November 27, 2006

ACT Now Recognition of the Vancouver Island Raiders Football Team

Ron Cantelon MLA Statement, Fall Session, Legislature, 2006

Thank you Mr. Speaker

I rise today to talk about a real life Cinderella story and how an incredible Junior Football team can inspire an entire community involvement and leadership that can be a model for ACT Now to mobilize a community into action.

It began with a dream. A local, very dynamic and successful businessman, Hadi Abassi, President of Atlas Truss in Nanaimo, had a dream about a junior football team. But, his dream was not just about a football team. Hadi wanted to give something back to the community, not just a football team, but a team that would be part of everything in Nanaimo.

At every event, but especially charitable and fundraising events, his team, the Vancouver Island Raiders were prominently there, taking enthusiastic part, leading the way. Their work with the Boys and Girls Club was especially poignant. Their encouragement and role model leadership has literally changed lives.

It did not begin well. They began 0 and 3 in their first season last year, but won their last 6 games as well as the hearts of the Vancouver Island fans with their “never say die” attitude.

Then, this year, Mr. Speaker, this year was a different story. As much as Hadi and his team had inspired the community, the Raiders also became inspired by the warmth and support of the fans. They ran up a perfect record of 13 and 0.

And so Mr. Speaker, it came down to this: a championship game against the top ranked team in Canada, also with a perfect 13 and 0 record, from another great football city on the prairies, the Edmonton Wildcats, for the Canadian Junior Football Championship.

The showdown was played out in Nanaimo on November 11. The raiders took an early lead and held on well into the second half, but those tough and worthy Wildcats came back and took a lead late n 4 ^th Quarter. It was hard to watch. But, the Raiders wouldn’t quit!! On the last play of the game, Victoria’s own Scotty Dixon split the uprights to win the game and 3000 fans went wild. Vancouver Island has its first Canadian Junior Football Championship!!!

Join me in congratulating a man with a big dream and even bigger heart, Hadi Abassi and his Champions, the Vancouver Island Raiders.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.