Wednesday, February 26, the Dalhousie Tigers women's basketball team took time out of their busy training schedule to participate in a community awareness event at Caledonia Jr. High School, in Dartmouth. The Tigers paired with members of the Halifax Mooseheads to raise funds for SWAG (sports with adolescent girls). The event tipped off at 7:00pm with a scrimmage between the Caledonia girl's basketball team and the Dalhousie Tigers varsity women's team. After a very exciting game of basketball the Mooseheads took the spotlight in a game of floor hockey against the Caledonia staff. Donations were taken at the door for the student lead fundraiser.

S.W.A.G is a mission started by The Great 8's at the Caledonia school. The Great 8's are a group of grade seven and eight girls who create a project for Destination Imagination each year. The girls choose a mission, plan, organize and complete their mission, then present their project to the local Destination Imagination judges in hopes of moving onto internationals in Tennessee. This year the girls started the S.W.A.G program, with the specific goal of providing seven girls in the community with financial support to participate in sports for one season.  The community sport night was the fundraising idea created by the girls and proved to be a huge success.

The Tigers and the Caledonia girl's basketball team started the DAL-CAL clan last year when the Tigers spent the day with the Cal girls teaching them skills on the court and then taking them on a tour of Dalhousie.  The Dal-Cal connection has continued ever since. The Tigers mentor the Cal girls, teaching them that with hard work, determination and goal setting all academic and athletic goals are achievable.   Members of both teams can agree that the bond between the teams in beneficial not only to the younger girls, but also for the Tigers. Rookie, Olamide Okiawo stated, "It feels good to have young girls look up to us, it's rewarding to us as much as it's rewarding to them." The Cal girls would not give up in their fight against the Tigers in the scrimmage game. The Cal girls refused to combine teams at half, stating that they enjoyed playing against the older, more skilled players.  

This event contributes to the approximate 900 hours the Tigers women's basketball team spends volunteering each year, which means the Tigers have spent almost 40 days a year volunteering within the community.  Coach of the Caledonia girl's basketball team, Marcel Maessen, expressed his feelings about the Tigers in an email to Tigers coach, Anna Stammberger, "In spite of the fact that we are all busy people, it is exceedingly appreciated how you and your team took time out of a busy preparation time for your own AUS championship, to visit our school. Let's continue this worthwhile Dal-Cal connection." There's no doubt that the Dal-Cal connection will continue and grow in future seasons. The Tigers conclude this season at the Subway AUS women's basketball championships at UPEI this weekend. Regardless of the tournament results, the Tigers have already achieved tremendous amounts of victory this season, on and off the court. Behind all of the Tigers' success is a very hardworking and passionate coach, who has embedded the true meaning of sport within her athletes.