & Borders with a $10,000 donation to help restore the outdoor basketball court at Buena Vista Park,” says Rachel Kehrig, Chief Experience Officer at Sandbox Mutual Insurance.
Giving back to the communities where we live, work, and play is at the heart our giving program. We’re proud to support inclusive spaces that bring people together and create more opportunities for everyone to connect, play, and thrive.
The Impact of Community-Driven Projects
Spaces like the newly transformed Buena Vista Park court don’t just serve athletes — they serve families, youth groups, local artists, and neighbours of all ages. They provide:
- Safe, free places to play and gather
- Public art and design that reflect local culture
- Opportunities for mentorship, movement, and connection
- Community ownership of public space
And because this project was rooted in community involvement, from design to painting, it leaves a lasting impact that goes far beyond the physical space.
Our Ongoing Commitment to Giving Back
The partnership with Buckets & Borders is part of our broader community giving efforts, which include funding local initiatives, helping create accessible play spaces throughout the prairies, and empowering our employees to get involved in causes they’re passionate about.
Whether it's rebuilding a court, funding a school playground, or supporting disaster relief efforts, we’re always looking for ways to live out our purpose: delightfully simple insurance that supports people at every stage of life, and in every corner of our communities.
Join Us in Supporting Grassroots Change
We encourage you to learn more about the incredible work Buckets & Borders is doing across Canada by visiting their official website, https://bucketsandborders.com/, or following them on Instagram and Facebook. Every donation or share adds to their growing impact.
You can also explore more about Sandbox Mutual Insurance’s commitment to community at https://sandbox.ca/giving-back.
From Court to Community
This project reminded us that showing up for your community doesn’t always look like insurance claims and coverage forms. Sometimes, it looks like a paint roller, a basketball court, and a group of people who believe in brighter spaces and stronger connections.
To everyone who helped bring the Buena Vista court back to life: thank you. You’ve helped create more than just a court; you’ve helped create a place where community can happen.