VANCOUVER, BC - Vancouver Whitecaps FC are pleased to announce that the club will be participating in Vancouver Island’s Coast Salish ninth annual Hope and Health Community Camp. The event will take place on Monday, August 22 on the unceded traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw people (Nanaimo) at Beban Park grass fields.
The community camp will kick off with an opening ceremony, emceed by Whitecaps FC legend Carl Valentine, at 10 a.m. PT. Whitecaps FC head coach Vanni Sartini will be in attendance in the morning, along Hope and Health Player Board Members Jake Nerwinski and Brian White. In addition, Ryan Gauld, Ranko Veselinović, Cody Cropper, Marcus Godinho and Sebastian Berhalter will all be participating in their first-ever Hope and Health Community Camp.
"We are very excited to once again have the opportunity to join Hope and Health and the Indigenous community on Vancouver Island," said Nerwinski. "Personally, it will be my fourth time participating and this year will be extra special since it has been a couple years. I'm looking forward to making new friends, as well as seeing several familiar faces. Being able to see these kids grow, mature, and develop a love for soccer is truly something very special to witness. I cannot wait to create more memories this year!"
The day will be filled with soccer skills, drills, and games, as well as cultural crafts, bouncy castles, face- painting, and a lunchtime musical performance by Stz’uminus Nation artist Nate Harris. This community camp is co-delivered by the incredible role models at the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds women’s soccer team, Vancouver Island University Mariners men’s and women’s soccer teams, and Hope and Health Indigenous community coaches.
“Hope and Health is about creating opportunities and inspiration for the children and youth, but also for the families of Coast Salish communities that this community camp represents,” said William Yoachim, executive director of lead sponsor Kw’umut Lelum Child and Family Services. “We’re very honoured to have this relationship with Whitecaps FC who have been on this journey with us from the very beginning.”
