CALGARY SURGE PROMOTE DYLAN HOWE TO TEAM PRESIDENT

December 16, 2025

One of the league’s most experienced operators steps into expanded role after guiding competitive success and community impact.

DEC 15 – The Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club is proud to announce that Dylan Howe has been promoted to Team President as part of an organized succession plan. Howe previously served as the team’s Senior Vice President, where he was instrumental in driving the Surge’s operations in basketball, ticketing, community engagement, and programming.

Howe has served under the direct mentorship of Surge Co-Chairman and awarded entrepreneur Jason Ribeiro since the franchise launched in October 2022. Prior to joining the Calgary Surge, Howe served in progressively senior roles with the Niagara River Lions (2016-18) and Guelph Nighthawks (2018-2022) of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL).

“Dylan has been by my side from the very beginning of the Calgary Surge shaping every detail of who we are — competitively, culturally, and commercially,” said Jason Ribeiro, Co-Chairman of the Surge. “This promotion, his second in three years, is a testament to the dedication he has shown to date and the leadership potential he continues to bring to Canada’s sports and entertainment industry.”

In 2025, the Surge were named 2025 CEBL Franchise of the Year, captured their second Western Conference Championship and Digital Excellence Award in three years, advanced to a third consecutive Championship Weekend, and finished with their best record in franchise history.

“I’m honoured by the trust placed in me,” Howe said. “Our fans, our partners, and our city have embraced my family and I in such a powerful way. I’m committed to continuing the work of making the Calgary Surge a leading example of sport, culture, and community across the nation.”

Ribeiro will continue to guide the business’s growth with his unique lens to cross-sector partnerships, community impact, and belief that innovation can shape culture and inspire connection.

The organization’s latest venture is REAL Studios, a creative agency that produces accessible culture-driven content and materials that move audiences — not by chasing trends, but by revealing the real stories inside people, teams, and communities.

The studio serves as the in-house creative team for the Calgary Surge and its wide range of sponsors and community partners and is now accepting new clients. Rather than relying on gimmicks or surface-level spectacle, the studio operates as a humble creative engine, led by a team with deep experience in storytelling, brand strategy, and the thoughtful use of AI to expand creative possibilities.

The Surge will continue building on a foundation that centres community impact, enrichment for youth and families, and a modern, culturally informed approach to sport and entertainment.

The Calgary Surge’s 2026 season will tip off in May, with full schedule information to be announced shortly. Season tickets for 10 Calgary games can be purchased here and start at $37 per game.

About REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. & the Calgary Surge

REAL Entertainment & Culture Inc. (REC) is a professional sports and live entertainment company co-founded by Jason Ribeiro that operates the Calgary Surge Professional Basketball Club and REAL Studios.

The Calgary Surge tipped off their inaugural season at WinSport Event Centre in May 2023, after originating the Guelph Nighthawks, one of the founding members of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Surge are active members of the community and have participated in a few hundred events (and counting) around the city that connect the team with diverse communities through sport, entertainment, and arts and culture. Over three seasons, the Surge have three straight CEBL Championship Weekend appearances, were crowned Western Conference Champions in 2023 and 2025, hold the league’s single game attendance record, and have sent over 6500 deserving kids and families to their games for free. For more information, visit www.calgarysurge.ca.

About the CEBL

Created by Canadians for Canadians, the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL) is dedicated to developing Canadian players, coaches, referees, and sports executives. In 2025, the league featured a record 17 players with NBA game experience, and nearly 70 per cent of its rosters were Canadian — the highest of any professional league in the country. Players also bring experience from the NBA G League, top international leagues, the Canadian National Team program, NCAA, U SPORTS, and CCAA. Nearly 40 players have signed NBA contracts following a CEBL season, and many others attend NBA G League training camps each year. The season runs from May through August, with games broadcast live on CEBL+ powered by Tonybet, TSN, TSN+, RDS, Game+, and Next Level Sports & Entertainment in the U.S. For more information, visit CEBL.ca or follow @cebleague on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, Facebook & YouTube.