VFC BC Proud Derby Match
VANCOUVER FC SET TO HOST BC PROUD DERBY MATCH PRESENTED BY VOLKSWAGEN CANADA
VFC to celebrate the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as part of Saturday’s derby against Pacific FC
Gates for Saturday’s match open at 11:30 a.m. PT, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. PT. Tickets can be purchased online through this link or in person at Gate 1 of the Langley Event Centre.
Langley, BC - (August 16, 2023) - Vancouver Football Club will host the club’s first BC Proud Derby match, a celebration of the local 2SLGBTQIA+ community, when it takes on provincial rival Pacific FC on Saturday, Aug. 19 at Willoughby Park at the Langley Events Centre.
The BC Proud Derby match, presented by Volkswagen Canada, emphasizes the club’s commitment to promoting an atmosphere of diversity, equity and inclusion and ensuring everyone in the VFC community feels welcomed, safe and respected. Vancouver will use its platform to share information and resources in an effort to end discrimination of any kind.
Vancouver’s BC Proud Derby match is the first of three games dedicated to amplifying the work of The Foundry BC, a province-wide network of integrated health and wellness services for young people ages 12 to 24 dedicated to supporting them in living a good life. VFC will host its Balanced Minds match, aimed at driving awareness and support for mental health programming, on Saturday, Sept. 9 and its Community Foundations match, intended to drive awareness around the basic needs of some young people in the Fraser Valley and across B.C., on Friday, Oct. 6.
“We are excited to host our first BC Proud Derby match on Saturday and to continue to highlight The Foundry’s important work throughout the remainder of our season,” said Rob Friend, President, Vancouver FC. “We have all seen how sports, including the global game of soccer, can bring people together and we are dedicated to creating a safe and inclusive space for everyone at our matches.”
As part of the festivities on Saturday, Volkswagen Canada will donate five dollars from every full-priced ticket purchased to the Foundry Langley’s Friends of Dorothy program. The Friends of Dorothy program is a drop-in service hosted at Foundry Langley that provides 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples ages 12 to 24 with a space to safely explore identity and be supported by peers. Fans in attendance on Saturday can learn more about Friends of Dorothy and Foundry BC at resource booths located in the northwest Family Zone at Willoughby Park, or online at https://foundrybc.ca/.
The first 2,000 fans to arrive at Saturday’s match will receive a Vancouver FC rainbow bandana, courtesy of Volkswagen Canada. Volkswagen Canada’s Tiny Football Car will also make an appearance at Willoughby Park, where he will present the match ball ahead of kickoff.
Vancouver has committed to working towards a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone, including the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, both on and off the pitch through the unifying game of soccer by engaging in Common Goal’s Play Proud program. VFC is one of just eight professional clubs in North America, and the only club in the Canadian Premier League, to participate in Common Goal’s Play Proud program in 2023, gaining more than 100 hours of training and capacity building for leaders within the club.
“Play Proud represents our ongoing efforts to understand how our new organization can be intentional and outcomes-oriented about diversity, equity and inclusion,” said Hana Taiji, Director of Purpose, SixFive Sports & Entertainment and Vancouver FC’s Play Proud representative. “We’re grateful for the expertise and guidance of both Common Goal’s Play Proud team and the Foundry Langley for helping us understand the unique challenges and opportunities for greater 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion and youth health in soccer and our region. We’re all working to support more young people in living rich lives for themselves and others.”
What to Expect at VFC’s BC Proud Derby Match:
● Five dollars from every full-priced ticket purchased will be donated to Foundry Langley’s Friends of Dorothy program, courtesy of Volkswagen Canada
● Free Vancouver FC rainbow bandana for the first 2,000 fans, courtesy of Volkswagen Canada ● Volkswagen Canada’s Tiny Football Car presenting the match ball
● Foundry BC and Friends of Dorothy information booth in the northwest Family Zone ● Derby Deals including $3 hot dogs, $4 grilled cheese sandwiches, $5 Phillips Tilt Lager, and $6 Remix beverages
About Vancouver Football Club
Vancouver FC was founded in 2022 and kicked off its first Canadian Premier League season in 2023. Based in Langley, B.C., VFC is committed to being a professional team that commits more to its community than it takes out, in the pursuit of growing soccer in Canada.
About Foundry BC
Foundry BC is a province-wide network of integrated health and wellness services for young people ages 12-24 and their caregivers to support young people in living a good life. Our integrated services make it possible for young people to access five core services in one convenient location: mental health care, substance use services, physical and sexual health care, youth and family peer supports, and social services. We provide safe, non-judgmental care, information and resources, and work to reach young people earlier – before health challenges become problematic. Foundry brings health and social services together in a single place to make it easier for young people to find the care, connection and support they need. Currently, there are 16 Centres across B.C., with another 19 committed to being built across the Province. For more information, please visit https://foundrylangley.ca/about-foundry-langley/.
About Play Proud
Common Goal’s Play Proud aims to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, particularly in relation to LGBTQ+ issues, and will offer over 100 hours of training to professional clubs, fan groups, and community organizations throughout 2023. The program is part of a North American coalition consisting of eight professional soccer clubs from five leagues, including Major League Soccer and the National Women's Soccer League, as well as fan groups and community organizations from those markets. Play Proud is working to combat discrimination and promote greater inclusion in soccer and beyond leading up to the 2026 Men's World Cup.
About Canadian Premier League
The Canadian Premier League (CPL), Canada’s Tier 1 domestic men’s soccer league, is committed to its mission of providing opportunities for Canadian players to showcase their abilities on home soil and to gain prominence on the global soccer scene. A link between the amateur and professional games in the country, the CPL develops homegrown talent in support of the growth of Canadian soccer domestically and internationally. The CPL is proud to bring high-quality, professional soccer to communities from coast to coast, partnering with strong ownership groups, world-class corporate partners and passionate supporters to build a league Canadians can proudly support on and off the field. The CPL, which enters its milestone fifth season in 2023, plays in Concacaf and FIFA sanctioned competitions. For more updates and information, please visit CanPL.ca
VFC PR & Communications Contact:
Katelyn White
PUBLIC RELATIONS & COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR
katelyn.white@vancouverfc.com
