“2014 was a very successful season for our Warriors. It’s important to acknowledge and recognize the importance our club plays in our community of instilling values, setting an example for our youth and always portraying our club in a good light by our actions on and off the field. Fiscally we continue to face challenges but it is reassuring to see our volunteers join us in our work to keep football ‘Affordable For All’. Having said that, 2015 will have to be a year where more is done to reach out to our community to businesses and individuals to partner with the Warriors. This will be a primary focus for the Warriors in our 60th year if we hope to continue the good work we are doing for our youth“, summed up Paul Stewart, Bell Warriors President at the Warriors AGM held February 18th at the Richmond Arena.
Here are some highlights from the President’s Report:
- In January, the Warriors hosted our 2nd Annual Combined Warrior Team Banquets and Silent Auctions which raised close to $5,000
- Nominated for the West Ottawa Board of Trade Non-For-Profit of the Year;
- March/April hosted 6 week indoor clinics which made $1,000 and had more than 100 youth in attendance
- April hosted 1st Annual TOUCHDOWN Advanced Football Skills Camp which brought in over a dozen CFL Pros to instruct local region players in football fundamentals
- Upgraded equipment by expanding our number of Youth Speed helmets and specialized shoulder pads
- May Hosted Warrior Day Football Clinic at the Ben Franklin Dome
- Trainer Kits updated at every level including kits for our Girl’s Touch Football program
- Girl’s Touch Football Program hosted league-wide championship day and we had Champions at Bantam & Midget
- Guest Coach Ryan Sheahan from the Queen’s Gaels at ran one of our Bantam Practices
- City of Ottawa Recognition Ceremony recognized the Warriors for 59 years of mentoring youth in Ottawa
- August our youngest two levels took part in Friday Night Tykes & Mosquito Madness
- August hosted our annual Golf Tournament which generated more than a $1,000 for our club
- 2 Warrior Wear Catalogues for our Warrior families and supporters
- Warrior Day expanded by adding Warrior Day 2.0 event
- Almost $4,000 raised by canteen
- Sold tickets to our Warrior families for inaugural REDBLACKS season for 3 games
- Rodney Moors (Director of Non-Contact Football) spearheaded NCAFA Girl’s Touch Football Day at the REDBLACKS vs Alouttes game
- Warriors presented 2 x $1,000 scholarships to Warrior alumni pursuing post-secondary educations (Charlie Keenan, Mitchell Henselwood)
- Warriors Sponsorship program raised $5,000 in sponsorship
- Championship Week had all 4 teams competing with our Tykes winning the C-Cup, undefeated Mosquitos going to the A-Cup final as did our West-Conference Champion Pee Wees and the Bantams won the B-Cup championship; 4th time in past 5 years our Pee Wee team was Western Conference champions
- Carmen Schwartz named NCAFA and Bell Warriors Volunteer of the Year
- November 2nd Annual Volunteer Appreciation Night held at our Gold Sponsor The Glen in Stittsville
Elections determined that the Bell Warriors Executive for 2015 will be:
- Paul Stewart, President
- Tim Sheahan, VP of Operations
- Carmen Schwartz, VP of Administration
- Michael Polito, VP of Finance
Director positions are listed on our contact page and supporters are encouraged to contact the Warriors at info@bellwarriors.ca if they are interested in applying to fill any vacant positions.