Julie Stevens, a sports professor at Brock University,  believes the recent success of the Toronto Raptors is creating a shift in Canada Sports Identity.

Research on Canadian newcomers to Canada identifies that basketball is actually a higher favourite sport compared to hockey.

Younger generations are attracted to basketball and have the power to put the sport on a trajectory.

The Statistics Canada data shows there is a high number of youth out in western canada and the north, and about 25 percent of youth in canada are visible minorities.