At Strength to Lead, our work is only as strong as the people who show up for our community every day. Few embody that more than Tom Le Roy, our Director of Basketball — a role he holds alongside his work as Ministry Development Pastor at Weston Park Baptist Church.

Tom has been central to building our Court Builder Pop Ups and our upcoming Summer Basketball Tournament, and his deep understanding of Weston's needs has helped shape how we serve this community. We sat down with him to talk about his story, his mission, and why he believes sport can change lives.

Rooted in Toronto, Called to Serve

Tom grew up right here in Toronto. After finishing seminary in 2021, he spent his ministry career focused on outreach and community development — work centered on introducing people to Christ while living out a calling to care for others in practical, everyday ways.

That calling eventually brought him into partnership with Harley Valentine, Managing Director of Strength to Lead Canada. Together, they share a vision for what's possible in Weston and Lawrence.

"We have the shared vision of a brighter hope and a brighter future for Weston, and we believe in empowering youth through sports," Tom says.

A Path Shaped by What He Didn't Have

Tom's commitment to Weston's youth isn't abstract — it's personal. He grew up in a marginalized environment, and watched many of his own high school peers end up incarcerated or lose their lives before turning 30.

That experience became the foundation for everything he does now.

"I wanted to be someone who was able to make a difference in that regard," he explains. "I found that being able to reach out and create a positive space for people to be, while they're young, has lifelong effects."

For Tom, that positive space was the church — a place where he was surrounded by people who cared for him, and where community programs gave him somewhere to belong instead of just somewhere to be. That support carried him through university and has shaped the trajectory of his life ever since.

Why Sport Works

Ask Tom why basketball matters, and he'll tell you it's about far more than the game itself.

"Sports are a kind of universal language," he says. "It doesn't matter your ethnicity, your socioeconomic status, or your belief system: between the lines, on the field, sport is the thing that unites us."

That unity, he says, opens the door to something deeper — a chance to show young people they're cared for, and to build relationships that extend far beyond the court. It's a philosophy that shapes Strength to Lead's entire model: use sport as the entry point, then build out into programming like after-school tutoring and long-term mentorship.

Why Strength to Lead, and Why Weston

Tom sees real, tangible opportunity in what Strength to Lead is building in Weston — starting with something the neighbourhood has long been missing.

"In Weston, there's not really a large spot for people to be," he says. "We have Lions Park, but not many local community centres — often kids get referred to going up to Jane and Finch, or going somewhere else out of the community."

That's exactly why Strength to Lead's presence matters. Being centrally located in Weston means young people will see Strength to Lead's leaders in the neighbourhood regularly — not as occasional visitors, but as consistent, familiar faces. Combined with the organization's investment in equipment and programming through events like the Court Builder Pop Ups, Tom believes it sends a clear message to the community: we're here to stay.

The first annual Strength to Lead Summer Basketball Tournament — a project Tom has helped bring to life — takes place Saturday, August 29th, 2026.

The One Lesson That Matters Most

When asked what single lesson he hopes to leave with Weston's youth, Tom didn't hesitate long before landing on the heart of it all.

"The one lesson that I would hope people take away is that they are valued," he says. "That's our key principle through Christianity, of course, and also through Strength to Lead in general. It's that you are valued; you are cared for, and we want you to feel like you belong here."

It's a message Tom carries with credibility — because he knows firsthand what it feels like when that message is missing.

"As someone who used to live on the margin, I know that you don't always feel that way," he says. "So I'm hoping that we'll be able to continue to share that message."

Strength to Lead is building a brighter future for Weston through sport, mentorship, and community. Join us at the first annual Summer Basketball Tournament on Saturday, August 29th, 2026.