VANCOUVER, BC – The Sts’ailes Strong Mini-Pitch officially opened on Monday afternoon with a community celebration that featured a traditional welcome to the territory led by Grand Chief Willie Charlie and council, as well as an inspiring speech from youth council leader Jeremy Charlie. In addition, Sts’ailes member Terry Felix was honoured as the former Canadian international and forward with Vancouver Whitecaps during the NASL-era had his number 15 highlighted on each of the four archways.
“It’s amazing for our children to get a mini-pitch, soccer has always been the top sport in Sts’ailes,” said Felix. “When we were children, we didn’t have our own soccer field, soccer boots or soccer balls. I played my first soccer game at age 12 and never played youth league soccer. Our children now have an opportunity to play on one of the best soccer pitches available. This will give them confidence and it will be a joy to see their smiling faces for years to come.”
This is the seventh mini-pitch Hope and Health, with the support from Vancouver Whitecaps FC, has opened since 2021.
"We are excited and honoured to be here and celebrate the opening ceremonies of the Sts’ailes Strong Mini-Pitch,” said Axel Schuster, Whitecaps FC chief executive officer. “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 pitch being built, a 5V5 Champions League will be activated to give the youth a competitive environment with high-level coaching to help their technical development. As more pitches are constructed, Champions League play will expand across communities and fellow nations.
“We’ve had a relationship with Sts’ailes since we brought Hope and Health to the mainland – through our annual community camps and high-performance program delivered in 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,” said Deana Gill, Hope and Health, chief executive officer. “We are so inspired by the community- 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.”
Penelakut Strong was the first mini-pitch opened in September 2021, additional pitches include Snaw-naw-as Strong, Tla’amin Strong, Stz’uminus Strong, Snuneymuxw Strong, Ts’uubaa-asatx Strong, as well as Cowichan Strong, which will officially open on Thursday, and Malahat Strong, set to open this summer.
About Hope and Health
The Hope and Health movement utilizes the beautiful game of soccer and mentorship to inspire hope, as well as improve the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health and life conditions for Indigenous children and youth. The team is committed to come together as one heart, one mind to maximize sport as a tool for reconciliACTION in relation to the Canadian Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls To Action, specific to Sports and Reconciliation (87-91). The Hope and Health vision is for Indigenous children and youth to carry themselves with pride and confidence, achieve their highest potential and dream big.
About Vancouver Whitecaps FC
Vancouver Whitecaps FC is one of the longest-running professional soccer clubs in North America. Since the inaugural season in 1974, the club has united generations of loyal fans in British Columbia and beyond. Since 2011, the men's first team has played in Major League Soccer, the top tier of professional soccer in the United States and Canada, and in 2025 the club will launch a women's professional team as part of the Northern Super League. Whitecaps FC is a fully integrated club, housing one of the most unique soccer development programs. Starting from grassroots and including professional development academies for both boys and girls from coast-to-coast, with a goal to provide a safe and welcoming environment so that all participants can thrive and achieve their potential. For more information, visit whitecapsfc.com.
