The Vancouver Whitecaps were in the area recently to celebrate the official opening of the Sts'ailes Strong Mini Pitch, a soccer facility for area youth.
Grand Chief Chasta Willie Charlie (Cha'qua'wet), members of council and Whitecaps hall-of-fame soccer star and Sts'ailes member Terry Felix attended the celebration. Felix's number, 15, is on display on each of the mini-pitch's archways as a tribute to his accomplishments.
"It’s amazing for our children to get a mini-pitch, soccer has always been the top sport in Sts’ailes," Felix stated. He recalled when he was a child playing his first soccer game at age 12, when the community did not have their own soccer field, boots or balls.
"Our children now have an opportunity to play on one of the best soccer pitches available," Felix added. "This will give them confidence and it will be a joy to see their smiling faces for years to come."
The mini-pitch at Sts'ailes is one of seven created through support from the Whitecaps and through Hope and Health. Hope and Health is a Lake Cowichan-based initiative dedicated to soccer programs to support the physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health of Indigenous youth.
The first Hope and Health mini-pitch opened in September 2021 at on Penelakut Island. The Malahat Strong mini-pitch is set to open later this summer.
"We are excited and honoured to be here and celebrate the opening ceremonies of the Sts’ailes Strong Mini-Pitch," Whitecaps FC CEO Axel Schuster said. "Our goal as a club is to build stronger communities and grow the game of soccer across the province and country. These mini-pitches, led by Hope and Health, have been tremendously successful with such positive feedback from communities. We look forward to having children play and practice on this beautiful pitch."
In addition to the new pitch, the Whitecaps and Sts'ailes have established a 5V5 Champions League to give area Indigenous youth a competitive environment in which to play soccer. As more mini-pitches are built, the Champions League will expand across other First Nations communities.
Hope and Health CEO Deana Gill said the mini-pitch at Sts'ailes is something of a culmination of a years-long relationship with the nation through their community camps at Musqueam.
"It’s been such a joy to witness the talent and passion of Sts’ailes athletes through their participation in Hope and Health and we are so thrilled to bring Hope and Health to the community through the mini-pitch," Gill stated. "With their future vision and sports history, it’s so special to support them to honour Terry Felix through adding his Vancouver Whitecaps FC number to the archway – what a motivator for the youth to dream big."