Local sports star, Daneesha Provo, brings her story to the page with her first book, The Daneesha Provo Story: From North Preston to the World Stage.

Earlier this summer, Daneesha celebrated the launch of her book at Cole Harbour Public Library. Now, she brings another exciting book launch and awards ceremony to Halifax Central Library on Wednesday, October 7.

Hometown Roots

Daneesha credits her international basketball career to her childhood growing up in North Preston, one of the largest Black communities in Canada.

"They always challenged me," she describes, recalling memories of playing on the court with cousins and peers. "With North Preston being a basketball community, it allowed me to take my talents from out of North Preston to the world, to the USA, to other countries with Team Canada, and thrive on the court."

Becoming a Debut Author

Daneesha's first children's book launched in May 2026, titled the Daneesha Provo Story: From North Preston to the World Stage.

"This has been a book I've been wanting to write for a while, but I never knew when the time was right," says Daneesha.

As always, she is proud to represent North Preston. "This book talks about where I'm from and the history behind it, and all the goals and dreams I've accomplished at such a young age. And obviously starting and playing on my first basketball team, the North Preston Bulls!"

As for the "World Stage," Daneesha describes it as the journey of leaving home and the opportunities that await there. "From leaving home at the age of 14, going to boarding school, leaving there to go to University of Utah, playing with Team Canada for eight years, and then going on to play professionally for five years, and all the lessons that I've learned."

In the end, her book arrives at one simple message: 

"It's not always common that you see somebody from the Black community in little small Nova Scotia, make it as far as I did as a young Black girl. And this book was really more to help inspire the youth, but especially young Black girls in the community, that their dreams do matter and that it is possible, as long as you set your mind to it. And that it's not always going to be easy, but if you keep just chipping away, it's more than possible."

Returning Home

Daneesha has had an incredible career that has taken her around the world, as displayed by the flags on the cover of her book.

But coming home has been a special journey of its own.

"Being able to launch my book here at the Library is a testament of how important it is that stories like my own need to be shared and to help inspire the younger generation, because it’s not often that we see people like myself who are able to make it out of Nova Scotia, out of North Preston."

She hopes to remind readers, "that no matter where you come from, that it's still possible, and to always dream big."

Unexpected Inspiration

The book also touches on some tough moments. After suffering an Achilles tendon injury two weeks before the Olympics, Daneesha could not compete in the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games.

"It was devastating because as a young girl, that was always a dream, to go to the Olympics," she recalls.

While she recovered, Daneesha found quite moments of reflection. "It was the first time that I had to just sit with myself and ask myself, What do I want to do? What's my purpose in life? What does that look like after the ball stops bouncing?"

"And it was the first time I slowed down and I realized that with someone like myself—who's learned so much from the world, from different countries, different people, coaches, networks—how I can deliver the exact same thing to young girls here in Nova Scotia and bring it all back and help them reach their dreams and goals."

Starting an Academy

The Daneesha Provo Canadian Basketball Academy was established by Daneesha and cofounder, Aliyah Fraser, to help inspire young girls through basketball.

"We're creating a space where girls matter," describes Daneesha. "And no matter what you look like or what your skill level is, we accept exactly who you are."

Daneesha wants to share everything she's learned through the Academy. "That kids are able to do the exact same thing that I did, using basketball as a pathway for them to go on and pursue their education, whether that's a boarding school, a private school, or university."

One of the exciting opportunities that came to the Academy was signing a partnership with Nike. "Now, it's all making sense," says Daneesha, "why I needed to start that academy four years ago and how big of a movement it's had in four years."

The Academy has also launched their own nonprofit called Elevate Her Global Foundation, to help young girls through advocacy, academics, and athletics.

"Even though basketball is amazing, how do you use sports to help create pathways for education, help young girls thrive on and off the court, and create opportunities for them?" challenges Daneesha. "So, that's our next big project is launching Elevate Her Global Foundation—and emphasize on the global because we want to be able to go globally around the world to show the young girls what's really out there."

Daneesha's proudest moments running the Academy are when she sees participants going on to university, and coming back to thank the Academy.

Being a Leader

"Being a leader to me means being able to showcase different talents and skills and purpose back to the younger generation and leading by example."

To Daneesha, it's become second nature.

"If you look at my story, in every season of my life, I always had to be a leader," she says. "Either it was as a teammate, as a coach, as a big sister, as a business owner, a founder. I always had to set the example and the standard of what being a leader actually is. And that's not often that you see a woman in a leadership role. So me being able to pave that way for the young girls, to make them realize that you can still be a boss, as a woman—for me as a Black woman—and make it possible to pave the way to get there."

Her message to all young athletes is to bet on yourself.

"Bet on yourself, no matter what you do, either it's in sports, education, life, career. Because at the end of the day, you are the person who's going to make it happen, and there's no one else that's going to believe in you more than yourself. Even with someone like me who left home at a young age, someone that went through injuries, if I didn't bet on myself, I don't think I would be where I'm at today. Even with this book, I had to figure it out, you know? And I bet on myself that I'm going to make this happen. So if you're able to bet on yourself, there's no one else that's going to believe in yourself, the way that you do."

Daneesha's leadership is an example of how to inspire others to strive for success, and a message she shares throughout her book. "Bet on yourself and keep going and never give up," she encourages.

Upcoming Event

Want to hear more from Daneesha? Join her at her next Library event:

Book Launch & All-Star 5 Awards, with Daneesha Provo
Wednesday, October 7
6:00-8:00pm
Halifax Central Library
Paul O'Regan Hall