By Kristi Patton
Team BC Communications Coordinator
Basketball truly is a family affair for Team BC’s Lafontaine family.
Coaches, referees and players – Team BC’s Lafontaine family has it all.
The Métis family, from Kelowna, B.C., have a long history with the Team BC program where they chase their dreams and give back to the game of basketball.
Kaitlyn Lafontaine Hait, an alum of the Vancouver Island University Mariners varsity basketball program and the oldest of the four Laftonaine siblings, is a past-participant of the North American Indigenous Games. Her passion for the game keeps her driven to give back. She was the assistant coach at NAIG 2017 in Toronto and returns as the assistant coach of the 19U female basketball team that will compete at NAIG 2020 in Halifax this July.
The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, as her father, David Lafontaine, has coached Team BC at several NAIG’s and helped the 16U male basketball team to a gold medal at the 2017 Games. He also is on the coaching staff for the Okanagan College Coyotes.
Siblings Mathew Lafontaine and Nic Lafontaine, both are currently playing basketball for the Coyotes and brother, Jesse Laftonaine, is a basketball referee. Nic is vying for a spot on the Team BC NAIG 2020 19U basketball team, while Matthew is assisting his father in coaching the Team BC 19U male basketball team.
“It is a family affair, for sure. It brings us all together … we all stay connected through the sport,” said Kaitlyn.
