B.C. Lions donate more than $350,000 to amateur football

Photo courtesy: B.C. Lions

The B.C. Lions have donated $358,659.28 to amateur football in the province of British Columbia for this upcoming season.

The cheque was presented at a team-sponsored coaching clinic on Saturday. Funds will go to support the B.C. Provincial Football Association, the B.C. Community Football Association, B.C. High School Football, the British Columbia Football Conference in the Canadian Junior Football League, and the UBC Thunderbirds.

“Supporting our communities by contributing to all levels of amateur football is a major pillar of the club’s brand,” director of community partnerships Jamie Taras said in a statement.

“Amateur football is an important element to the growth of the game in our province. We are once again honoured to continue that commitment through our 50/50 program and involvement in our community football programs.”

The Lions funded a variety of community initiatives in 2025, including the annual Punt, Pass & Kick program, Play with the Pros football camps, and the Women’s Flag program. The organization also expanded its amateur football ticket program, giving more opportunities for teams and players to enjoy once-in-a-lifetime experiences on the field at discounted group rates.

The B.C. Lions signed defensive lineman Casey Sayles and linebacker Darnell Sankey after they were released by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes, respectively, though the team was relatively inactive in free agency. The team’s major departure was All-CFL offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, who signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Lions hold the seventh overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. B.C. will play its first preseason game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, May 23, and its first regular-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, June 13.

In 2025, B.C. finished second in the West Division standings with an 11-7 record. They beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final but lost the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Franchise quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions to be named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.