The Season Before the Season: How the BC Lions and Leavitt Machinery Continue to Lift Youth Across BC
Leavitt Machinery and the BC Lions continue their off-season commitment to youth and community programs that build confidence, inclusion, and opportunity across British Columbia, proving the most meaningful impact happens long before kickoff.
As the BC Lions prepare for another year of community programming, it’s worth taking a look at the work that happens long before the season begins.
While fans countdown to kickoff, much of the most impactful work happens long before the first snap of the season. Through our ongoing partnership with the BC Lions, Leavitt Machinery is proud to support youth-focused initiatives that create opportunity, confidence, and connection across British Columbia, especially during the off-season, when this work truly takes shape.
Throughout the past year, Lions players, staff, and community partners connected with young people across the province through programs centered on inclusion, leadership, reconciliation, and access to sport. These initiatives reflect a shared belief between Leavitt Machinery and the BC Lions: that meaningful impact is built through consistency, presence, and long-term commitment.
Together, we LIFT our world and everything in it.
Indigenous Youth Program
For the fourth consecutive year, the BC Lions delivered their Indigenous Youth Program (IYP), a five-week flag football series supporting Indigenous youth in Surrey, Vancouver, Abbotsford, and surrounding communities.
More than a football program, IYP focuses on leadership development, confidence-building, and reconciliation. Youth participants receive hands-on coaching from current BC Lions players while learning the value of teamwork, resilience, and belonging.
As part of the club’s Orange Shirt Day initiatives, the program continues to create space for meaningful connection, cultural respect, and positive role models - values that align closely with Leavitt Machinery’s commitment to community impact.
Watch highlights from the 2025 BC Lions Indigenous Youth Program and workshops below:
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.png?sfvrsn=fa17aab0_1) | Team Up to End RacismDuring the winter and spring months, BC Lions players visited more than 30 schools across British Columbia as part of the Team Up to End Racism program. These visits went beyond presentations. Players shared personal stories, facilitated open conversations, and encouraged students to think critically about inclusion, respect, and standing up against discrimination in their own communities. By creating safe spaces for dialogue and reflection, the program empowered students to see themselves as leaders, on and off the field. |
Youth Football ClinicsFree community clinics such as Play with the Pros and Punt, Pass & Kick brought football into communities that hadn’t hosted BC Lions events in years. For many young athletes, these clinics were their first introduction to the sport. For others, they offered a chance to reconnect, develop skills, and feel inspired by direct interaction with professional players. These events reinforced the idea that sport can be an entry point to confidence, connection, and lifelong opportunity - especially when barriers to participation are removed. | .png?sfvrsn=e88196d6_1) |
.png?sfvrsn=10df1e18_1) | Lions Pride Mentorship ProgramThe Lions Pride Mentorship program returned again this year, supporting at-risk youth in grades 8–12 through a combination of workshops, sport, and player-led conversations. Participants were paired with mentors and engaged in activities focused on leadership, goal-setting, and self-belief. The program concluded with a spring flag football tournament that brought participants together through teamwork, competition, and community - a celebration of progress made throughout the program. |
More Than a SeasonBeyond on-the-field programming, the BC Lions continued to invest in the future of the sport by donating $300,000 from 50/50 proceeds to amateur football organizations across British Columbia. These contributions help ensure football remains accessible to youth throughout the province, supporting everything from equipment and facilities to grassroots development. For Leavitt Machinery, this is what meaningful sponsorship looks like. It’s not about visibility alone, it’s about shared values, long-term relationships, and showing up where it counts. | .png?sfvrsn=1d2a64d3_1) |
.png?sfvrsn=55e03a6d_1) | Looking AheadAs preparations begin for the upcoming year of BC Lions community programming, we’re proud to continue this partnership supporting initiatives that reach far beyond game day and leave a lasting impact on youth and communities across British Columbia. The season before the season matters. |